Guide H-248
Natalie P. Goldberg, Extension Plant Pathologist
College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences New Mexico State University. (Print Friendly PDF)

Powdery mildew is a common disease on chile peppers. The disease can be severe in arid and semiarid growing regions, such as New Mexico. The fungus, which causes the disease, is Leveillula taurica. However, the fungus’ asexual stage, Oidiopsis sicula, is typically found in New Mexico. When the disease hits early in the growing season, it can prematurely defoliate plants, resulting in significant quality and yield losses.

The fungus can cause disease in a wide range of environmental conditions (40-95 °F, 0-100 percent relative humidity). However, optimal conditions for infection and disease development occur when the temperature is between 60 and 80 °F with humidity greater than 85 percent. Under favorable conditions, the fungus reproduces rapidly and spores can germinate and infect a plant in less than 48 hours. Wind-disseminated spores cause secondary infections, which help spread the disease. The fungus predominately infects the leaves, but it occasionally attacks the fruit and stems. The disease is most severe on older leaves just prior to fruit set, but it can occur at anytime throughout the season if environmental conditions are favorable. Severe infections early in the season can result in heavy yield losses.

O. sicula has a wide host range, including cotton, onion, tomatoes and weeds, such as sowthistle and Wright’s groundcherry. However, not all susceptible hosts are infected in all areas. The inability of some isolates to infect known hosts suggests that O. sicula actually may be more than one species, or at least should be divided into formae speciales. At present, the fungus remains a single species. In New Mexico, the fungus is a problem on chile peppers and is found on several weed species, but it has not been found infecting cotton or onion. The fungus survives between chile crops on other agronomic hosts and weeds. The amount of inoculum that survives each year depends on environmental conditions.

The disease’s primary symptom is the presence of a white, powdery, fungal growth that covers the lower leaf surface. The upper leaf surface may show a yellow or brownish discoloration and, in some cases, the fungus may actually sporulate on the upper leaf surface. The edges of infected leaves eventually roll upward exposing the fungus. Infected leaves will drop prematurely from the plant, exposing the fruit to the sun, which may result in sunscald.

Due to the fungus’ wide host range, sanitation practices (removing and destroying infected crop debris and weed control) in and around chile fields are not always sufficient to control the disease. Additionally, most chile cultivars do not possess high levels of tolerance to this fungus. Because of these factors, control usually depends on using registered fungicides. The effectiveness of these sprays depends on early detection and thorough application coverage. Ground application with high-pressure and high- volume sprayers is recommended to ensure thorough penetration of the fungicide into the plant canopy. Fungicides with different types of chemistries should be rotated to prevent development of fungal strains resistant to the chemicals.

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Printed and electronically distributed March 2004, Las Cruces, NM.