White Mold

Bean vines and pods with extensive white mold growth.

White Mold:
This fungus disease occurs all over North America and can attack a wide variety of plants such as beans, lettuce, and members of the cabbage family. Symptoms on beans begin as water-soaked spots on blossoms, stems, leaves, and pods that enlarge rapidly and become covered with a cottony white mold. Infected leaves wilt, yellow, and die. Infected pods may rot. The fungus overwinters in plant residues in the soil.

Prevention And Control:
Destroy diseased plants as soon as you notice them.

Don't wet tops of plants while watering, or water early in the day so plants are dry before nightfall.

Use a 3- to 4-year crop rotation with nonsusceptible plants such as corn, beets, or spinach.

To prevent infections, spray with an approved fungicide just as buds open and again a week later.

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