Verticillium dahliae
Quick Summary
Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungus that causes Verticillium wilt, a destructive plant disease affecting hundreds of plant species, including trees, shrubs, vegetables, and field crops. This fungus thrives in cooler climates.123
Infected plants typically show leaves turning dull green to yellow, wilting, and withering, often starting from the base of the plant and progressing upwards. Annuals and young trees may become stunted and die, while perennials might decline over time or appear to recover. A characteristic sign is dark streaks visible in the sapwood just beneath the bark of wilted branches. The fungus enters plants through their roots or wounds.1
Controlling Verticillium wilt involves planting resistant or disease-free varieties, rotating crops with resistant species for extended periods, and destroying infected plants and susceptible weeds.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
