The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum affects the stems, leaves and pods of beans. The fungus also affects lettuce, carrots, parsnips, cabbage, crucifers and cucurbits. This fungus has become a problem in the northwest part of the state. The first signs of infection are small, soft, watery spots that enlarge rapidly under cool, moist conditions. They may enlarge and coalesce to the extent that the stem is girdled.
Infected pods turn into a soft, watery mass.
Following the watery stage, the affected tissues dry out and turn brown. Within a short time, the brown areas are covered with a dense, white fungal growth. With age, the white fungal growth turns gray and is dotted with small, hard black bodies called sclerotia. Some losses occur in shipping. Infected beans tend to stick together.