The roots and basal parts of the stem are primarily affected. The stems of young tobacco seedlings infected by this fungus will decay near the soil level. Infected plants usually wilt during the hottest part of the day and may not recover at night. Older plants infected with this disease will wilt suddenly or the leaves will droop. Disking may not be noticeable in resistant varieties.
Root systems are completely or partially decayed.
Soon the leaves on infected plants become brown and, in a few days, the plant is dead. Infection late in the season often results in plants with stalks blackened most of the way to the top. There may be a few small, green leaves in the top of such plants, but they are usually not usable. This disease frequently appears first in low, wet spots in plant beds or fields. Disease development in cool weather is slower than when temperatures are high.