Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides

Capsicum sunscald (085)

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Photo 1. Capsicum with sunscald showing papery bleached area where damage has occurred.

Photo 3. Sunscald on tomato.

Photo 2. Sunscald on capsicum (nearest fruit) showing large greyish wrinkled area, possibly with secondary fungal rot showing in centre.

Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. Sunscald affects capsicum and also large red chilli, eggplant, tomato.
  • The damage is caused by the sun heating one side of the fruit due to loss of leaves from pests or diseases, drought, heavy rainfall, broken branches.
  • Cultural control: Make sure plants have nutrients and water for healthy leaf growth; check for pests and diseases weekly; remove early flowers until enough leaves to protect fruits; stake plants.
  • Chemical control: use pesticides only to prevent leaf loss by pests, e.g., chlorothalonil, mancozeb or copper for frog-eye fungal spot.

Common Name

Sunscald

Scientific Name

Sunscald is a 'physiological' problem. It is not caused by insects, fungi, bacteria or other pathogens.

Photo 3. Sunscald on tomato.

AUTHORS Suzanne Neave & Grahame Jackson
Information from Cerkauskas R (2004) Sunscald. AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center Fact Sheet. AVRDC Publication 04-583; and from Black LL, Green SK, Hartman GL, Poulos JM (1991) Pepper Diseases: A Field Guide. AVRDC Publication No. 91-347.fhm. 98pp. Photo 2 Missouri botanical Gardens. (http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/environmental/sunscald/sunscald-of-tomato-and-peppers.aspx). Photo 3 Stephen M Olson Physiological, nutritional and other disorders of tomato fruit. EDIS. University of Florida, IFAS Extension.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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