Stem Rot August-September. Plant symptoms are expressed as dark red discolorations of the inner stem , or as late season leaf defoliation. Look for unfilled fully developed pods at harvest. BSR can be found anywhere in the Midwest. SDS is caused by Fusarium solani fungus and is found most often during cool, wet growing seasons.
Irrigated fields can have a greater risk of infection.
Leaves on infested plants will turn yellow-brown, die and fall off leaving the petioles attached to the stem. Unlike BSR, however, the pith will remain white.