White root rot

Yellowing leaves and -- in the case of fruit trees -- shriveled fruit are typically the first aboveground symptoms to appear in plants infected with white root rot. Infected plants will stop developing new growth, defoliation will begin and stem dieback occurs. Dead branches may maintain their leaves but these leaves will have a dry, dead appearance. The aboveground symptoms may appear throughout the entire plant or stay confined to only one portion. Another sign of white root rot is the growth of white or cream-colored mycelial mats developing on lower portions of the plant’s trunk. Roots infected with white root rot disease will develop a white or cream-colored mycelial mats covering the roots. The disease causes infected roots to softened and crumble easily when disturbed.