The fungus attacks the crown or collar near the soil line and soon girdles and kills the plant. The slightly fluffy, black appearance of fungal fruiting structures at the ground line is the best field diagnostic symptom. Loss of natural pod color is the primary problem caused by this fungal organism. The external layer of pod tissue turns dark brown to black but the kernal is seldom damaged. This disease is found primarily in the Texas peanut producing counties bordering New Mexico.
Affected plants die suddenly, and leaves remain firmly attached.
Plants may be easily pulled from the soil because root tissue decays rapidly. Buff to brown strands of the fungus can be observed on the surface of larger roots. The disease is more prevalent in alkaline soils. This fungus often occurs in peanut fields that have been rotated with cotton. The fleshy white fungus, with what appears to be tiny, sharp, protruding teeth, is not a known pathogen of peanuts.