1. Gram pod borer / Fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera)

Symptoms: Young larvae feed on leaves, while older larvae bore into chilli fruits and feed on the inner tissues. Infested fruits develop holes, damaged seeds and may rot.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled product containing emamectin benzoate, chlorantraniliprole or spinosad, where currently registered and recommended.
• Biological management: Apply Helicoverpa nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaNPV) or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) against young larvae; use pheromone traps for monitoring.

2. Tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura)

Symptoms: Caterpillars initially feed in groups, scraping leaf tissue and leaving skeletonised patches. Older larvae cause irregular holes in leaves and fruits, sometimes resulting in severe defoliation.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled product containing emamectin benzoate, chlorantraniliprole or another locally recommended active ingredient.
• Biological management: Apply Spodoptera NPV (SlNPV) or Bt against young larvae; collect egg masses and caterpillar groups and use pheromone traps for monitoring.

3. Chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis)

Symptoms: Thrips suck sap from tender leaves, shoots and flowers, causing upward leaf curling, crinkling and distorted growth. Severe infestation can cause flower drop, brittle buds and scarred fruits.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled product containing spinosad or acetamiprid, if currently registered for the target pest.
• Biological management: Conserve predatory mites such as Amblyseius spp. and minute pirate bugs (Orius spp.); neem-based products can help suppress early infestations. Blue sticky traps are highly recommended for effective control of thrips

4. Aphids (Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae)

Symptoms: Small, soft-bodied insects cluster on tender shoots and leaf undersides, sucking sap and causing leaf curling and yellowing. They excrete honeydew, which encourages sooty mould, and some species transmit plant viruses.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled aphicide, such as acetamiprid, where registered and recommended.
• Biological management: Conserve ladybird beetles, green lacewings, hoverflies and parasitoids such as Aphidius spp.; neem-based products may help manage early infestations. Yellow sticky trap is highly recommended for a better control.

5. Red spider mite (Tetranychus spp.)

Symptoms: Mites feed mainly on leaf undersides, producing tiny pale speckles that develop into yellowing and bronzing. Heavy infestations may cause fine webbing, leaf drying and premature leaf fall.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled miticide containing a locally recommended active ingredient, such as abamectin or fenpyroximate, where registered.
• Biological management: Conserve or release predatory mites such as Phytoseiulus persimilis or suitable Neoseiulus species; avoid unnecessary broad-spectrum insecticide sprays.

6. Broad mite / Yellow mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus)

Symptoms: Infestation causes young leaves to become narrow, thickened, curled and brittle, with distorted growing tips. Severe damage results in stunted plants, flower drop and malformed fruits.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled miticide recommended for broad mites, such as abamectin or another locally registered option.
• Biological management: Conserve or release suitable predatory mites, including Neoseiulus cucumeris where appropriate; neem-based products may help suppress early populations.

7. Whitefly

Symptoms: Adults and nymphs suck sap from the undersides of leaves, causing yellowing and weakening of plants. Honeydew encourages sooty mould, and some whitefly species transmit viral diseases.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled product containing a locally recommended active ingredient such as Acetamiprid 20% SP or another registered option.
• Biological management: Conserve parasitoids such as Encarsia and Eretmocerus spp. and predators such as green lacewings; use yellow sticky traps for monitoring.

Chilli diseases: symptoms and management

Below are the major chilli diseases with two-line symptoms, chemical management and biological management for Khethari’s crop-protection content. Management options should be selected according to the disease, crop stage and current product label recommendations.

1. Damping-off (Pythium aphanidermatum)

Symptoms: Seeds may rot before germination, while young seedlings develop water-soaked, weakened stems near the soil surface. Affected seedlings collapse and die, especially in wet, poorly drained nursery beds.

• Chemical management: Apply systemic fungicide such as metalaxyl  or a copper-based product where appropriate.
• Biological management: Treat seeds with Trichoderma asperellum or Pseudomonas fluorescens; maintain raised nursery beds and avoid excess watering.

