October 16, 2024
Blocky – bell – peppers lovers are situated all over the globe, placing peppers as a staple for snacks, home-cooked meals, and main dishes in restaurants. This requires a world-class team of experts at facilities ready to tackle pests and diseases such as powdery mildew (Px).
At Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, we prioritize plant and fruit health throughout the growing season. With breeding stations situated around the world, we’re able to identify new varieties suited to various conditions, with consideration for disease resistance.
“Our mission is to support growers’ success by providing them the most effective tools and resources,” said Aru Sinha, Global Crop Unit Head, Peppers. “To achieve this, we are continually introducing new products that feature enhanced and broader disease resistances, better shelf life, and greater transportability with minimal damage. By promoting these features, we are not only reducing food waste, but also supporting the environment and its sustainability.”
For blocky peppers, powdery mildew resistance is a must-have. This damaging pathogen threatens yields, fruit size, and overall profitability for growers. Discover why this particular disease is so important and how Syngenta is supporting growers in high-tech green houses, passively managed greenhouses, and open field conditions globally.
What is Powdery Mildew (Px)?
Instigated primarily by the fungi Leveillula taurico, pepper powdery mildew (Px) is a fungal disease that affects pepper plants. In contrast to the fungus which causes powdery mildew on cucurbits and tomatoes, the Leveillula Taurico differs in its growth process. According to Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, detecting the disease is challenging. It grows as a powdery white, fluffy patch deceptively hidden only on the underside of the plant leaves.
Often, light green to yellow blotches are also symptoms of Px found on the upper side of plant leaves – initially impacting mature leaves, followed by younger leaves. Eventually browning, leaves tend to drop off the plant. Its preferred host is living plant tissue leading to the fungus only impacting the leaves, not the fruit or stems.
While this may sound like good news, the result proves otherwise.
How Px Affects Fruit Development in Pepper
As leaves drop, plant and fruit growth begins to slow resulting in reduced yields. The lack of foliage in open fields overly exposes fruit to sunlight, causing scalding. Each situation can significantly reduce plant vigor and yields.
According to British Columbia’s (B.C) Ministry of Agriculture and Food, research has shown a direct correlation between mildew infection on pepper leaves and yield loss. Although pepper plants become more susceptible to Px as they mature, younger plants with early infection of Px can cause about a 30% loss of production compared to the infection at late growth stages.
The importance of highlighting Px is crucial for growers. It is essential to detect infections early for timely disease management. Once detected on a leaf, spores may have already infected other leaves – despite showing no obvious signs.
Where can Pepper Px be Located?
As a worldwide staple, peppers grow in various environments – active greenhouses, passive greenhouses, and open fields. In the U.S., experts first detected pepper powdery mildew in 1971. A recurring problem in California since the early 1990s, Px spread from there to Arizona, Idaho, New York, Oklahoma, and Utah. In 1992, Idaho experienced the first detection of pepper powdery mildew in a greenhouse setting. By the end of the 90s, it had spread to Mexico and Canada. It has since spread globally throughout pepper greenhouses and fields.
Depending upon the location of the plants, transportation of the fungal pathogen may occur in multiple ways:
- Greenhouses: Spread is typically due to air circulation carrying spores to other plants, dysfunction of ventilation systems, uncleanliness, and high relative humidity.
- Fields: Dispersal of spores occurs by wind and ignites prolific growth. Warm daytime temperatures and cool nights add fuel for germination.
- Geographical: Warm, high-humidity climates provide ideal conditions.
Syngenta Vegetable Seed’s Global Commitment to Powerful Resistance
Powdery Mildew is one of the most significant challenges pepper producers are combating in recent years, specifically in greenhouse and tunnel production. Syngenta’s teams of experts stay attuned to the market’s needs. Whether production occurs in active greenhouses, passive greenhouses, or open fields, our breeders work to provide fast and effective solutions for our customers. Quick breeding line development helps in delivering resistance to diseases.
Syngenta breeders focus on developing varieties with high vigor, adaptability, and overall plant power.
“Collaborating with growers and technicians is crucial for us in order to detect gaps in the market and select the best varieties for their needs,” Alejandro Pascual, product development specialist at Syngenta Vegetable Seeds says. “At the end, the profitability of growers is key for sustainable agriculture.”
Active and passive greenhouse production is complex, and we work to create varieties in similar conditions that thrive for growers. In open field trials, experts work to maximize yield potential with innovations that include a strong, green leaf cover to prevent sun scalding and varieties with thick, firm walls for increased durability during transport.
Using advanced technologies, our experts collaborate with growers to help them produce the highest-quality peppers. That is a commitment to powerful resistance.
© 2024 Syngenta. Some or all of the varieties may be protected under one or more of the following: Plant Variety Protection, United States Plant Patents and/or Utility Patents and may not be propagated or reproduced without authorization.
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