Charcoal Rot

Charcoal rot affects all cucurbits. First symptoms are yellowing and death of crown leaves and water-soaked lesions on the stem at the soil line. As the disease progresses, the stem of infected plants ooze amber-colored gum, and the stem eventually becomes dry and tan-to-brown in color. The stem may be girdled by the lesion, resulting in plant death. Numerous microsclerotia, visible as black specks, are embedded in the dead plant tissue.