Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist; bobmul@udel.edu
Symptoms of pepper anthracnose on fruit include sunken, circular spots which develop blackish-tan to orange concentric rings as lesions develop. Lesions on stems and leaves appear as grayish-brown spots with dark margins and can easily be overlooked. Control of anthracnose begins scouting on a regular basis and applying preventative fungicides before symptoms appear, especially in fields or areas of the farm where you have had anthracnose problems in the past. Beginning at flowering and as small fruit begin to set, alternate chlorothalonil (M5) at 1.5 pt 6F/A with one of the following FRAC code 11 fungicides: azoxystrobin (Quadris at 6.0 to 15.5 fl oz 2.08F/A) or Cabrio (pyraclostrobin) 20EG. After harvesting, pepper fields should be disced and plowed under thoroughly to bury crop debris.
Anthracnose on bell pepper fruit