Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium dahliae
180 host plants · Fungal
Last updated
Data Coverage 4 of 6 dimensions
Verticillium wilt strikes from the ground up, often catching you by surprise. You'll notice leaves on just one side of a maple, cherry, or blueberry beginning to yellow and wilt, sometimes while the opposite side remains vigorous. As the disease progresses, entire branches die back, and the characteristic symptom appears: vascular streaking inside the stem, visible when you cut through wood showing brown or purple discoloration in the water-conducting tissue. This disease commonly emerges in maples and blueberries after the plant has been in the ground for a few years, making established plantings vulnerable when conditions turn wet.
Verticillium wilt is caused by a soilborne fungus that nearly impossible to eradicate once established in your soil. The pathogen persists for years as microsclerotia and can survive in susceptible weeds around your property. Once in the plant's vascular system, it blocks water movement and produces toxins that trigger wilting. There is no cure for infected plants. Your management strategy must center on prevention: plant only healthy, certified stock; avoid planting susceptible crops in previously infested soil; control weeds aggressively; and keep nitrogen fertility at normal levels only, as excessive nitrogen promotes disease severity. If a plant develops symptoms, remove it promptly to reduce spore production in that location.
Quick Reference
Agent Type
fungal
Causal Agent
Verticillium dahliae
Host Plants
180
Spread
Soilborne spores and microsclerotia; movement of infested soil on equipment, ...
Favorable Conditions
Root infection by fungal propagules; root contact with infested soil; tempera...
Management
Vulnerability Window
Growing season; new root growth presents infection points.
What Triggers Infection
Root infection by fungal propagules; root contact with infested soil; temperatures between 70-75°F optimal for xylem colonization.
Cultural Controls
- No curative treatment exists once soil is infested. Management is prevention and site selection.
- Conduct preplant soil assay for Verticillium propagules before planting susceptible species in sites with history of susceptible crops (tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, raspberries, peppers, peppermint). WSU Extension and private labs offer testing.
- Do not replant susceptible species in the same location where a plant has died from Verticillium wilt. Plant susceptible species at least 20 feet from infested soil.
- Choose resistant species for infested sites: conifers, birch, dogwood, sycamore, oak, holly, juniper.
- Mulch with conifer-based products; conifers do not host the fungus.
- Do not import soil, mulch, or compost from unknown sources. Clean tools and equipment between sites.
Regional Notes
Common and persistent in Puget Sound lowland soils. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is the most frequently diagnosed ornamental host in residential landscapes regionally (OSU Plant Clinic data). Disease progression is slower in the maritime climate than warmer inland regions; affected trees may decline over several years rather than a single season. Soils previously used for vegetable gardens (tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries) are a frequent source of inoculum in residential sites. Heavy clay soils common in the Green River and Duwamish valleys retain moisture and microsclerotia longer than well-drained sites.
Host Plants (180)
