Dead branches on maple
caused by verticullium.

Verticillium Wilt

Plants Affected

Maples, redbud (Cercis), ash, euonymus, tomatoes, strawberries.

Symptoms/Damage

A common symptom is wilting or death of one side of the plant. Leaves turn yellow or brown, then die followed by the death of entire branches, and the whole tree.

Stem

Infected sapwood may have dark greenish streaks in the sapwood and growth rings. This discoloration may be absent during the earliest stages of infection

Life Cycle

Verticillium is a widespread and very destructive soil-borne disease of maples and other plants. The fungus invades thru the roots and plugs up the water conducting vessels in the roots and stems of the plant. The fungus can survive in the soil as resting structures for years.

Management

Cultural

 Plant resistant species back in the area where a plant has died due to Verticillium. All conifers are resistant.

 Prune off and destroy affected limbs

 Lightly fertilize to stimulate new growth and the plant’s defense system. Some mature trees can be kept alive for many years despite having the disease.

Chemical

 None