Symptoms:

• Initial symptoms are small, tan spots on leaves and stems that develop in the late fall in the Midwestern U.S.
• Infected leaf, stem, and crown tissues discolor, then become soft and stems wilt.
• In some cases, entire plants may rot, leaving minimal trace of the plant or pathogen.
• A whitish, cottony web-like growth can often be seen during wet conditions on stems and crowns of plants infected with Sclerotinia
• Spherical to cylindrical black bodies (sclerotia) about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch develop within or on infected plant parts.
• Circular spotty areas in fields or entire fields may be destroyed.