High-value, high-risk. Pepper is hit hardest by anthracnose in the rains and by aphid-borne viruses in the dry season, so the calendar decides which enemy you are managing.
- Grown in
- India, Nigeria, Ghana, Mexico, Indonesia, China
- Season
- Warm season, 70–100 days from transplant
- Soil & pH
- Well-drained loam, pH 6.0–6.8
What to scout for on Pepper & Chilli
- Sunken circular fruit lesions with pink spore masses — anthracnose
- Curled, puckered young leaves — aphid or thrips feeding plus virus
- Bacterial leaf spot with raised scabby margins
- Sudden wilt with no yellowing — Phytophthora root rot
Diseases that attack Pepper & Chilli
Products you can buy for Pepper & Chilli
Typical registered products for the diseases above, with active ingredient, mixing rate, spray interval and pre-harvest interval. Rotate FRAC/IRAC groups to avoid resistance.
Insecticidal soap (potassium salts)
Active ingredient: Potassium salts of fatty acids
- Dose:
- 10–20 ml per litre
- Interval:
- Every 5–7 days until colonies collapse
- PHI:
- 0 days
Kills only on direct contact — spray leaf undersides and growing tips where aphids cluster.
Neem oil (azadirachtin 1500 ppm)
Active ingredient: Azadirachtin
- Dose:
- 3–5 ml per litre
- Interval:
- Every 7 days, 3 applications
- PHI:
- 0 days
Anti-feedant and growth regulator; safest option near harvest and around beneficial insects.
Imidacloprid 17.8% SL
Active ingredient: Imidacloprid
- Dose:
- 0.3 ml per litre
- Interval:
- Once, repeat only after 21 days
- PHI:
- 21 days
Reserve for heavy infestations. Never spray flowering crops — it is highly toxic to bees.
Lambda-cyhalothrin 5% EC
Active ingredient: Lambda-cyhalothrin
- Dose:
- 0.5–1 ml per litre
- Interval:
- Once per outbreak, rotate groups
- PHI:
- 7–14 days
Fast knockdown but also kills ladybirds and parasitic wasps — use only as a last resort.
Imidacloprid 17.8% SL (vector control)
Active ingredient: Imidacloprid
- Dose:
- 0.3 ml per litre foliar, or 1 ml/L as a nursery drench
- Interval:
- Every 14–21 days, maximum 2 per season
- PHI:
- 21 days
Targets the aphid and whitefly vectors, not the virus. Avoid during flowering to protect pollinators.
Mineral / horticultural oil
Active ingredient: Paraffinic oil 80%
- Dose:
- 10 ml per litre (1% v/v)
- Interval:
- Every 7 days during vector flights
- PHI:
- 0 days
Oil films block non-persistent virus transmission on the aphid stylet — one of the few tools that reduce spread.
Doses shown are typical registered field rates. Always read the product label, confirm the product is registered for your crop and country, respect the pre-harvest interval (PHI), and wear the protective equipment the label specifies. PlantWatch AI provides agronomic guidance, not a legal spray recommendation.
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