Southern blight
lesions on the stem. As the damage progresses, it causes darkening and rotting of the stem, resulting in the destruction of the cortex and the main root [...] southern blight is a disease caused by the fungus Athelia (Sclerotium) rolfsii . It is an important plant pathogen that inhabits the soil, and is responsible [...] leaves, and death of the plant. Symptoms begin with brown, aqueous lesions on the stem. As the damage progresses, it causes darkening and rotting of the stem