pepper Verticillium wilt

Symptoms

V-shaped chlorosis radiating from the leaf margin, one-sided wilting, brown vascular tissue, dwarfed plants with reduced fruit set.

Plants affected

• bell pepper

Easily confused with

• pepper Phytophthora blight

  How to tell them apart: Phytophthora capsici causes a fast, water-soaked dark-brown to black rot girdling the stem at the crown and soil line; affected stems feel soft and mushy, the lesion often shows a sharp margin, and the whole plant collapses within days, especially after heavy rain or waterlogging. White cottony growth may appear on the lesion in humid conditions. Verticillium dahliae, by contrast, produces no external stem rot: the plant wilts slowly, lower leaves yellow first (often one-sided or in a V-shaped pattern) and dry to a tan colour, and slicing the lower stem lengthwise reveals brown streaking inside the vascular ring while the outside stays firm and intact. Verticillium worsens in cool, dry-then-stressed conditions, whereas Phytophthora explodes in warm, wet, poorly drained soil.

Common questions

How do I recognise pepper Verticillium wilt on bell pepper?

V-shaped chlorosis radiating from the leaf margin, one-sided wilting, brown vascular tissue, dwarfed plants with reduced fruit set.

Do I have to report pepper Verticillium wilt?

No. pepper Verticillium wilt is not a notifiable organism, so there is nothing to report to an authority. Treat it as a normal garden problem.

How is pepper Verticillium wilt treated?

Mainly with biological and cultural measures — removing affected material, changing the conditions that favour it, and treating with agents approved in your country. The exact steps and their timing depend on the plant, the season and where you live: Dr. Phyto works them out in a free diagnosis.