White Mold - Symptoms

Figure 1. Plants infected and killed by white mold.

Figure 2. White mycelium - here visible towards the bottom of the stem - is a diagnostic sign of white mold infection. Photo credit: Craig Grau, University of Wisconsin.

Figure 3. Sclerotia forming inside an infected soybean stem. Photo creidt: Craig Grau, University of Wisconsin.

Infected plants appear wilted. As the fungus invades the stem, all the plant tissue up from the infection point dies. This causes leaves and stems turn brown and stand erect above the soybean canopy (Figure 1).

A closer inspection of the stems may reveal lesions and a covering of thick white mold, which is diagnostic for white mold (Figure 2).

Another diagnostic sign of white mold infection are the hard, dark structures called sclerotia that form on the inside and outside of the stem (Figure 3).

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