Do I have to report chocolate spot of broad bean?

No. chocolate spot of broad bean is not a notifiable organism, so there is nothing to report to an authority. Treat it as a normal garden problem.

How is chocolate spot of broad bean treated?

Mainly with biological and cultural measures — removing affected material, changing the conditions that favour it, and treating with agents approved in your country. The exact steps and their timing depend on the plant, the season and where you live: Dr. Phyto works them out in a free diagnosis.

Dr. Phyto

chocolate spot of broad bean

Botrytis fabae

Symptoms

Small (1-3mm) round chocolate-brown spots on leaves + stems, lesions enlarge and coalesce into black blotches in epidemic phase, premature defoliation + stem girdling, flowers + pods abort, dark sunken lesions on pods may carry through to seed.

Plants affected

broad bean / fava bean

Easily confused with

broad bean rust
How to tell them apart: Chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae) starts as small reddish-brown to chocolate-coloured spots scattered on leaves, stems and pods; the spots stay flat and superficial, and in wet weather coalesce into large dark-brown to greyish blotches with a grey mouldy bloom, eventually killing whole leaves. Broad bean rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae) instead forms slightly raised, powdery pustules: early creamy-yellow flecks become rusty cinnamon-brown uredinia mainly on the lower leaf surface that rupture and release dusty spores onto your finger, later turning into dark brown to black teliospore pustules. Key test: rub the lesion — rust powders off as coloured dust and feels raised, while chocolate spot is a flat dry stain with no spore powder (only grey fuzzy mould when sporulating).

Treatment

Dr. Phyto builds a dated, step-by-step treatment plan with country-approved products — start a free diagnosis to get yours.

Common questions

How do I recognise chocolate spot of broad bean on broad bean / fava bean?: Small (1-3mm) round chocolate-brown spots on leaves + stems, lesions enlarge and coalesce into black blotches in epidemic phase, premature defoliation + stem girdling, flowers + pods abort, dark sunken lesions on pods may carry through to seed.
Do I have to report chocolate spot of broad bean?: No. chocolate spot of broad bean is not a notifiable organism, so there is nothing to report to an authority. Treat it as a normal garden problem.
How is chocolate spot of broad bean treated?: Mainly with biological and cultural measures — removing affected material, changing the conditions that favour it, and treating with agents approved in your country. The exact steps and their timing depend on the plant, the season and where you live: Dr. Phyto works them out in a free diagnosis.

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