Verticillium Wilt of Stone Fruits

Verticillium Wilt of Stone Fruits

Causal agent: Verticillium dahliae

The first signs of Verticillium wilt appear in late summer with the yellowing and wilting of leaves. The following year one or more branches of an affected tree may sometimes fail to leaf out normally. The Verticillium fungus sometimes can be identified as the cause of limb death by brownish streaks deep in the wood.

Verticillium wilt Verticillium wilt

This disease is caused by a soil borne fungus which invades the tree roots and then colonizes and plugs the water conducting system. Apricots, peaches and cherries are most severely affected. Damage is likely to be serious if stone fruit trees are planted in land previously cropped with tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, melons or squash, or if these crops are interplanted in young stone fruit orchards. Diseased trees often recover if given proper treatment.

Cultural Control

Prune out dead wood.
Reduce nitrogen application to produce only 30 cm of terminal growth.
Reduce pruning to the amount considered absolutely necessary.

February 2004

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