Blackish lesions that appear on the stems. This condition is most troublesome at the beginning of picking. The stems may collapse wherever the lesions occur The pith is black, soft, and rotted, sometimes with cavities near the base of the stem. The leaves wilt and may be yellowish near the top of the stem.
Occasionally occurs in greenhouse plants allowed to grow too soft or luxuriant.The disease does not appear to spread within the crop, but much of its biology is not well understood.