Introduction
Dry Root Rot has menaced growers in Ventura County for many years. In the ‘50's and ‘60's it seemed most prevalent on older orange trees. A few years after the wet winter of 1968-
69, dry root rot became an increasing problem among citrus trees of all ages. At that time, most of the damaged trees were on sweet rootstock (susceptible to Phytophthora), and growing in fine-textured soils or soils with poor drainage. A few years after another wet winter/spring (of 1983), dry root rot again reared its ugly head, but this time predominately on young lemons.
The disease is caused by the fungus, Fusarium solani. This fungus is most likely present in all citrus soils in California. It is a weak pathogen in that by itself it will not attack a healthy
tree. However, experiments conducted in the early 1980’s by Dr. Gary Bender, showed that when seedlings were girdled, root invasion occurred. In the field, the fungus can infect trees once gophers have girdled the roots or crown. A Phytophthora infection will also predispose trees to Fusarium, as will asphyxiation. Therefore, the mere presence of the fungus in the orchard soil will not lead to the disease.
Description
Fusarium is a soil borne fungus that invades the root system. Once infected, the entire root will turn reddish-purple to grayish-black. This is in contrast to a Phytophthora infection which, in many cases, will attack only the feeder roots, but when larger roots are infected, only the inner bark is decayed and it does not discolor the wood. In addition, when observing the cross section of a dry root rot infected trunk, a grayishbrown discoloration in the wood tissue can be observed.
Dry root rot is a root disease, but symptoms of the root decline are seen above ground. They are similar to any of the root and crown disorders such as Phytophthora root rot, oak root rot fungus (Armillaria) and gophers. The trees lack vigor, leaves begin to turn yellow and eventually drop (especially in hot weather) causing twig dieback. Finally, the foliage will
become so sparse that one will be able to see through the canopy of the tree. A period of two to three years may pass from the time of invasion until noticeable wilt. Many times, the tree will collapse in the summer, after a period of prolonged heat. In the case of dry root rot, the collapse is so rapid that the tree dies with all the leaves still on the tree. When looking for symptoms of dry root rot, keep an eye out for symptoms of other maladies as well — Phytophthora, oak root rot fungus and gophers being the most prevalent.
As mentioned previously, in order for Fusarium to infect a tree, there must be a predisposing factor such as girdling from gopher feeding. However, since many trees collapse from dry root rot without any apparent predisposing factor, there are obviously other factors which we have yet to identify. Therefore, in 1998, a grower survey was developed, along with
intensive soil and leaf sampling, to attempt to identify as many new predisposing factors as possible. They might be elements in the soil, either deficiencies or excesses, or specific cultural practices such as irrigation patterns or fertilizer practices. Twenty orchards were identified from which 20 soil and 20 leaf samples were taken in diseased areas and another 20 soil and 20 leaf samples were taken from adjacent healthy areas. The
owners or managers of the properties were given a questionnaire to complete regarding a variety of cultural operations. The objective was to identify those factors that would correlate well to trees becoming infected with dry root rot.
Survey Results
Soil analysis - The following laboratory procedures were conducted to see if there was any correlation between the disease and either deficiencies or toxicities of these elements or
conditions: sodium, boron, salt level, pH and soil type (sand, loam, clay). For these elements or conditions, no correlation was found. It would appear that for our sampling sites, these conditions, whether favorable or not (toxic or deficient), did not play a major role in predisposing the tree to dry root rot.
Leaf analysis - The following elements were analyzed for their concentration within the leaf: nitrogen, potassium, phosphate, manganese, magnesium and zinc. Of these, three correlations were found. Zinc and manganese levels were substantially higher in diseased trees. The third correlation showed a potassium deficiency in diseased trees. However, we do not believe that dry root rot is caused by elevated levels of zinc or manganese, or by potassium deficiency, but rather are a result of the disease. Unfortunately, it seems that we have still not identified any elements in leaf analysis that truly correlates and points to a predisposing factor for disease development.
