Blueberry root rot

Early symptoms include overall stunting, small leaves, premature reddening of leaves, and eventual death. Dead leaves stay on branches; the result is a twiggy type of growth. Frequently, several canes on one side of the plant die and can be traced to dead roots on that side of the plant. (Water and nutrients are transported poorly from healthy roots to canes supported by damaged roots.) Fibrous roots usually die first, then the entire root system. Rot continues up through the root crown to stems, sometimes in a spiral fashion. The edge of the advancing red-brown lesion is distinct from the adjacent unaffected vascular cambial tissue. The rot is firm, not soft. Infected young plants with small root systems may die the first year. Larger plants may slowly decline for 3 to 4 years before dying.