A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Vegetable Gardening Green Bean Problem

So...OK...Here is a picture I took of the roots of one of my green bean plants. It is white and powdery. I could not get a picture that was not shiny and washed out. Does anyone know what this is? It looks like a fungus to me. But...what do I know? Nada!

OH! Sorry,missd, I didn't see this post. I don't know what's happening, but a guess would be that the soil has too much material that has not been sufficiently composted, broken down, in other words. Yes it is a fungus, I'd say, and not a normal "pest" of green beans, are the tops dying as well?

Yes, peppereater, tops are brown and ugly, green beans are soft and hollow, there is nothing in them but little tiny hard beans.
I have not fertilized with anything in that garden but a spray of Miracle Grow 2 times this season.

thanx

What is the nature of your soil? Sandy, loamy, clay?
I may not be able to help, but then again I may, let's try and save your plants!!!!!!

Could either of these be possibilities? From http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/oldnotes/vg7.htm

Southern root and stem rot is caused by the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii and is a hot weather disease. It causes a rot at the base of plants. It can be easily recognized by the white fungus growth and numerous seed-like bodies (sclerotia) that form around the base of the plant. See Vegetable Disease Information Note No. 9.


Ashy stem blight is a root rot disease caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseoli. It often starts as a dark, sunken lesion at the base of the cotyledon and may extend into the roots. The plants may easily break off when cultivated or are blown by strong wind.


Fertilizer injury causes stem or root rot when excess fertilizer comes in contact with plants. The greatest damage occurs when the fertilizer is placed in the row and the seed is planted at the same time or soon there after. Careless placement of sidedressing may also result in injury. See Vegetable Disease Information Note No. 10.

Thanks, Marica, I wasn't aware of those diseases...sounds like a good reason NOT to use a lot of synthetic chemicals. I think your diagnosis is likely correct, nothing else really seems to explain the problem.

That site looked like a good one, by the way!