Infection of on pepper-Models and affecting factors

Abstract

Under controlled conditions in a growth chamber, we studied the mortality of pepper seedlings caused by Phytophthora capsici. The results showed that soil temperature and soil water content were important factors affecting their infection with P. capsici and the optimum condition for infection was found to be a soil temperature of 22°C–28°C and a soil water content of 40%. The relationships of pepper seedling mortality caused by P. capsici along with soil temperature, soil water content and their interactions can be described by mathematical models. Field observations suggested that the Gompertz model was the best one for describing the epidemiological dynamics of the disease. The incidence of pepper phytophthora blight was significantly related to the initial incidence of pepper phytophthora blight, soil temperature, soil water content and air temperature. A forecasting model for pepper phytophthora blight in the field was developed.

Keywords

Phytophthora capsici, pepper phytophthora blight, mortality, soil temperature, soil water content, epidemic dynamic