Integrated management of Phytopthora capsici foot rot in black pepper

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is one of the most commonly used spice crops. Foot rot caused by Phytopthora capsici is a major bottleneck in black pepper production, resulting in significant crop losses in pepper-growing areas. To address this issue, a field study was conducted to test the efficacy of potential fungicides, bioagents, and botanicals in combination at two locations during 2017-18. It was found that soil application of Trichoderma harzianum @ 50 g/vine + neem cake @ 1 kg/vine before the onset of monsoon followed by drench and spray with fenamidone + mancozeb @ 2g/lit thrice at monthly intervals had the least leaf infection (7.52%), foliar yellowing (5.38%), defoliation (2.17%), and resulted in the highest dry pepper yield 4.70 kg/vine, with a higher benefit-cost ratio. These findings suggest that the use of a combination of bioagents, fungicides, and botanicals can effectively manage Phytophthora foot rot in black pepper cultivation, leading to increased yield and higher profitability for farmers.