The group of fungi called anthracnose can attack many plants (beans, vine crops, tomatoes, and peppers) and trees (dogwoods, maples, ash, and sycamores). Look for small, discolored leaf spots or dead twigs, especially on the youngest ones. The disease can spread to kill branches and eventually the whole plant. Many plant varieties are resistant to anthracnose fungi — choose them whenever you can. Anthracnose spreads easily by splashing water and walking through wet plants. Prune away affected plant parts, if possible, disposing of the debris in the trash, not the compost pile. Fungicides containing copper can help.