It requires eight to 10 days after infection before visible symptoms develop to the extent that epidemic levels are reached. Injured fruit are more subject to attack by the fungus than healthy fruit. Use clean seed and follow a thorough spray program when this disease is a problem. Lesions on the fruit vary from small spots to one-half inch in diameter. The tissue is sunken, with an area filled with a flesh-colored ooze of fungal spores.
Spots vary from one to several on the fruit surface.
Severely infected fruit drop to the ground with the pedicel still attached to the plant. The fungus overwinters in plant residue and grows at temperatures of 55 to 95 degrees F with optimum growth at 80 degrees F. Rainfall and overhead irrigation favor disease development. The fungus develops when the humidity is 93 percent or above. Although field sanitation is important, a preventive fungicide spray program is required during periods favorable for disease development. The pathogen attacks nearly 200 species of plants but eggplant and okra are the two most seriously affected vegetables.