Seedlings either rot and do not germinate or germinate and collapse. The disease frequently attacks the base of the seedling and leaves a shriveled, dried-up stem at the base of the seedling. Control can be achieved by using sterile potting media and fungicide-treated seed. If seedlings become symptomatic, rogue and discard all of the seedlings since asymptomatic seedlings may also be infected.
Symptoms appear as wilting and a slow or rapid collapse of the plant.
The roots can appear brown and water-soaked instead of white. A water-soaked lesion can often appear at the base of the stem. Affected plants should be rogued out and discarded. Stem rot, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Individual stalks begin to collapse and wilt.