Back to Verticillium Wilt on Japanese maples! While maple trees can suffer from a number of general problems, verticillium wilt seems to be the most common and dangerous disease plaguing maple tree owners. Verticillium wilt also affects some tree species. Another indication is new growth emerging in spring, aborting, and dying. The best course of action is to remove affected plants to prevent the spread of the disease. Perennials, trees, and shrubs may be kept alive with proper care, but you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of doing so. Both of these Verticillium species attack a wide range of plants besides woody ornamental trees and shrubs.Verticilium albo-atrum is adapted for the cooler soils in the world so is not usually found in tropical soils.Verticillium dahlia is more commonly found in most soils around the world. Maple trees can have any number of diseases and other problems that can cause leaves to develop spots, turn yellow or brown--or die. The fungi that cause verticillium wilt affect the tree's vascular system and causes symptoms of wilting and yellowing leaves that are concentrated in one particular area. Verticillium wilt is a fungal disease of over 300 host plants, including a wide range of garden and greenhouse crops in addition to woody ornamentals, most noticeably elms, magnolias, maples, redbud, and viburnums. If your Japanese maple suddenly has a large branch, or a pretty big section of the tree that appears to suddenly just up and die. One of these fungal diseases, Verticillium wilt, is prevalent among Japanese maples. Among maple trees, there are several common diseases that you should learn to keep an eye out for. Even though V. albo-atrum is not as common as V. dahlia, it is more likely to be fatal to most plants. Cause: Among the usual suspects for dying leaves are several fungal diseases and aphids. Verticillium wilt is a widespread and serious disease that affects the vascular system of trees. Verticillium Wilt. Verticillium wilt symptoms mimic those of other plant diseases and environmental problems, and this makes it hard to diagnose. It is not always fatal, and you should wait to observe the progress of the disease before removing the tree. VERTICILLIUM WILT: !!! Verticillium Wilt is a disease that can attack Japanese maples. If you get into a hot and dry situation water your Japanese maple and other plants in your landscape thoroughly about every 9 days. You can’t treat verticillium wilt. Symptoms are pretty obvious. In many cases, signs of disease can be subtle at first. Keep the trees well watered to improve their chances of survival and remove infected branches to reduce the likelihood of secondary infections that further weaken the tree. Knowing how to identify the various causes of maple tree blight will allow you to make the best decisions possible regarding the health of your trees. This often happens in late summer or early fall. The disease is common on maple. (See following list for a more complete list of susceptible plants.) Verticillium Wilt can often kill the plants it affects. If your magnolia tree shows branch-by-branch decline or an overall thinning of the branches, cut into a few finger-sized branches and look for staining of the wood. More than likely it’s Verticillium Wilt. Dark streaks appear in the wood when cut into. It is caused by two species of fungi that live in the soil: Verticillium albo-atrum and Vertcillium dahlia.The disease affects many types of trees, shrubs, and plants with maple trees being particularly susceptible. Trees with Verticillium Wilt may experience dieback in some limbs but not the entire tree; dead branches may indicate infection in previous years. Once a plant is infected, it will eventually die. Treatment and Prevention It is imperative not to spread soil contaminated by Verticillium Wilt as the disease is distributed through earth. A diagnostic clue for detecting Verticillium wilt is the presence of vascular streaking or vascular discoloration. It can also affect fruit and vegetable crops. The list of plants affected by verticillium wilt is extensive and includes trees, shrubs, and garden annuals and perennials. In some cases the leaves on a single branch will discolor and die, but do not fall from the tree. How to Treat Verticillium Wilt. Indication: Wilting and dieback from the edges of the leaves in late spring/early summer followed by blackening of the branches, gradually working its way down through the trunk.