It is the cause of Cercospora leaf spot disease in sugar beets, spinach and swiss chard.

Of these hosts, Cercospora leaf spot is the most economically impactful in sugar beets (Beta vulgaris).

Symptoms include the random distribution of spots with brownish red rings which eventually cause leaf collapse.

At the end of the growing season, C. beticola produces stromata again as a survival structure.

Some varieties of sugar beet also show resistance to C. beticola, unfortunately they have all had low yields in lab tests.