Tuber Soft Rot, Blackleg and Aerial Stem Rot (E3339)
Early symptoms include irregular brown to black areas on plant stems that can rapidly enlarge into soft, decaying rot of the entire stem. Decaying stems appear slimy, mushy, water soaked and black (Figure 3). Similar to blackleg, under dry conditions, stems can desiccate, resulting in a dry, brownish to black shriveled stem (Figure 4).