White Mold Around Roots

Question

My bell pepper plant suddenly died in two days. When I pulled it up, there was white mold around the roots. What could be causing this?

Answer 1

White mold is caused by the soil borne fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Also called stem rot, many vegetable crops are susceptible to this fungus. It requires an abundance of moisture to grow. Therefore, keeping the area as dry as possible and growing plants in well-draining soil is important for prevention of this disease. Once it affects plants, more often than not, treatment is not effective.