Diseases

Powdery mildew of pepper

Capsicum annuum L.

A fungal disease of pepper caused by the hemiendophytic pathogen Leveillula taurica. It manifests as chlorotic spots and subsequent leaf drop, leading to reduced yields and defoliation of the plants.

In the reference 185 varieties crop Bell pepper, where this is mentioned in the description.

The causal agent of powdery mildew on pepper is the fungus Leveillula taurica (anamorphic stage Oidiopsis taurica). Unlike most powdery mildew fungi, this pathogen is a hemiendophyte: the mycelium penetrates the plant tissues through the stomata, and the conidiophores emerge through the stomatal openings.

The disease begins with the appearance of irregular chlorotic spots on the upper side of the leaves. A characteristic whitish coating forms on the underside beneath the spots. As the infection progresses, the spots become necrotic and the leaves drop, which causes growth stunting and sunscald of the fruits due to plant defoliation.

There is no standardized classification of pathogen races. In breeding, resistance in cultivars is designated by the code Lt. Research has identified the PMR1 locus, located on the 4th chromosome of pepper, which provides genetic resistance to this pathogen and is actively used in breeding programs.

General information about the subject — on the page Powdery mildew.

Sources8

Varieties of Bell pepper mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.