my mirch leaves are curling up and cupping, plants look stunted, what is the cause and cure
2 Answers
Leaf curl in chili is usually caused by thrips and yellow mites, and sometimes a virus spread by these pests. If leaves curl upward and look silvery, suspect thrips. If leaves curl downward, become brittle and the underside looks bronzed, suspect yellow mite. Scout the crop early as the damage shows fast once populations build. Use blue and yellow sticky traps to monitor, keep the field weed free, and avoid repeated use of the same chemical group, which is what drives resistance in Guntur. For sprays, follow the label dose and rotate between recommended molecules, and always respect the pre harvest interval. Take a sample leaf and a few insects to your KVK to confirm whether it is thrips, mite or virus before you spend on sprays.
In our Guntur belt the mistake everyone makes is spraying the same thing again and again. Rotate the groups as the krishi officer says, otherwise nothing works after a few weeks. Sticky traps really help you catch thrips early.