Diseases of Pepper and their Management

Abstract

Black pepper (Piper nigrum), an export oriented spice crop of India, is cultivated mostly in southern states, i.e. Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. High incidence of pests and diseases leads to low productivity of the crop. Recent observations indicated that two major viral diseases are spreading in an alarming rate in the pepper gardens of Kerala. They are stunted diseases caused by the P. nigrum strain of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-Pn) and yellow mottle disease caused by Piper yellow mottle virus (PYMV). Both the production and productivity of the virus-affected crop are very low. These viral diseases are transmitted through sap, cuttings, grafts, cutting knives and implements, and also through insect vectors like aphids (Aphis gossypii) in the case of CMV-Pn and mealy bugs Planococcus citri (citrus mealy bug) and Ferrisia virgata (Foliar mealy bug) in the case of PYMV. Selection of disease-free planting materials from the disease-free area, an efficient campaign to eradicate infected plants and control the vector through chemicals sprays are required to control these diseases.