Asked March 13, 2024, 1:23 AM EDT
Hi OSU Extension Service,
I'm a resident in N Portland who has planted everything in my garden (mostly focusing on natives) in the past 4 years. I've noticed stressed plants in this time, I thought maybe the harsh weather, but after this winter finding my three young vine maple trees dead/dying, and researching now I think it might be a certain fungus that's the cause. I also recall some selective branch die-off of my Red Elderberry at one point. I have several other plants listed as hosts: Red-flowering currant, golden currant, western redbud, a plum tree, a japanese maple (to name a few) that I haven't noticed dying off (yet). I have/had plans on planting several other plants also listed as hosts (sunflowers, salvia, clarkia, liatris, tomatoes, strawberry, melon, etc) - all that I have planted in prior years with mixed results. So I'm wondering:
1. Does this stand out as classic Verticillium Wilt? Could it be anything else? I've read other fungus (fusarium wilt) can show similar signs, but is that the case in our area? Is it worth mailing in plant samples to the lab (from several suspected plants?)?
2. Most sources state this is fatal and to replace plants with resistant varieties (I was really trying to avoid cultivars). And also this: The fungus is known to have at least two races that overcome single resistance genes, so planting a “resistant” variety is effective only if the race and the genetics of the resistant hybrid are known." Should I replace the vine maple, and wait to see evidence of die-off with other plants? And now avoid *all* listed host plants? Including taking out/avoiding crops like tomatoes/strawberries? Some annuals like clarkia have re-seeded and are already growing. And I have tomato/sunflower seedlings started in the garage.
3. If this is in the soil and will be for several years and it is likely to keep infecting/re-infecting host plants is it worth trying to manage/avoid?
4. I've kept a lot of the brush, leaves, compost from several of these plants (including sunflower stalks with compressed pith that looks similar to the kind in this article: https://www.sunflowernsa.com/growers/Diseases/Verticillium-Wilt/) for insects/critter habitat and I could see how this could enable the fungus to move around more easily to healthy plants. Does this all need to be discarded as well?
5. I am a fan of the ChipDrop service in the area and have received multiple drops, is this something that could be transferred from arborists trucks from cut/diseased trees? Is the only/best way to avoid this to purchase from a landscaping company?
I would love your expertise on how to navigate this one! Thank you!
Multnomah County Oregon
