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SYMPTOMS OF FUNGAL DISEASES

WILTS are another common symptom associated with fungal infections. Wilts basically indicate that a plant is not getting enough water. Thus leaves (and often the entire plant) lose their turgidity and the plant has a "droopy" appearance.

Whenever you see a wilted plant, you should ask, "Why isn't this plant getting enough water?". Perhaps the plant just hasn't been watered for awhile and thus there is not enough soil moisture to support the plant's needs.

Alternatively, maybe the plant has a ROOT ROT. For example, the Cineraria in this photo has a root rot caused by the fungus Pythium. In this situation, there is plenty of water in the soil, but the root system has been decayed to the point that it can no longer absorb enough water to support the plant. If you see a plant like this, check with the owner. If the owner of the plant has been faithfully watering (or more likely over-watering) the plant and it is wilted, then check the root system for decay. A root rot is a good guess in such a situation.

Finally, maybe the plant has a VASCULAR WILT. Vascular wilt pathogens invade the plant's water-conducting tissue (called the XYLEM). These pathogens either cause blockages in the xylem themselves, or the plant itself blocks off the xylem in an effort to localize the pathogen. In either case, blockage of the xylem leads to a reduction in water moving from the roots to the above-ground parts of the plants, and can lead to wilt symptoms. If you have a plant that has been watered adequately (but not over-watered), and that has a root system that is not decayed, then a vascular wilt is a strong possibility.