Diseases
Bean anthracnose
Identify Bean anthracnose: symptoms, possible causes, prevention, and practical actions for 2 affected plants. Sunken, dark spots on pods and stems
Editorial diagnosis
Diagnosis overview
Bean anthracnose or pod spot creates dark sunken lesions on pods, stems, and leaves.
In gardens, Bean anthracnose can occur on plants including Runner bean, Common bean. In the available profiles, it is linked mainly with Legumes.
Its importance depends on how quickly it spreads and whether seedlings, shoot tips, flowers, or fruit are affected. Conditions that favour it include Wet weather or prolonged leaf wetness, Dense planting and poor airflow, Susceptible cultivars. It is serious when pods become unusable or seed is affected.
Compare upper and lower leaf surfaces, the boundary between healthy and damaged tissue, and spread after wet weather. Coatings, spores, or progressive rot support a disease diagnosis.
A common mistake is to identify a disease from one spot alone; weather, spread, and pathogen structures also need to fit.
At a glance
Plants
2
Category
Legumes
Typical signs
- Dark pod spots
- Sunken lesions
- Stem spots
Possible confusion
- Growing problem: Growing problems are usually linked to water, light, temperature, or soil and do not show pathogen growth, pustules, or progressive infection patterns.
- Nutrient deficiency: Deficiency patterns are often more regular and follow leaf age or veins. Diseases more often show spots, coatings, rot, wilting, or pathogen structures.
Immediate actions
- Remove affected plant parts
- Improve airflow
- Avoid overhead watering
- Keep tools clean
- Remove heavily infected plant residues
Prevention
- Use suitable spacing
- Follow crop rotation
- Choose robust cultivars
- Keep leaves dry
- Support soil structure and plant vigour