ABSTRACT

Symptoms and diagnostic features On pepper, the early symptoms consist of a watersoaked lesion on crown and lower stem tissue that is in contact with the soil. These infection sites turn light to dark brown and can rapidly girdle the entire crown. Above-ground symptoms consist of wilting and a quick collapse of all foliage (236). If soil moisture conditions are suitable, the pathogen will form a thick, white mycelial mat or layer on crown, lower stem, and even

236 Collapsed pepper plant affected by southern

on the soil surrounding the crown (237). Small (1-2 mm in diameter), spherical, tan to brown sclerotia form profusely on and in this white growth. Sclerotia are characterized by having an outer differentiated, pigmented rind.