<![CDATA[Background: Red chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a leading horticultural commodity in Indonesia, but its productivity is often limited by insect-transmitted viral diseases. Objective: This study aimed to determine the incidence of viral disease, the population dynamics, and the species of insect vectors on red chili pepper in Sukarami, Gunung Talang District, Solok Regency. Methods: Direct field observation was conducted on a 0.0273 ha plot (800 plants) in Jorong Sukarami, Nagari Koto Gaek Guguk, from November 2024 to April 2025. One hundred sample plants across five diagonally-arranged subplots were observed. Disease incidence (IP = n/N × 100%) was recorded weekly from 21 to 98 days after planting (DAP), while vector populations were counted visually at four critical phases: vegetative, flowering, fruiting, and post-harvest. Results: The incidence of virus-like symptoms increased progressively from 6% at 3 weeks after planting (WAP) to 73% at 14 WAP, with the sharpest increase (16 percentage points) occurring between the 8th and 9th week during flowering. Bemisia tabaci was the dominant vector, rising from 8 individuals at the vegetative phase to 57 after harvest, while Myzus persicae appeared only after the first harvest (16 individuals). Conclusion: Disease incidence increased concurrently with B. tabaci population, suggesting a temporal association between disease development and vector abundance. Early monitoring and management of B. tabaci during the vegetative phase is therefore recommended to reduce virus transmission risk]]>
