Severe infection causes excessive leaf drop and stunting of the plant. Remove all debris in the garden after harvest. Do not plant beans in the same area for two to three years. There are no resistant varieties or recommended chemicals for this disease in the home garden. These spots enlarge rapidly under cool, moist conditions, and run together, girdling the stem.
Infected pods turn into a soft, watery mass, before dying out and turning brown.
Soon infected areas are covered by a white fungal growth. Improve air circulation between plants and rows. Too much fertilizer favors heavy vine growth, creating areas for the disease to develop. There are no recommended chemical controls for the home garden. Prepared by Nancy Doubrava, HGIC Information Specialist, and James H. Blake, Extension Plant Pathologist, Clemson University.