Hektar

Symptoms of the Disease:

• The disease typically manifests during the flowering and fruiting stages.
• Initial symptoms appear on the basal leaves and gradually progress toward the top of the plants.
• Leaves develop yellowish streaks, 0.5-1 mm wide, along the veins. They first wilt on one side, with their edges curling upward. Eventually, wilting spreads across the entire leaf, which dries out completely and hangs down along the stem.
• Fruits of affected plants lose turgor, becoming pale, soft, and wrinkled.
• Roots appear healthy externally, but longitudinal or cross-sections reveal browning of the vascular bundles, especially near the nodes.

Factors Favoring Disease Onset and Development:

• The disease is a slow-progressing vascular infection observed in both greenhouses and open fields.
• Development is favored by soil temperatures between 20-25°C, excess nitrogen, long photoperiods, and soil infestations with nematodes.
• The fungus thrives in soils with a pH between 6 and 8.

Prevention and Control Measures:

1. Soil Chemical Disinfection:

   • Use Nemasol (Metam sodium) at a rate of 700 l/ha, applied via drip irrigation. Cover the soil for at least 3 weeks, ensuring a soil temperature above 15°C. After this period, remove the cover and test with crops such as lettuce or beans to eliminate phytotoxicity before establishing the main crop.

2. Preventive Treatments:

   • If soil disinfection was not carried out, apply preventive treatments using products based on Thiophanate-methyl (e.g., Topsin), especially after monoculture practices.

3. Managing Greenhouse Attacks:

   • Lightly hill up the plants or add moistened peat around the stem base to encourage the development of adventitious roots.
   • Apply phased fertilization (both soil and foliar) along with frequent, short irrigations to maintain plant hydration and vigor throughout the growing season.

4. Use of Shading Nets:

   • For pepper crops in greenhouses, use shading nets from May to August to reduce heat stress.

5. Alternative Ecological Products:

   • Altosan – A defense inducer applied preventively via drip irrigation at a rate of 20 l/ha, in two stages spaced 21 days apart after transplanting.
   • Garex B – Based on garlic extract, applied to the soil via drip irrigation at a dose of 5 l/ha.
   • Mimox – An organic fungistatic product derived from Mimosa extract, applied via drip irrigation at a rate of 2-3 l/ha, every 12-15 days.