Aphanomyces cochlioides is a plant pathogen that can affect commodity crops like spinach, Swiss chard, beets and related species.

To discern from other common beet diseases such as Rhizoctonia or Pythium root rot, leaves can be tested for brittleness or a burned or scorched appearance.

[4] If conditions for the plant are favorable it is possible for the crop to recover; however the root will still show signs of the infection such as dark spots, or scarring.

The chronic phase, or root rot, occurs June through August in the latter part of the season in which the plants survived the first round of infection.

For early prevention of infection and to reduce the incidence of damping off, planting seeds that are at least partially resistant to Aphanomycete cochlioides is suggested.

Planting when the soil is cool has been shown to help give the seedlings a head start on growth before sporulation is triggered by warming temperatures.