Plants are stunted. Leaves become red and deformed. Infected pods are blue in color, deformed and sterile. Infected plants are usually scattered throughout the field. The pathogen is carried by several species of leafhoppers.
Control is based on reducing vector populations in the crop and in nearby weeds.
Blackleg Leptosphaeria maculans 1. Lesions are first seen on seedlings as white or gray circular spots on cotyledons. Infection may spread to leaves, stems and pods. Lesion on older plants are surrounded by a dark purple margin. Infected pods usually produce infected seed.