Specific root rot symptoms need to be identified to establish the presence of tree rot.
This is where we’ll be focusing on.
Root Rot Symptoms
Like diseases or ailments affecting humans and animals, trees and plants face unique health problems.
Examples include canker diseases, fungal infections, leaf spots, diplopia, anthracnose, oak wilt, dothistroma, witches broom, gall, fire blight, and powdery mildew.
These and many other conditions may be caused by insects, pests, and fungal and bacterial infections.
Root rot in trees is one of several diseases that can be diagnosed.
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Specific symptoms need to be identified about Root Rot
Before we proceed, n affects young plants and trees.
As a plant grower, you’re likely to have experienced several cases of root rot. Of course, such decomposition shows many symptoms that generally affect the proper development of plants.
The best control measure will be to adopt a preventive approach. These approaches and more have been included below.
One of the ways root rot affects tree development is the hindrance of water and nutrient flow from the roots to the tree. This affects nourishment and will eventually kill the plant.
Causes of Root Rot
Root rots can be caused by the invasion of pathogens, which are carried through the root system to different parts of the plant.
These pathogens include Rosellinia necatrix, Phymatotrichopsis, Pythium, Fusarium, Armillaria, and Rhizoctonia.
Now there are about two causes of root rots. They include weakened root systems as well as overwatered soils. Overwatered soil tends to be the primary cause of such pollution.
Weakened roots are most vulnerable to root rot because they’re easily targeted by soil fungus under favorable conditions.
These soil fungi become active under excess moisture conditions like waterlogging. With the activation of the spores, these attach weakened roots, which lead to rot and eventual death of the plant.
We earlier mentioned the second cause isis overwatered soil.
Poor draining soils and overwatering will prevent adequate oxygen absorption by roots. With oxygen starvation, what results is death and decay of roots.
This problem worsens as the condition spreads to healthier roots.
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Additional Causes of Root Rot
Root rot can be caused by other conditions like improper potting of plants.
Growing plants in oversized pots make excess maker likely to become a problem. Because the pool is bigger, too much water may be applied, which is more than the plant roots can absorb.
With oversaturated soil, it won’t be long before plant roots suffocate due to the absence of oxygen. This leads to the death and decay of the sources.
7 Common Signs of Root Rot
If you suspect a root rot problem, you only need to look for specific symptoms to confirm your fears.
These include fungus gnats, leaves that easily fall off, yellowing or wilted leaves, and mushy or dark roots. You may also notice branch dieback, a thinning canopy, and stunted or poor growth.
i. Fungus Gnats
The presence and activity of fungus gnat larvae in the soil are boosted by excess moisture. These come alive and rapidly attack root hairs or roots. The result is a steady decline in the plant.
This can be rapid. When it happens, the plant will need to be removed to avoid affecting others.
Proper identification of this problem requires inspection by an expert. After identifying the rot, solutions are proffered in a way that helps contain the situation.
ii. Roots Easily Detach When Touched
Another way to diagnose a root rot symptom is by examining the roots. Affected roots are found to fall off when touched easily.
To examine this problem, you’ll need to dig out the affected plant for close observation of its roots. When plant roots quickly come off, it’s high time to take drastic measures.
Such measures will include digging up all affected plants, including their roots, from the ground. By doing that, better containment of the problem is achieved.
Nearby plants won’t be affected.
iii. Yellowing or Wilted Leaves
When examining root rot symptoms, consider looking at the leaves as well.
Do they show signs of wilting or yellowing? These are among the symptoms that result when rot occurs in roots. The yellowing or wilting arises from inadequate supply or complete absence of nutrients.
With this condition, it’s most likely that the soil is oversaturated with moisture. Oversaturated soils will have to be fixed for root rot problems in plants to be less frequent.
iv. Mushy or Dark Roots
Having dug up the plant for close observation of its roots, you might notice such to be mushy or dark.
So, can this situation be salvaged? It depends on the rate of spread or severity of the problem. Root rot still at the initial stages can be addressed with some luck.
For this to be possible, you’ll have to observe to be sure that the dark or mushy roots aren’t widespread. Next, you can have affected seeds removed while leaving the healthy ones intact.
Replanting in new soil should be the following line of action.
v. Branch dieback
Visual inspection of your plants enables you to determine their general well-being.
However, early identification of issues like root rot may not be immediately possible until clear signs, like branch dieback, begin to show.
With the steady dieback of branches, the exact problem needs to be further assessed.
vi. Thinning Canopy
The formation of irregular growth patterns in trees and plants should give you a heads-up about an underlying problem.
Apart from branch dieback, you might observe a thinning canopy. When this is followed, immediate attention will be needed to ascertain the problem’s actual cause(s).
Root rot could be one of such.
vii. Stunted or Poor Growth
When tree or plant roots begin to rot, the supply of essential nutrients is impeded. The result is seen in the development of the plant. Here, stunted and poor growth becomes evident.
You’ll need to conduct a more thorough assessment, including examining the roots. Professional help will go a long way in offering far-reaching solutions.
These are root rot systems commonly known to affect trees and plants. It’s necessary to seek professional help to determine if the problem lies with the roots or other plant areas.