Managing sweet pepper anthracnose by choice of planting season, organic soil mulch, fungicide and moderate nitrogen fertilization

Abstract

Sweet pepper crops suffer major losses from anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. In the present work we describe the combined effects of cultivation in the dry and rainy seasons, of nitrogen fertilization doses (0-450 Kg/ha), the use of organic (grass) and plastic soil mulches, as well as the application of a synthetic protectant fungicide (chlorothalonil) for disease control. Overall results indicate that choice of planting season is the most decisive factor for sweet pepper anthracnose management. Use of fungicide is a less decisive but still important factor, followed by choice of soil mulch substrate and nitrogen fertilization. The combined effects of all cultural practices were demonstrated: for instance, in the rainy season, fungicide alone was not as efficient as the combined use of fungicide and grass mulch. Conversely, in the dry season fungicide applications may be discarded, when organic soil mulch is adopted. The effects of the type of soil cover on the splash dispersal of Colletotrichum conidia are discussed. Management practices described here are of practical value for either organic or conventional growers.