Scattered or groups of seedlings turn yellow and die. The base of the stem at the soil line is pinched off. Below the pinched-off portion, the stem and root system remain plump and healthy, in contrast to seedling blight, where the roots are rotted.
Young tissue in seedlings is particularly sensitive to high temperatures. Usually the percentage of plants affected is low, but occasionally several consecutive hot afternoons will result in as much as 20% seedling death. Regrowth sometimes occurs from the seed.
