The leaf scorch fungus, Diplocarpon earliana, attacks the leaves, petioles, runners, pedicels, and calyxes of strawberry plants. The fungus most frequently infects strawberry leaves at any stage of development. The symptoms of leaf scorch (middle picture) are very similar to the early stages of leaf spot. Round to angular dark-purple spots, up to about 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) in diameter, are scattered over the upper leaf surface. As the spots gradually enlarge, they resemble small drops of tar due to the production of large numbers of minute, black, fungal fruiting bodies (acervuli).