First symptoms are a slow wilting of shoots, often on only one side of the plant. Wilting is accompanied by a discoloration of leaves, at first a light gray-green and finally a pale yellow color. When stems of diseased plants are split, a brown discoloration or streaks are evident in the vascular tissues.
Symptoms develop rapidly and are more severe during periods of high temperatures.
Most effective methods of control are propagation of disease-free cuttings and complete sterilization of potting soil, tools and benches. A wet rot of the bark occurs at the soil line. Rot in the cortex is dry and corky with formations of sclerotia in the center of the stem. Soil sterilization and soil drenches with fungicides are effective methods of control. Small circular light-brown spots with purplish brown border.