Symptoms of eyespot, also called strawbreaker foot rot, include small lesions on the lower stem. Well-developed lesions have yellow-brown margins and a black fungal growth near the center. Most lesions occur on the lower 2 inches of the stem. Lesions may merge, causing the lower stem to collapse. Stems damaged by eyespot often die prematurely, resulting in white heads. Areas of the field with many infected stems are more likely to lodge.
