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Pole Beans disease #344298

Asked July 18, 2016, 4:47 PM EDT

Pole beans contracted a pathogen last summer (community garden, west Baltimore). Moved location, brought in new soil and it persists. Looks like blight to me and the chewers moved in to finish them off..bean beetle? Treatment?

Baltimore City County Maryland

Expert Response

We are at a loss to positively identify the several problems you are encountering with your pole beans.  There are obvious signs of insect feeding, and the culprit could be a nocturnal beetle or caterpillar, but there are no signs of their presence.  One possible culprit is the Gray Hairstreak caterpillar which will feed on pole beans, but they have probably gone into pupation.  The damage is not caused by the Mexican Bean Beetle nor the Bean Leaf Beetle.
The leaf spots with dark outer bands could possibly be Cercospora, a fungal disease, but whatever the problem, there is no treatment necessary.   The scorched leaf margins are unexplained.
We suggest that you hope for the best with these plants and, if you wish, you could plant a late crop now.  
Be sure to practice good garden sanitation this year and next year search for a fungus-resistant cultivar.
LS

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