Powdery mildew can be devastating to capsicums

This fungus has the capacity to rapidly build up resistance to crop chemicals, but there is a simple way to defeat it, writes Bill Kerr.

- Bill Kerr

Powdery mildew is a systemic fungus with a very rapid life cycle. On account of this, it has the capacity to rapidly build up resistance to crop chemicals. The disease causes farmers to want to pull out their hair in frustration to find a chemical that will actually kill the mildew on their crop.

It is well documented that the spores require humidity in order to infect plants. This confused me, as one of my clients had peppers growing with polythene protection on his tunnels and drip irrigation.