 2. Die-back and fruit rot / Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.)

Symptoms: Branch tips dry backwards, and infected fruits develop dark, sunken lesions that may contain concentric markings or black spore masses. Severe infection causes fruit rotting and premature fruit drop.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled fungicide such as captan, mancozeb or a locally recommended alternative, where registered.
• Biological management: Apply suitable Bacillus subtilis or Trichoderma formulations as preventive measures where recommended; remove infected fruits and plant debris.
  

3. Choanephora blight (Choanephora cucurbitarum)

Symptoms: Young shoots, flowers and tender plant parts develop water-soaked lesions and rapidly turn brown or black. Infected tissues may become soft and show fuzzy fungal growth under humid conditions.

• Chemical management: Use a locally registered fungicide recommended for this disease, such as mancozeb and copper oxychloride where permitted.
• Biological management: Maintain good air circulation, remove infected plant parts and avoid prolonged leaf wetness; suitable biological fungicides may be used preventively where recommended. 

 4. Mosaic disease complex (viral pathogens)

Symptoms: Leaves show alternating light-green and dark-green patches, mottling and distortion, often accompanied by stunted plant growth. Infected plants may produce fewer, smaller or malformed fruits.

• Chemical management: No chemical spray cures a viral infection; manage insect vectors according to identification and local recommendations.
• Biological management: Conserve natural enemies of aphids and thrips, use healthy seedlings, remove infected plants early and control weeds that harbour viruses or their vectors.

  5. Powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica)

Symptoms: Leaves develop pale-yellow patches on the upper surface, with powdery fungal growth often more visible on the underside. Severe infection causes leaf yellowing, drying and premature leaf drop.

• Chemical management: Apply a chilli-labelled fungicide such as wettable sulphur or another locally recommended product where registered.
• Biological management: Use suitable Bacillus subtilis or other registered biological fungicides preventively; maintain adequate plant spacing and monitor lower leaf surfaces.
    

6. Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora capsici)

Symptoms: Small circular or irregular brown spots develop on leaves, often with greyish centres and darker margins. Severe infection causes spots to merge, leading to yellowing and premature leaf fall.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled fungicide such as mancozeb or another locally recommended product where registered.
• Biological management: Remove infected leaves and crop residues; suitable Bacillus or Pseudomonas formulations may help suppress disease when applied preventively and according to recommendations.

7.Bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas spp.)

Symptoms: Small, water-soaked spots develop on leaves and may become dark brown or black, sometimes with yellow halos. Severe infection causes leaf drop and lesions on stems and fruits.

• Chemical management: Use a locally registered copper-based bactericide where recommended; avoid spraying during conditions that favour bacterial spread.
• Biological management: Use healthy, disease-free seed and seedlings; remove infected debris and avoid overhead irrigation. Suitable Bacillus or Pseudomonas products may offer preventive suppression, but cannot reliably cure established infections.

8. Fusarium wilt / Root wilt

Symptoms: Plants show yellowing, drooping and progressive wilting, often beginning with lower leaves. Roots or vascular tissues may show brown discoloration, and affected plants may eventually die.

• Chemical management: There is no reliable curative fungicide for established Fusarium wilt; confirm the pathogen before selecting any soil treatment.
• Biological management: Apply suitable Trichoderma formulations through seed or soil treatment, use well-decomposed organic matter and practise crop rotation with non-host crops

 9. Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria spp.)

Symptoms: Leaves develop brown spots, often with concentric rings resembling a target. As lesions enlarge and merge, leaves yellow, dry and fall prematurely.

• Chemical management: Use a chilli-labelled fungicide such as mancozeb or another locally recommended product where registered
• Biological management: Remove infected leaves and crop residues, improve airflow and consider preventive applications of suitable Bacillus subtilis formulations where recommended.

10. Chilli leaf curl disease (viral complex)

Symptoms: Leaves become curled, crinkled, thickened or reduced in size, with shortened internodes and stunted plant growth. Severe infection reduces flowering and fruit setting; whiteflies and other vectors may be involved depending on the virus.

• Chemical management: No chemical treatment cures the virus; manage the confirmed insect vector using locally registered products and avoid unnecessary spraying.
• Biological management: Remove severely infected plants, raise healthy seedlings under insect-proof netting, remove weed hosts and conserve natural enemies of vector insects.