Warm, humid conditions favour the disease. The lesions develop and produce wind-borne spores which may cause more infection on neighbouring canola or mustard. The cycle continues throughout the season. Lesions on the pods may infect seeds. Symptoms of Damage Small, round spots on the pods and stems, that are initially brown to black, become black to grey, with a black border.
Severe leaf spotting causes the leaves to die and drop off.
Infected pods become dry and shrunken and split prematurely. Scouting Techniques Look for small, round, brown to black spots on the stems and pods. Control Tips Use disease-free seed and a seed treatment. Follow a 3-year crop rotation with any crop except canola or mustard. Early swathing of an infected crop may prevent serious shrinkage or shattering losses.