Acer buergerianum Trident Maple, Three-toothed Maple Acer campestre Hedge Maple, Field Maple, Common Maple Acer capillipes Red Stripebark Maple, Red Snakebark Maple, Hakkoda Maple Acer carpinifolium Hornbeam Maple Acer circinatum Vine, Maple Acer coriaceifolium Leatherleaf Maple Acer crataegifolium Hawthorn, Maple Acer davidii David Maple, Père David's Maple Acer freemanii Freeman Maple, Hybrid Red Maple Acer ginnala Acer ginnala Acer glabrum Rocky Mountain Maple, Rock Maple, Douglas Maple, Dwarf Maple Acer glabrum var. douglasii Douglas Maple, Dwarf Maple, Rocky Mountain Maple Acer grandidentatum Bigtooth Maple, Western Mountain Sugar Maple, Rocky Mountain Sugar Maple Acer griseum Paperbark Maple Acer henryi Henry's Maple Acer japonicum Fullmoon Maple Acer macrophyllum Bigleaf Maple Acer maximowiczianum Nikko Maple Acer miyabei Miyabe Maple Acer monspessulanum Montpellier Maple Acer negundo Boxelder Manitoba Maple, Ash-leaved Maple Acer nipponicum Nippon Maple Acer oblongum Evergreen Maple, Smooth Leaf Maple Acer oliverianum Oliver Maple Acer opalus subsp. obtusatum Bosnian Maple Acer palmatum Japanese Maple Acer palmatum var. dissectum Dissected Japanese Maple Acer pensylvanicum Striped Maple, Moosewood Maple Acer pentaphyllum Acer pentaphyllum (no common name) Acer pictum Painted Maple Acer platanoides Norway Maple Acer pseudoplatanus Planetree Maple, Sycamore, Maple Acer rubrum Red Maple Acer rufinerve Redvein Maple, Honshu Maple Acer saccharinum Silver Maple Acer saccharum Sugar Maple Acer sempervirens Cretan Maple Acer shirasawanum Shirasawa Maple Acer spicatum Mountain Maple, Moose Maple Acer tataricum Tatarian Maple, Tartarian Maple Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala Amur Maple Acer tegmentosum Manchurian Stripebark Maple, Manchustriped Maple Acer triflorum Three Flowered Maple Acer truncatum Purpleblow Maple, Shantung Maple Acer velutinum Velvet Maple Ailanthus altissima Tree, of Heaven China-sumac Varnishtree Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree, Killarney Strawberry Tree, Madroño Armoracia rusticana Horseradish Begonia Hardy Begonia Betula lenta Sweet Birch, Cherry Birch, Black Birch Castanea dentata American Chestnut Castanea mollissima Chinese Chestnut Castanea sativa European Chestnut, Sweet Chestnut, Spanish Chestnut Catalpa bignonioides Southern Catalpa, Eastern Catalpa Catalpa erubescens Catalpa, erubescens Catalpa speciosa Northern Catalpa, Western Catalpa Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis var. alba White Flowered Redbud Cercis canadensis var. mexicana Mexican Redbud Cercis chinensis Chinese Redbud Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud, California Redbud Cercis siliquastrum Judas tree, Mediterranean Redbud, Love Tree Chrysanthemum coccineum Chrysanthemum Cotinus coggygria Common Smoketree Smokebush Cotinus obovatus American Smoketree, Chittamwood Disanthus cercidifolius Redbud, Hazel Fragaria \u00d7 ananassa garden strawberry Fragaria chiloensis Beach Strawberry Sand Strawberry, Chilean Strawberry Fraxinus americana White Ash, American Ash Fraxinus anomala Singleleaf Ash, Dwarf Ash Fraxinus excelsior Euopean Ash, Common Ash Fraxinus latifolia Oregon Ash Fraxinus ornus Flowering Ash Fraxinus oxycarpa Fraxinus oxycarpa Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash Fraxinus quadrangulata Blue Ash Fraxinus sieboldiana Siebold Ash, Japanese Flowering Ash, Chinese Flowering Ash Helianthus Suncredible Saturn Sunflower Liriodendron chinense Chinese Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Tuliptree Magnolia acuminata Cucumber Magnolia, Cucumbertree Magnolia, Mountain Magnolia Magnolia black Magnolia, black Magnolia butterflies Butterflies Magnolia Magnolia caerhays Magnolia, caerhays Magnolia campbellii Campbell's Magnolia, Campbell Magnolia Pink Tuliptree Magnolia denudata Yulan Magnolia Magnolia elizabeth Elizabeth Magnolia Magnolia ernestii Yellow Lily, Tree Magnolia galaxy Galaxy Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Southern Magnolia Magnolia insignis Red Lotus Tree Magnolia kobus Kobus Magnolia Magnolia liliiflora Lily, Magnolia Magnolia loebneri Loebner Magnolia Magnolia lotungensis Eastern Joy Lotus Tree Magnolia macrophylla Bigleaf Magnolia Magnolia randy Randy Magnolia Magnolia salicifolia Willowleaf Magnolia, Anise Magnolia Magnolia sargentiana Sargent's Magnolia Magnolia sieboldii Siebold Magnolia, Oyama Magnolia