Weak and discolored stems

Peter_L · May 12, 2017

Hi, I figured I would query the knowledge base here rather quickly.

The lower portion of some stems are getting weak and are turning a slightly brown color. It originally looked like damping off to me, but I think it might be a genetic problem. Either a predisposition for a certain infection or just weak structure. I really don't over water. I water about 30 mL every 3 or 4 days on average and plants are usually wilting at that time. Also, they don't seem to be dying.

As a matter of diversifying my chances of saving the affected plants, I sliced one right above the cotyledons, applied IBA to the bottom, cut away about half of the leaves, and placed it in very moist soil with a cover. It's been 6 days since then and the plant looks the same.

I've propped the weakest one up to keep the leaves off the dirt. Growth is slow, but there has been very little change in appearance over the last 10 days (as in, it doesn't seem to be getting worse).

Any advice?

Pictures following. I have more information/pictures, but I'll save for later posts.

The_NorthEast_ChileMan · May 12, 2017

Peter_L said:
Hi, I figured I would query the knowledge base here rather quickly.

The lower portion of some stems are getting weak and are turning a slightly brown color. It originally looked like damping off to me, but I think it might be a genetic problem. Either a predisposition for a certain infection or just weak structure. I really don't over water. I water about 30 mL every 3 or 4 days on average and plants are usually wilting at that time. Also, they don't seem to be dying.

As a matter of diversifying my chances of saving the affected plants, I sliced one right above the cotyledons, applied IBA to the bottom, cut away about half of the leaves, and placed it in very moist soil with a cover. It's been 6 days since then and the plant looks the same.

I've propped the weakest one up to keep the leaves off the dirt. Growth is slow, but there has been very little change in appearance over the last 10 days (as in, it doesn't seem to be getting worse).

Any advice?

Pictures following. I have more information/pictures, but I'll save for later posts.

Any advice?

Yea, I see nothing wrong so leave 'em be.....

Jubnat · May 12, 2017

Do you have a fan on them?

moruga welder · May 12, 2017

Jubnat said:
Do you have a fan on them?

+ 1 ,

&

!

Peter_L · May 12, 2017

Yep, usually have a fan on for at least 8 hours every day or two. My lighting schedule is 40 hrs on, 8 hrs off.

Whoops, I forgot to mention that only my White Habanero plants (shows the white jelly bean shape on the seed packet) are showing these symptoms... that's the reason why I think it's genetic.

All of my other plants show nice stocky stems like these.

Slug · May 12, 2017

Tell your plants to quit skipping leg day.

If you have spares, I would pinch the lowest leaves off one and bury it up to the next set, then see if the stem does the same thing as it continues to grow.

CAPCOM · May 12, 2017

It definitely appears to be dampening off. I have attempted twice this year to clone the top half of an infected plant with no success. If it is dampening off, the stem will harden up and the plant will wilt and die. Time will tell, but that looks like text book dampening off.

lek · May 12, 2017

IMHO, it's root rot. if it's root rot, nitrogen will reduce disease severity.

LTCM · May 13, 2017

Damping off. Past the point of no return.

Start over with new mix.

Peter_L · May 13, 2017

Yes, it definitely seems like an infection of the lower stem/roots. I'm not starting any over at this point so nature will just be taking it's course; if any survive, it's bonus points. I'm just wondering if there is a genetic predisposition that these White Habaneros have. All of my White Habaneros (6) are showing these symptoms at various levels of severity, but all of my other plants (32) look fine, seems like more than a coincidence. Besides germination length, every plant has received more or less the same care.

I guess next year I'll just target this variety with hydrogen peroxide and abundant perlite while hoping for the best.

Thanks for the input thus far,
Peter

LTCM · May 13, 2017

Could also be that your white hab seeds carried the damping off pathogen. Not unheard of for seed stock to be infected. It's a hard disease to fight once it's in your mix, so it is key to eliminate the pathogen before sowing.

My methods of combating it would get me attacked by a certain member here, so I won't even go there.

The_NorthEast_ChileMan · May 13, 2017

LTCM said:
My methods of combating it would get me attacked by a certain member here, so I won't even go there.

I'm sorry you feel that way. On an open forum your methods can be refuted and discussed with differing opinions or posters results. Attacked is quite different and if you feel that way you should use the "Report" icon in the lower right of the post to bring your concern to the Admins attention.

Powelly · May 13, 2017

Infect the plant with an aggressive aerobic fungi like trichoderma

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271079123_Effect_of_Trichoderma_harizanum_to_control_damping_off_disease_and_growth_promotion_in_chilli_Capsicum_annuum

Peter_L · May 15, 2017

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Powelly, I'll have to look into the Trichoderma harzianum you recommended. Seems like a great weapon to add to the arsenal. In my inexperience, I didn't even consider that the seeds were already infected; it seems fairly likely that this was the case.

As of this morning, everything was still alive. I might post back with occasional updates.

Peter_L · Jun 2, 2017

The 3 week update:

I guess everything is fine or if it is an infection, the White Habs are trucking along. All 6 plants are alive and well. The largest was planted outside in a 5 gal pot. The plant that I cut off at the the cotyledons to propagate in dirt has roots to the bottom of its cup now. It's obviously set back considerably, but it was an interesting experiment. The stems are still very weak and the plants flop around a lot when I move them. At least I can look forward to a White Habanero crop! :party:

It's good experience for next year. I'll transplant the seedlings right after the first set of true leaves come in and I'll bury them up to the cotyledons.

Biggest plant, pictures right before moving outside

Another one

Propagated one month ago

lek · Jun 2, 2017

Peter_L said:
The 3 week update:

All 6 plants are alive and well.