Sore shin is caused by a soil-borne fungus. This disease may appear on transplants or in field tobacco at any growth stage. Brown to reddish-brown sunken lesions develop on the lower stem at or below the soil line. Depending on the severity of the disease, plants may continue to grow, but become yellow and stunted. In more serious cases, plants may decline and die, leaving skips in the field. (Photo: Kenneth Seebold, UK)

Sore shin lesions may eventually girdle the stem, resulting in plant death. This symptom may be confused with black shank; however, sore shin lesions are not as dark as those caused by the black shank pathogen. (Photo: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company Slide Set, Bugwood.org)