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Main Diseases of Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in the Localities of Njombe-Penja (Cameroon)

Received: 19 January 2026     Accepted: 29 January 2026     Published: 11 February 2026
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Abstract

Piper nigrum is an important crop. However, this crop is very vulnerable to pests and diseases, which can cause a drop in production if no control methods are applied. The general objective of our study is to contribute to a better understanding of diseases and the various associated pests and diseases in the study sites (Njombe and Penja). To achieve this objective, the main diseases of pepper in the field were identified and described. In each site, four quadrats of twenty pepper plants out of twenty were planted; the different diseases were identified and described according to their characteristic symptoms. Their incidence and severity were assessed along the diagonal of each quadrat. The pathogens responsible for these diseases were characterized macroscopically and microscopically using several identification keys. The results showed that in both study areas, several symptoms were observed, including necrosis, scorching, diffuse spots, sparse spots, blistering on the leaves and leaf yellowing corresponding to diseases such as: Anthracnose, Cercosporiosis, Mildew, Rust, Galle and slow decline. In both sites, the incidence varied from 65 to 100% and the severity from 25 to 75%. In the Petri dishes, the colour of the mycelium varied between black, white, pink and brown and had a milky, cottony appearance. Microscopically, the shape of the spores varied from round, oblong, fusiform, reniform and falciform. Some hyphae were septate and others were non-septate. Species of fungi such as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. necator, Cercospora sp., F. solani, F. oxysporum, Rhizoctonia sp. and Cephaleurus virescens were identified as being responsible for these diseases. Knowledge of these pathogens could contribute to the development of more environmentally-friendly control methods.

Published in Journal of Plant Sciences (Volume 14, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13
Page(s) 38-50
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Piper Nigrum, Disease, Symptom, Characterisation

References
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    Nourou, K. N. A., Valerie, T. N., Agripine, K., Heu, A., Junior, A. J., et al. (2026). Main Diseases of Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in the Localities of Njombe-Penja (Cameroon). Journal of Plant Sciences, 14(1), 38-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13

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    ACS Style

    Nourou, K. N. A.; Valerie, T. N.; Agripine, K.; Heu, A.; Junior, A. J., et al. Main Diseases of Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in the Localities of Njombe-Penja (Cameroon). J. Plant Sci. 2026, 14(1), 38-50. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13

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    AMA Style

    Nourou KNA, Valerie TN, Agripine K, Heu A, Junior AJ, et al. Main Diseases of Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in the Localities of Njombe-Penja (Cameroon). J Plant Sci. 2026;14(1):38-50. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13,
      author = {Kone Nsangou Abdou Nourou and Tsama Njitat Valerie and Kacko Agripine and Alain Heu and Ayemele Jometio Junior and Agyingi Lucy Ambang and Jules Patrice Ngoh Dooh},
      title = {Main Diseases of Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in the Localities of Njombe-Penja (Cameroon)},
      journal = {Journal of Plant Sciences},
      volume = {14},
      number = {1},
      pages = {38-50},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jps.20261401.13},
      abstract = {Piper nigrum is an important crop. However, this crop is very vulnerable to pests and diseases, which can cause a drop in production if no control methods are applied. The general objective of our study is to contribute to a better understanding of diseases and the various associated pests and diseases in the study sites (Njombe and Penja). To achieve this objective, the main diseases of pepper in the field were identified and described. In each site, four quadrats of twenty pepper plants out of twenty were planted; the different diseases were identified and described according to their characteristic symptoms. Their incidence and severity were assessed along the diagonal of each quadrat. The pathogens responsible for these diseases were characterized macroscopically and microscopically using several identification keys. The results showed that in both study areas, several symptoms were observed, including necrosis, scorching, diffuse spots, sparse spots, blistering on the leaves and leaf yellowing corresponding to diseases such as: Anthracnose, Cercosporiosis, Mildew, Rust, Galle and slow decline. In both sites, the incidence varied from 65 to 100% and the severity from 25 to 75%. In the Petri dishes, the colour of the mycelium varied between black, white, pink and brown and had a milky, cottony appearance. Microscopically, the shape of the spores varied from round, oblong, fusiform, reniform and falciform. Some hyphae were septate and others were non-septate. Species of fungi such as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. necator, Cercospora sp., F. solani, F. oxysporum, Rhizoctonia sp. and Cephaleurus virescens were identified as being responsible for these diseases. Knowledge of these pathogens could contribute to the development of more environmentally-friendly control methods.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Main Diseases of Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in the Localities of Njombe-Penja (Cameroon)
    AU  - Kone Nsangou Abdou Nourou
    AU  - Tsama Njitat Valerie
    AU  - Kacko Agripine
    AU  - Alain Heu
    AU  - Ayemele Jometio Junior
    AU  - Agyingi Lucy Ambang
    AU  - Jules Patrice Ngoh Dooh
    Y1  - 2026/02/11
    PY  - 2026
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13
    T2  - Journal of Plant Sciences
    JF  - Journal of Plant Sciences
    JO  - Journal of Plant Sciences
    SP  - 38
    EP  - 50
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2331-0731
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20261401.13
    AB  - Piper nigrum is an important crop. However, this crop is very vulnerable to pests and diseases, which can cause a drop in production if no control methods are applied. The general objective of our study is to contribute to a better understanding of diseases and the various associated pests and diseases in the study sites (Njombe and Penja). To achieve this objective, the main diseases of pepper in the field were identified and described. In each site, four quadrats of twenty pepper plants out of twenty were planted; the different diseases were identified and described according to their characteristic symptoms. Their incidence and severity were assessed along the diagonal of each quadrat. The pathogens responsible for these diseases were characterized macroscopically and microscopically using several identification keys. The results showed that in both study areas, several symptoms were observed, including necrosis, scorching, diffuse spots, sparse spots, blistering on the leaves and leaf yellowing corresponding to diseases such as: Anthracnose, Cercosporiosis, Mildew, Rust, Galle and slow decline. In both sites, the incidence varied from 65 to 100% and the severity from 25 to 75%. In the Petri dishes, the colour of the mycelium varied between black, white, pink and brown and had a milky, cottony appearance. Microscopically, the shape of the spores varied from round, oblong, fusiform, reniform and falciform. Some hyphae were septate and others were non-septate. Species of fungi such as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. necator, Cercospora sp., F. solani, F. oxysporum, Rhizoctonia sp. and Cephaleurus virescens were identified as being responsible for these diseases. Knowledge of these pathogens could contribute to the development of more environmentally-friendly control methods.
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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