Leaf scorch and pepper spot

Pepper spot and leaf scorchare common diseases that are caused by the same fungus. In early to mid-season, large v-shaped areas appear at the tips of the leaves, resulting in a scorch symptom similar in appearance to leaf hopper damage. Later, pepper spot is seen as very small dark lesions that “pepper” a leaf. These diseases usually are not a problem when fungicides have been applied for leaf spot control. Pepper spot occasionally has been associ­ated with severe vine decline that sometimes occurs after a heavy late-season rain.