Initial symptom appears as brown irregular water soaked spots on the back of ripening head usually adjacent to flower stalk.

Spots gradually enlarge and become soft and pulpy and get covered with superficial white mycelium which later becomes black.

Some seeds of the rotted heads shed and those which remain in the head taste bitter.

Injury before flowering or during the early stage of head development is unlikely to favour infection even though the inoculum may be present.

Maximum rotting is noticed at the soft dough stage.

Seed development is severely impaired depending on the stage of maturation at the time of Rhizopus infection and rot development.

To have effective control of the disease, simultaneous application of compatible insecticide and fungicide beginning with the completion of flowering stage is suggested.

Injury to the head should be avoided as far as practicable.

Spray Mancozeb @ 2g/lit in case of intermittent rainfall at the head stage.