Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Free Information on Chili Pests

By James Peterson

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.

The oleoresins of chillies and capsicums are prepared mainly by the food industries in North America and Western Europe. By contrast, a substantial amount of paprika oleoresin is prepared.,in the major growing areas (Spain and Eastern Europe), in additicin to extraction being carried out in the principal paprika-importing countriesin the Western hemisphere. The three types of oleoresins find similar applications to the ground products in the preparation of' processed foods. Chillie oleoresin (more commonly known as 'African capsicum oleoresin') is also incorporated into a number of pharmaceutical formulations.

The adult weevil is about 3 mm long, black and sparsely covered with grey or yellowish hairs; it feeds on the leaves, blossom buds and tender pods. The presence of the weevil may be indicated by small pin-holes in blossom buds and pods in which the females have laid their eggs. The period from egg to adult in Cali fornia is 2 to 3 weeks and there are 5 to 8 generations per year. It is controlled by contact insecticides.

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.

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