Root Rot in Trees

Root rot, a common issue in smaller houseplants and shrubs, can also occur on a larger scale in trees. It is the result of a fungal infection, most commonly Basidiomycota, of the roots and soil.

  1. Infection

    • The fungus penetrates the root though wounds in the lower parts of the tree and kills the cambium collar surrounding the tree roots. When the fungus grows all the way through, it blocks nutrients and water from flowing up the trunk.

    Pattern

    • Look at the surrounding areas of a tree suspected of having root rot. A forest infected with root rot will show damage in a circular patten stemming from a center point.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of root rot include loss of growth, thinner foliage, chlorosis, and wilting of leaves. In hardwood, dieback, or the rotting of the lower trunk, is also a sign of root rot.

    Life Cycle

    • Once the fungus progresses enough to kill the tree, the trunk, leaves and branches become rotted and provide a food source for more root-rot causing fungal spores to grow, in the form of a mushroom. From here the spores become airborne and spread to other trees in the forest. They can also be transmitted root to root like other common root diseases.

    Armillaria

    • The Armillaria species of fungus, also responsible for root rot, is known to glow in the dark if the advanced stages inside of a trunk are opened up and exposed to darkness.

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