verticilliumwilt

Verticillium wilt is a vascular wilt disease affecting a wide range of plants, caused by soil-borne fungi of the genus Verticillium. The fungi, typically Verticillium dahliae or Verticillium albo-atrum, infect plants through their roots. Once inside, they colonize the xylem, the plant's water-conducting tissues. This colonization disrupts water uptake, leading to characteristic symptoms.

Symptoms of Verticillium wilt vary depending on the host plant and the specific pathogen strain. Common signs include wilting of leaves, often on one side of a branch or plant, followed by yellowing and premature leaf drop. Stunted growth and dieback of branches are also frequently observed. In some cases, streaking of the vascular tissue, visible when a stem is cut, can be a diagnostic indicator. The disease can affect ornamental trees, shrubs, vegetables, and fruit crops.

The fungi survive in the soil as microsclerotia or resting mycelium for many years, making eradication difficult. Spores are spread through contaminated soil, water, tools, and infected plant material. Management strategies focus on preventing introduction and spread, as well as selecting resistant plant varieties. For infected plants, removing and destroying affected material can help slow the spread, but there is no effective chemical cure. Crop rotation and improving soil health are also recommended practices to reduce inoculum levels in the soil.