Why Does My Pawpaw Look Unhealthy?

Are there any small water-soaked lesions on fruit during ripening or circular sunken lesions with light brown margins?

Are there any circular water-soaked or brown lesions on older leaves, centers of lesions become bleached as they mature?

Are there any tiny black, slightly raised dots on fruit, leaves are with irregular gray-white lesions?

Are the leaves covered with white powder?

Are there any angular water-soaked lesions on leaves that later coalesce and spread along leaf veins?

Are thee any dark green rings on fruit that may be slightly sunken and become less distinct as the fruit ripens?

Are there any water-soaked, oozing lesions on unripe fruit, mature fruit covered in white mycelium?

Are there any flattened oval to round disc-like insects covered in cottony substance on a tree?

Anthracnose and the charcoal spot is a fungal disease spread by wind and rain. Disease emergence is favored by high temperatures and humidity. Appropriate protective fungicides should be applied. Dipping fruits in hot water for 20 minutes reduces the incidence of the disease.

Black spot is a fungal disease spread by wind and rain. Disease emergence is favored by cool weather interspersed with moisture from dew or rain. The disease may require applications of appropriate fungicides for adequate control.

Cercospora black spot is a fungal disease that usually enters orchards from infected papaya leaves in adjacent orchards. Applications of appropriate protective fungicides at intervals of 14 to 28 days provide satisfactory control of the disease.

White, powdery patches on the leaves are caused by a fungal disease Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants by thining them and any surrounding plants. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. The appropriate fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

Bacterial canker and decline is a pawpaw disease caused by bacteria Erwinia spp. Bacteria survive in lesions and cankers. Prune off wilted or dying branches below the infected area. You should sterilize pruning tools in isopropyl alcohol beforehand. Copper sprays help in the control of the disease.

Papaya ringspot is a viral disease transmitted by several aphid species. Infected plants should be removed and destroyed to prevent the spread of the virus. Control aphids to prevent the disease.

Phytophthora fruit rot is caused by fungi that survive in soil and enter through wounds in the stem. The disease can be controlled through the use of appropriate protective fungicides such as mancozeb or copper sulfate. Root rot in seedlings can be prevented by planting in holes filled with soil in which papaya has never been grown.

Papaya mealybug causes chlorosis, plant stunting, leaf deformation, and early leaf and fruit drop. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

White peach scale insects cause damage by feeding on twigs, branches, and fruit, injecting toxins into the plant as they do so. Scales produce a white waxy coating which eventually turns black. Populations are often kept in check by natural enemies, including predacious beetles and some wasps. Trees can be sprayed with horticultural oils when dormant which effectively kill scales without damaging natural enemies.