White Mold

What is white mold? White mold is a fungal disease that affects a variety of plants, such as beans, peas, lettuce, and members of the cabbage family.

Symptoms appear on blossoms, stems, leaves, and pods that have water-soaked spots. Leaves will wilt, yellow, and die; pods may rot.

How to identify White Mold

White mold symptoms vary depending on the environment and type of plant, but here are some common ones:

• Wilting of individual stems
• Infected stems may appear to have tan to dark brown lesions on them. From these lesions, a dense, cotton-like growth will form under conditions of high humidity.

How to Control White Mold

• As soon as you notice any diseased plants, destroy them immediately.
• If your soil is infected, remove as much of it as you can and replace it with clean soil.
• You can use a barrier, such as plastic or mulch, to cover the infected ground to prevent the spread of the disease.

Prevention

• Be sure to use well-drained soil and space your plants properly to avoid crowding. Also, remember to avoid areas with poor air circulation.
• When watering your plants, try not to water the tops of them. Or water the plants early in the day so they have the chance to dry before nightfall.
• You can also spray your plants with an approved fungicide to help prevent infection. Spray the plants right before they bud, then spray again a week later.
• Control your weeds. Weeds can host this disease and spread it to your plants.
• If possible, remove all crop residue after harvesting. If residue is left, this disease may develop in it. White mold spores are long-lasting, so they will survive the winter if given the chance.