Hot pepper, an economically important crop species, is generally susceptible to anthracnose disease. Management of hot pepper anthracnose relies on costly fungicide sprays, which have severely limited the development of the hot pepper industry in China. As an alternative management strategy, we evaluated the performance of hot pepper (P) intercropped with maize (M) at different intercropping ratios on anthracnose disease and yield. Compared with monocropping, intercropping significantly reduced anthracnose incidence and delayed the onset of the disease. The mechanisms by which the intercropping system reduced anthracnose incidence included interfering with spore dispersal, decreasing the incidence of sunscald, and altering the microclimate. A significant difference in the percentage of marketable hot pepper fruit was observed between intercropping (P4|M1, P5|M1 and P6|M1) and monocropping systems. The hot pepper fruit yield in the P6|M1 system (19.5–32.7 t/ha) was equivalent to that in the monocrop system and had a land equivalent ratio > 1 (1.32, 1.36). Considering the reduction in anthracnose incidence and increased land utilization efficiency, the hot pepper-maize (P6|M1) intercropping system is a favorable measure for controlling hot pepper anthracnose. This work provides a foundation for the sustainable management of hot pepper anthracnose and increases the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the reduction of anthracnose in the hot pepper-maize intercropping system.

辣椒是一种经济上重要的作物品种，通常容易感染炭疽病。辣椒炭疽病的防治依赖昂贵的杀菌剂喷洒，严重限制了我国辣椒产业的发展。作为替代管理策略，我们评估了辣椒 (P) 与玉米 (M) 间作在不同间作比例下对炭疽病和产量的影响。与单作相比，间作显着降低了炭疽病的发病率并延缓了疾病的发病。间作系统降低炭疽病发生率的机制包括干扰孢子传播、减少日灼发生率和改变小气候。在间作（P4|M1、P5|M1和P6|M1）和单作系统之间观察到可销售辣椒果实的百分比存在显着差异。P6|M1 系统（19.5-32.7 t/ha）辣椒果实产量与单作系统相当，土地当量比> 1（1.32，1.36）。考虑到炭疽病发病率的降低和土地利用效率的提高，辣椒-玉米(P6|M1)间作制度是控制辣椒炭疽病的有利措施。这项工作为辣椒炭疽病的可持续管理提供了基础，并增加了对辣椒-玉米间作系统炭疽病减少机制的理解。5–32.7 t/ha) 相当于单一作物系统中的土地当量比 > 1 (1.32, 1.36)。考虑到炭疽病发病率的降低和土地利用效率的提高，辣椒-玉米(P6|M1)间作制度是控制辣椒炭疽病的有利措施。这项工作为辣椒炭疽病的可持续管理提供了基础，并增加了对辣椒-玉米间作系统炭疽病减少机制的理解。5–32.7 t/ha) 相当于单一作物系统中的，土地当量比 > 1 (1.32, 1.36)。考虑到炭疽病发病率的降低和土地利用效率的提高，辣椒-玉米(P6|M1)间作制度是控制辣椒炭疽病的有利措施。这项工作为辣椒炭疽病的可持续管理提供了基础，并增加了对辣椒-玉米间作系统炭疽病减少机制的理解。