Tips on the Pests of Chili Plants
Cayenne (sometimes inappropriately labelled as ‘cayenne pepper’ or `red pepper’) is an extremely pungent ground spice prepared by blending the small pungent chillies grown in East Africa, Japan, India, Mexico, Louisiana and some other areas, but not from Cayenne (French Guiana). Red pepper is sometimes regarded as identical with cayenne, but is, nevertheless, milder, being prepared mainly from the larger-fruited, moderately pungent capsicums from Turkey and some of the southern states of the USA.
Aiyadurai (1966) also records Aphis gossypii Glov. and A. evonymi in India, which are also vectors of mosaic. The European corn-borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Htibn. (syn. Pyrausta (Htibn.), has become a serious pest of capsicum along the Atlantic coast of the United States. The lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosel/us (Zell.) was reported causing damage in Georgia, USA.
Lines of interspecific hybrids were obtained showing a high heterosis effect both in their viability and resistance, and in their earliness and productivity. The species C. annuum and C. pendulum did not cross with C. pubescens, although a separate cross- hybridization between C. annuum and C. pubescens could be achieved provided a solution of vitamins B and B6 was used.
Many cultivars exist and the ease with which those of the same species cross can be used for the breeding and selection of improved cultivars. With the discovery of cytoplasmically inherited male sterility (Peterson, 1958), hybrid F, seed can now be cheaply produced. High temperatures accentuate the sterile condition.
Nomenclature and types Chillies and capsicums The numerous varieties of Capsicum species traded in the dried form are grown in many areas and differ considerably in the size, shape and pungency of the fruit; and have been ascribed various botanical classifications and vernacular names in the literature. Traditionally, the smaller-fruited, more pungent types have been known as chillies while the somewhat larger, mildly to moderately pungent types have been known as capsicums. The former type are valued principally for their high pungency and the latter for their colour in combination with pungency.
The cosmopolitan corn earworm, Heliothis artnigera (Hubn.), and the fall army worm, Laphygma frugiperda S. & A., have been reported attacking capsicums in some areas. They have a large number of alternate hosts.
What Materias Can Be in a Dahlia Mulch?
The materials that can be used for mulching are varied, the best being really good farmyard or stable manure especially if well mixed with plenty of short straw.
a mulch is a surface layer of 1 dead vegetable matter, manure, etc., to keep the ground and the roots of plants moist. A somewhat cold description of a practice which many growers consider to be the most important single factor in growing really good dahlias on any soil.
For applying insecticides in spray form the small hand pressure sprays are hard to beat if only a comparatively few plants are grown, as they are easy to use and most economical. For greater numbers of plants, the stirrup pump type of spray is quite effective, though perhaps a little heavy on insecticide, or there are quite large pressure sprays available which are really excellent. They are rather expensive as an initial outlay, but this is offset by the saving in the quantity of insecticide used and the comparative ease of application.
In addition a good deep mulch will tend to smother weed growth, because even strong growing weeds require light immediately after germination from seed, and this requirement is automatically denied them. The exceptions that manage to thrust their way through the mulch are generally suffering from the effects of etiolation and are spindly, puny caricatures of their normal selves.
The texture of the soil is improved under the mulch, so that the ground absorbs water much more readily, and is less likely to be compacted at surface level by heavy rain or artificial watering.
From this stage onwards it is better to keep the weeds down by hand pulling. The wisdom of providing wider pathways every other row will be easily seen, otherwise the whole of the dahlia plot would become hard trodden.
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