What is Verticillium Wilt?
What is Verticillium wilt?
What is Verticillium wilt?, a fungal disease that blocks water flow to the tree’s branches, causing leaves to suddenly wilt, yellow, scorch, and drop, sometimes leading to branch death or even the entire tree dying. Symptoms often appear on one or more branches and include sparse foliage and discoloration in the water-conducting tissues. While there’s no cure, pruning infected branches and proper tree care can help, but it’s essential to dispose of infected wood properly to prevent further spread.
-
Sudden Wilting & Yellowing:Leaves or whole branches suddenly wilt and turn yellow or brown, a common sign of the disease.
-
Leaf Scorch & Browning:The leaves may become scorched and die, appearing brown and dry.
-
Sparse or Undersized Leaves:Infected branches may have fewer leaves or leaves that are smaller than normal.
-
Discoloration:When a branch is cut, a marked discoloration can be observed in the wood, indicating the blockage of water-carrying tissues.
-
Branch Dieback:The disease can cause branches to die back, or in severe cases, the entire tree can die.
-
1. Identify the Disease:
Look for the sudden appearance of wilted leaves on some or all branches, along with signs of yellowing or browning foliage.
-
2. Prune Affected Branches:
Prune out the affected branches and dispose of them immediately. Do not compost them.
-
3. Improve Tree Health:
Proper tree care, including consistent watering, can help the tree recover and resist future infections.
To prevent the fungus from spreading, avoid using infected wood for landscape mulch and dispose of the pruned branches properly.
- No Effective Treatment: There is no cure or effective fungicide for Verticillium wilt.
- Varying Susceptibility: Different maple species and cultivars have varying levels of resistance. Some types may recover, while others are highly susceptible
If you are having concerns regarding your trees, call Johnson Ops Tree Care. One of our Certified Arborist will be happy to meet with you.
