Why Does My Black Pepper Look Sickly?

Are there any specks with yellow halos on leaves, spikes, and berries, defoliation may occur?

Are there discoloration of the vine at the soil line, cankers appear on the stem and may spread upwards, numerous small black sclerota develop in affected tissues?

Are there any black water-soaked lesions on leaves and stems during wet weather, symptoms usually develop on lower leaves which have been splashed by water?

Are there any brown or black discoloration on inflorescences and young berries are wilting and turning gray?

These symptoms indicate a fungal disease - Anthracnose. Avoid stressing plants by providing them with adequate irrigation and fertilization. As anthracnose is primarily a disease that occurs during the rainy season, systemic fungicides are required to prevent chemicals leaching from the plant, 1% Bordeaux mixture can be applied.

Charcoal rot is a fungal disease that attacks black peppers. The fungus had a wide host range and affects beans, tobacco, soybean, pigeon pea, and many other crops. Organic soil amendments such as the addition of manure or neem cake can be used to reduce levels of inoculum in the soil.

Root rot caused by fungus Phytophthora capsici attacks black pepper. The disease is also called Foot rot. Avoid unnecessary tilling of soil which can be conducive to spreading the pathogen. A cover crop of grass can help prevent water splashes on the plants and thus the spread of the fungi. Amending the soil with neem cake suppresses the Phytophthora.

Pepper lace bug causes these symptoms. Lace bugs are sucking insects, the adult is gray-black and has distinctive horn-like protrusions on its shoulders, nymphs are light brown with a row of dark bristles on each side. Small populations of the insect can be handpicked from plants and destroyed. Spray pyrethrin if the infestation is severe.

If the plants are poorly developed, the growth is stunted and the fruits are damaged, the culprit may be Striped mealybug. Insects are soft-bodied and relatively immobile. They may be dislodged by spraying a strong jet of water on the plants. If the infestation is heavy, the use of insecticidal soap will be enough to control them.