Common root rot is difficult to diagnose and often goes unnoticed.
This disease enters plants through the root causing seedling blight or attacks older plants predisposed to several environmental stresses. Seedlings can be killed before or after emergence. Infected plants occur in random patches in fields and are stunted and lighter green than healthy plants. Older plants that are infected will mature early, produce few tillers, have shriveled seed or no seed, and produce heads that are bronzed, bleached, or white. Upon close examination, infected root systems will display a brown color and have fewer roots than healthy plants.