Seedling protection and field practices for management of insect vectors and viral diseases of hot pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) in Uganda

Abstract

The focus of this study was on nursery and field management of seed and insect vectors of viruses on hot pepper. Seedlings raised from hypochlorite-treated seeds under a net tunnel nursery were compared with seedlings raised from untreated seeds in an open nursery. The two groups of seedlings were used to evaluate field practices in a split plot randomized controlled block design: (i) weekly foliar applications with dimethoate; (ii) close plant spacing of 60 cm × 50 cm); (iii) 1.5-m high net perimeter screen; (iv) transparent plastic mulch; (v) untreated control. Whiteflies were the vectors most affected by the treatments, showing 28%, 38%, 43% and 36% reductions in occurrence by seedling protection, net screens, transparent plastic mulch and close plant spacing, respectively. Aphids were only responsive to close plant spacing and chemical treatments, with a reduction in incidence of up 43% by the former. The lowest virus disease incidence (12%) was on plants raised unprotected in the nursery but grown under the close plant spacing in the field. Plants from protected seedlings had a marginally higher fruit yield (2.1 kg/plant) compared with plants from unprotected seedlings (1.7 kg/plant)