Symptoms

• Small, soft, watery spots that are caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum occur on the stems, leaves and pods of beans.
• These spots enlarge rapidly under cool, moist conditions, and run together, girdling the stem.
• Infected pods turn into a soft, watery mass, before dying out and turning brown. Soon infected areas are covered by a white fungal growth.

Management

• Improve air circulation between plants and rows. Too much fertilizer favors heavy vine growth, creating areas for the disease to develop.
• There are no recommended chemical controls for the home garden.