These strands tend to grow together and form a blotch that almost resembles a fingerprint on the leaf. Sometimes only webbing occurs, and no blotch is formed. This disease is most prevalent of Spanish type peanuts. Pepper spot usually appears as multiple small dark brown to black specks on the leaf surface. These specks gradually enlarge but do not reach the size of the more common early leaf spot.
Spots grow together to form larger spots under the most severe disease pressure.
Pepper spot has never been acknowledged as a serious peanut disease. The fungus is considered a weak pathogen. This disease occurs in many parts of Texas but major yield loss has been limited to the peanut growing areas of South Texas. Certain thrip species transmit the tomato spotted wilt virus. Lower leaves of young infected plants remain green.