Magnolia soulangiana Saucer Magnolia Magnolia star Magnolia, star Magnolia stellata Star Magnolia Magnolia sunsation Sunsation Magnolia Magnolia tripetala Umbrella Magnolia Umbrella Tree, Elkwood Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia Malus robusta Cherry, Crabapple Paeonia lutea subsp. ludlowii Tibetan Peony Ludlow's Tree, Peony Paeonia suffruticosa Tree, Peony Chinese Moutan Peony Prunus americana Wild Plum American (Red) Plum August Plum, Goose Plum Prunus armeniaca Apricot Prunus avium Sweet Cherry Prunus besseyi Sand Cherry, Western Sand Cherry Prunus blireiana Blireiana Plum Prunus caroliniana Carolina Cherrylaurel American Cherrylaurel Prunus cascade Prunus cascade Prunus cerasifera Cherry, Plum Prunus cistena Purpleleaf Sandcherry Redleaf Sandcherry Cistena Sandcherry Cistena Plum Prunus dream Prunus dream Prunus emarginata Bitter Cherry, Wild Cherry, Quinine Cherry Prunus first Prunus first Prunus fruticosa Steppe Cherry, European Dwarf Ground Cherry, Mongolian Cherry Prunus glandulosa Dwarf Flowering Almond Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry, Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus laurocerasus Cherry, Laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal Laurel Prunus maackii Amur Chokecherry Amur Cherry, Manchurian Cherry Prunus mume Japanese Apricotc Japanese Flowering Apricot Japanese Flowering Plum Prunus newport Newport Flowering Plum Prunus okame Okame Flowering Cherry Prunus padus European Birdcherry Common Birdcherry Prunus prostrata Rock Cherry, Mountain Cherry Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry, Sargent's Cherry Prunus serotina Black Cherry, Rum Cherry Prunus serrula Birchbark Cherry, Paperbark Cherry, Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrulata Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus snow Prunus snow Prunus subcordata Klamath Plum, Sierra Plum, Pacific Plum Prunus subhirtella Higan Cherry Prunus subhirtella var. autumnalis Autumn Flowering Higan Cherry Prunus tai Prunus tai Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana var. demissa Western Chokecherry Prunus virginiana var. virginiana Common Chokecherry, Eastern Chokecherry Prunus yedoensis Yoshino Cherry, Somei-yoshino Cherry, Tokyo Cherry Rosa acicularis Wild Prickly Rose Rosa gymnocarpa Little Wood Rose, Wood Rose, Baldhip Rose Rosa multiflora Multiflora Rose Rosa nutkana Nootka Rose Rosa pisocarpa Clustered Rose, Swap Rose Rosa rubiginosa Sweetbriar Rose, Eglantine Rose Rosa rugosa Rugosa Rose, Beach Tomato, Sea Tomato Rosa woodsii Woods' Rose Rubus allegheniensis Allegheny Blackberry Rubus armeniacus Himalayan Blackberry Armenian Blackberry Rubus calycinoides Crinkle-leaf Creeper Creeping Raspberry Yü-shan raspberry Rubus dicolor Himalayan Blackberry Armenian Blackberry Rubus hayata Rubus hayata Rubus laciniatus Evergreen Blackberry Cutleaf Blackberry Rubus leucodermis Blackcap, Western Raspberry Rubus lineatus Silky-leaved Berry Rubus odoratus Flowering Raspberry Purple-flowering Raspberry Rubus parviflorus Thimbleberry Western Thimbleberry Rubus rolfei Creeping Raspberry, Crinkle-leaf Creeper Rubus spectabilis Salmonberry Rubus tricolor Creeping Bramble Korean Raspberry Rubus ursinus Trailing Blackberry Western Blackberry California Blackberry Dewberry Solanum aviculare Kangaroo Apple Vaccinium angustifolium Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium crassifolium Creeping Blueberry, Thick-leaved Whortlberry Vaccinium macrocarpon Cranberry American Cranberry Vaccinium membranaceum Big Huckleberry, Mountain Huckleberry Thinleaf Huckleberry Vaccinium moupinense Himalayan Blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium Oval-leaf Blueberry Vaccinium ovatum Box Huckleberry, Evergreen Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium Red Huckleberry, Red Whortleberry Vaccinium sikkimense Sikkim Blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum Bog Blueberry, Bog Bilberry Vaccinium vitis Vaccinium vitis