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Black leg (Phoma lingam)will affect most cole crops. On younger plants, infection of cotyledons of seedlings leads to damping-off. On older plants, tan-to-gray lesions may be present; however, the most damaging phase of this disease occurs on stems. Cankers on stems are initially elongated and brown in color. These cankers eventually girdle the stem, and woody tissues turn black. Numerous fruiting bodies (pycnidia) of the pathogen are usually present in older cankers, and appear as small, black specks.

Black leg on cabbage stem.

(Photo: UK Vegetable IPM Team, University of Kentucky)

Management:

• Use pathogen-free seed.
• Hot-water treatment of seed.
• Crop rotation.
• Fungicides

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