Anthracnose
Disease · Commonly affects: Beans, Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Strawberries, Melons
Anthracnose is a group of fungal diseases, most often caused by fungi in the Colletotrichum group, that infect the leaves, stems, and fruit of many vegetables, fruits, and trees. It spreads fast in warm, wet weather and can ruin a harvest, so gardeners in humid regions and rainy seasons watch for it closely.
How to identify it
Look for small, dark, sunken spots or lesions on leaves, stems, and fruit, usually tan to brown or black and sometimes ringed by a darker or water-soaked margin. On fruit the spots are typically round and depressed, and in damp weather their centers may ooze pinkish or salmon-colored masses of spores, which is a telltale sign. Leaf damage often follows the veins and can run together into larger dead blotches, and young stems may develop dark streaks.
Damage
Infected leaves yellow and drop early, stems can be girdled and collapse, and fruit develops rotten, sunken spots that make it unmarketable and inedible. Repeated cycles of infection weaken the plant and cut yield, and on shade and fruit trees the disease causes twig dieback and premature leaf loss.
Prevention
Rotate away from susceptible crops for two to three years, because the fungus overwinters on old plant debris, in the soil, and sometimes on the seed. Choose resistant varieties and certified disease-free seed, space and stake plants so foliage dries quickly, and clean up fallen leaves and crop residue at the end of every season. Build healthy, well-drained soil and avoid handling plants while the leaves are wet, since that moves spores from plant to plant.
How to manage it
Prune out and remove infected leaves, stems, and fruit as soon as you spot them, and pull badly infected plants to slow the spread through the bed. Water at the base of the plant early in the day rather than overhead so leaves dry fast, and mulch to stop soil and spores from splashing up onto foliage during rain or irrigation. Bag and throw away diseased material in the trash instead of composting it, and clean and disinfect pruners between plants so you do not carry spores from one to the next.
General guidance for US home gardens, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. For a confirmed diagnosis and options specific to your area, contact your local Cooperative Extension office. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.