Phonetic: Pleh-noh-doh-mus

This is a mitosporic fungus found in temperate areas on dead stems and roots of herbaceous plants. It is fairly widespread across Europe and has been isolated in North America. When exposed to low temperatures it is considered to be a parasite, effecting grasses and cereals. It can cause black leg, canker, and dry rot. The species P. destruens is the cause of foot rot in sweet potatoes occurring in plant beds, fields, or in storage. The disease may also extend into the root causing dark brown, dry firm decay at the stem end of storage roots but generally does not destroy the entire root. The species P. meliloti causes brown root rot, a destructive disease in sweet clover and alfalfa in early spring. The genus Plenodomus is now considered to be a division of Phoma. Culture - Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° – 25°C, 7 – 10 days.