Prevention Strategies for Aggressive Pepper Wilt in Ontario's Greenhouse Sector

Lead Applicant: Thomas Graham

Research Priority: Plant Health & Protection

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2026/2027

Research Centre: N/A

Research Summary: Greenhouse pepper growers in Ontario are facing a serious and currently unidentified wilt disorder that is causing widespread crop losses. Although recirculating irrigation systems help reduce water use, they can also allow harmful compounds and pathogens to accumulate. While research continues to identify the cause of the disorder, there is an urgent need for effective prevention strategies and better guidance on the use of disinfection products such as hydrogen peroxide. This project will develop prevention strategies using multiple treatment technologies while also investigating how these technologies interact with different growth substrates, such as mineral wool and coir. The research will examine factors including required treatment doses and the potential accumulation of by-products or stabilizing compounds associated with some disinfection products.