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Green pepper plants are prone to a variety of diseases that can affect their productivity and their lifespan. A variety of sources, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, can cause diseases in green pepper plants. These diseases occur quite frequently in pepper plants and are definitely something to be on the lookout for as the growing season progresses.

Bacterial Leaf Spot

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The bacteria Xanthomonas vesicatoria causes bacterial leaf spot. This green pepper plant disease can manifest itself during various stages of the plant's development. In young pepper plants, the leaves will have yellowish-green, raised patches on their underside. In older plants, the spots are darker green than the leaves. They spread, eventually turning yellow in the center of the spots. If bacterial leaf rot spreads to the peppers, the vegetables will develop small blisters on their surface. These blisters will bubble up and turn brown, in some cases rendering the pepper inedible. To avoid bacterial leaf rot, make sure to buy clean, treated seeds to start the plants. There is no treatment for the bacteria once it takes hold of a plant.

Mosaic
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Mosaic is a viral disease found in pepper plants that causes the leaves to appear mottled and distorted. The disease often sets in when the plant is young, which keeps it from producing any peppers. Insects commonly spread mosaic. To prevent this green bell pepper plant disease, spray the plants with insecticide frequently, and keep the planting area clear of weeds and excess vegetation. There is no treatment for mosaic once it infects the plant.

Blossom-End Rot
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Blossom-end rot affects the vegetables grown on the plant. This disease found in pepper plants usually manifests when the vegetables are about halfway developed. The blossom end of the pepper starts to appear dark and water-soaked and then the spot spreads and turns brown. It usually envelops the majority of the pepper, making it inedible. A lack of calcium in the soil contributes to blossom-end rot. To prevent this disease, plant the pepper plants in a calcium-rich plot. If blossom-end rot appears, treat the soil with a calcium-rich gardening supplement

Cercospora Leaf Spot

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Cercospora leaf spot is a fungal infection that affects most varieties of pepper. This green pepper plant disease causes large, dark gray spots to appear on the mature plant's leaves. A dark brown border surrounds the spots, and infected leaves tend to turn yellow and drop off of the plant. The fungus comes from infected seeds. To prevent it, purchase treated seeds. If the disease appears, treat the plant with a fungicide designed for cercospora leaf spot.

Southern Blight
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Southern blight is a fungus that's most prevalent in the southeastern United States. Excessively rainy weather energizes this disease and attacks the plant's stem at its base, blocking nutrients from traveling to the rest of the plant. The malnourished pepper plant eventually droops and dies. If you suspect the dead plant had southern blight, you can confirm by pulling up the plant. Plants afflicted with southern blight usually have a white mass of fungus enveloping the roots. If a plant has the southern blight fungus, so does the soil. Prevent the disease by plowing deeply before planting and regularly rotating crops. There is no real treatment for southern blight other than temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.