The fungus occurs worldwide in all regions where sugar beet is grown and it also infects other edible crops, e.g. beetroot.

Often to properly identify this pathogen, some form of microscopic analysis is needed when it is only found on one type of plant.

[3][4] The pathogen survives overwinter through cleistothecia which are present in crop debris in the field and which contain ascospores (sexual spores).

Infection normally begins on older leaves, typically close to the junction between the lamina and petiole, and it develops on both ab- and adaxial surfaces.

[citation needed] The fungus can produce some cell wall degrading enzymes include pectin lyases and polygalacturonases.