A total plant disease control program is necessary to reduce losses from these soil-borne diseases. Some practices will reduce the intensity and the likelihood of occurrence of these diseases. There are no resistant varieties, though some may be more tolerant than others. Crop rotation is of little value since the fungi are widespread and survive in soils for a long time. Fusarium Root Rot Fusarium Root Rot, or Dry Root Rot, is the most common and important root rot of beans in North Carolina.
Green bean is the main host but lima bean, southern pea, and garden pea are also affected.
It occurs mostly in hot weather in acid and poorly fertilized soils. The disease tends to be evenly distributed over a field. The disease is caused by the fungus Fusarium solani f. sp. The fungus can live in the soil several years in the absence of beans. Infection usually occurs when the seed germinate and the fungus penetrates the hypocotyl.