Hello folks, Can anyone tell me if this Verticillium Wilt? =( I'm afraid that it is and that I'm going to lose my beautiful tree!
I must say, that doesn't look very good. You may get some more learned responses if you are able to take a few more close up pictures of the branches and in particular a branch cut in cross section. Please take advice from those with more knowledge than myself, but the best bet may end up cutting back any diseased branch until you get to a healthy section.
Thank you for responding. From what I've gathered so far on the forum here and others that if it is confirmed it's a death sentence? If I trim all the dead away, which is the entire crown of the tree, that doesn't leave me with much. I'm so heartbroken!
What's the drainage like in that area? Waterlogged soil in winter/early spring can lead to root death and subsequent top dieback, which would also look similar to those pictures. (I cannot rule out verticillium, but equally I don't see anything that proves it.)
That is actually one of the more dry spots in our yard. Doesn't get too soggy there after a rain. (Thank you for responding!)
Ok, good to rule out one possibility. What part of USA are you from and what climate zone? Might help people to know a little more background, particularly if the problem is specific to your zone.
that cross section looks better than I thought. a google image search using verticillium wilt will give several examples of what my untrained eyes were looking for. that also looks like one of the healthier branches though. Are there any viable buds on the branches with no leaves?
Nope. =( I agree that section doesn't show the "Green" stuff in it, but all the branches leading off that bigger branch were dead. There are no living smaller branches off any of the bigger dead areas. They snap right off and are dry inside. The bigger branch I cut, did still have some moisture inside it. So I'm stumped? It's clear something bad is happening. Last year we had a dry summer. By the end of the summer the leaves on the JM looked very sick. I remember commenting to my husband that something was wrong with the tree, we just didn't know what. The leaves had these spots on all of them that made it look like it had chickenpox blisters. Shame I did not take any photos at that time.
Re: Is this Verticillium wilt? No, the symptoms shown are not Verticillium wilt. The tree would already be dead due to an allover collapse from the bottom up if this tree had the quick decline form of Verticillium known as Verticillium wilt. There are signs of the branch wilt form of Verticillium however. Combined with noticeable, allover, telltale signs of Tight Bark and also suspected internal Pseudomonas syringae in the plants system (3rd photo), there is no choice but to prune out all of the deadened and distressed limbs back to live, unaffected growth nearer the base, lower portion, of the tree. After a major pruning there may not be much of a tree left but by the last photo shown there will be enough of a tree to build on in the next coming years. If you choose to do nothing you will most likely lose your tree within the next two to three years and there is a chance that your tree may succumb anyway even after taking more controlled steps to induce vigor back into this tree. Pruning out as much of the infected growth right now should restore some vigor back into this tree. The question is will there be enough vigor left in the tree to compensate for the loss of the wood? I've seen worse case scenarios and have had the tree bounce back to life but your time frame to do something to help save and rescue this tree is quickly diminishing. Time is now your enemy. Jim
remove dead wood at any time, I agree that the common symptoms of V Wilt arent obvious and likely is not be present. If you take samples of the plant to your local county extension office they may be able to test it for pathogens etc to help narrow the possibilities of the cause.
