Diseases
Verticillium wilt
Identify Verticillium wilt: symptoms, possible causes, prevention, and practical actions for 8 affected plants. One-sided wilting of a leaf or shoot
Editorial diagnosis
Diagnosis overview
Verticillium wilt is a soil-borne vascular disease that blocks water transport.
In gardens, Verticillium wilt can occur on plants including Eggplant, Raspberry, Sambucus, Ribes. In the available profiles, it is linked mainly with Berries, Fruit vegetables, Root vegetables.
The recorded risk level is medium. Conditions that favour it include Wet weather or prolonged leaf wetness, Dense planting and poor airflow, Susceptible cultivars. Recurring infection is serious because the pathogen can remain in soil.
Compare upper and lower leaf surfaces, the boundary between healthy and damaged tissue, and spread after wet weather. Coatings, spores, or progressive rot support a disease diagnosis.
A common mistake is to identify a disease from one spot alone; weather, spread, and pathogen structures also need to fit.
At a glance
Plants
8
Category
Berries, Fruit vegetables, Root vegetables, Shrubs, Stone fruit
Risk
medium
Scientific name
Verticillium spp.
Typical signs
- Individual shoots wilt
- Wilting despite moisture
- Yellow leaves
- Vascular discoloration
Possible confusion
- Growing problem: Growing problems are usually linked to water, light, temperature, or soil and do not show pathogen growth, pustules, or progressive infection patterns.
- Nutrient deficiency: Deficiency patterns are often more regular and follow leaf age or veins. Diseases more often show spots, coatings, rot, wilting, or pathogen structures.
Immediate actions
- Remove affected plant parts
- Improve airflow
- Avoid overhead watering
- Keep tools clean
- Remove heavily infected plant residues
Prevention
- Use suitable spacing
- Follow crop rotation
- Choose robust cultivars
- Keep leaves dry
- Support soil structure and plant vigour
Affected plants
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