Grower survey - The grower survey included questions on planting site (location, wind, previous crop, fumigation etc.), trees (source, type, rootstock, etc.), and cultural practices (irrigation, fertilization, gophers, history of Phytophthora, water quality, etc). Through statistical analysis it was found that the healthy and diseased sites were significantly different with reference to three conditions or situations: 1.) The presence of Phytophthora in an orchard will increase the chance of those trees succumbing to dry root rot. 2.) Orchards that have been fumigated have a less likely chance of succumbing to dry root rot. 3.) Balled vs. Container Plants -- growers were asked if their trees were balled or container
grown nursery plants. Healthy sites were significantly more likely to have been planted with balled trees (73% vs 33%). The results of this analysis were not strong, but rather they
suggest that there is a relationship between the disease and the type of tree planted - balled or container grown - and suggesting in favor of a balled tree for a healthy orchard.
Control Measures – What Works and What Does Not
Early experiments conducted by Menge, Ohr and Sakovich showed that the following circumstances or operations do not influence the incidence of this disease: fungicidal treatments, wounding the tap root at time of planting, sandy versus clay textured soils, spring versus fall planting and soil mounding.
Rootstocks. In choosing your nursery tree, the choice of rootstock is not important in that, as far as we know, all rootstocks are susceptible to this disease. However, since Phytophthora is a major component in dry root rot development, choosing a rootstock like sweet orange would certainly put those trees in a high risk category. We recommend that growers use Phytophthora resistant rootstocks like C35 or Citrumelo.
Fumigation. According to the survey, it would be advantageous to fumigate before planting. Methyl bromide, although expensive, is the best fumigant as it is a complete biocide. If one chooses not to fumigate, the alternative would be a number of fungicide/nematicide applications to the newly planted trees. Generally speaking, this may work well with trees planted on a rootstock like Citrumelo or C35.
Phytophthora. Publications written in the 1970's, and again noted by our survey, showed that Phytophthora is a major culprit in the dry root rot complex. To control dry root rot, it is essential that the Phytophthora, when present, be controlled. This can be accomplished by fungicidal treatments, and by the proper application and timing of irrigation water. Overwatering creates a favorable environment for the multiplication of the Phytophthora fungus.
Gophers. It is well known that gopher damage provides entry points for Fusarium. Controlling gophers is an important factor in reducing the potential of infection by Fusarium.
Control
We presently have no direct control for dry root rot. To control the disease, we must control the predisposing factors such as gophers, Phytophthora, poor drainage and over-watering. If the predisposing factor(s) cannot be identified for a given diseased orchard, it will indeed be difficult to control the disease. Two things are certain though: 1.) There are no chemicals to date which will control this disease; and 2.) Presently, there are no rootstocks resistant to the disease.
Future Projects
There are a number of ongoing research projects in Ventura County attempting to unravel the dry root rot mystery. Some of these projects target identification of more predisposing
factors. Still other projects are aimed at increasing understanding of the fungus itself and how the disease occurs.
Trial 1 - Addresses the potential problem of using a soil auger in clay soils to dig the planting hole. We suspect that doing this will create a planting hole with slick sides, having the effect of sealing the hole. This will temporarily hamper the roots from growing outward into the surrounding soil, thus creating a potbound condition and predisposing the trees to dry root rot.
Trial 2 – In an orchard with a history of dry root rot, we are replanting with container grown nursery trees versus bareroot (balled) nursery trees. As indicated by our survey, there is a correlation between container grown trees and the occurrence of this disease. In this experiment we will be able to verify this relationship.
Trial 3 – Same as Trial 2, but using “bench” or “J” rooted trees versus normal nursery trees. This will enable us to see if certain types of abnormal root growth predispose trees to the
disease. Another treatment in this test is the application of unincorporated gypsum to the soil.
In the above trials, we are growing comparison trees. If our supposition is correct, within five years a larger number of those trees with a predisposing factor to dry root rot should die. For example in trial 2, if container trees are more predisposed to dry root rot than balled trees, a higher proportion of those will die compared to the bareroot trees.
Additional projects
1. We are analyzing healthy trees compared to diseased trees for their starch levels to see if starch depletion
may play a role in the onset of this disease. Preliminary results so far, indicate no correlation between starch depletion and the disease.
2. The mushroom fungus Coprinus is often observed growing next to diseased trees. We are presently investigating this relationship to see if Coprinus may be a factor in the dry root rot complex.
3. Although we are dealing with a known species, Fusarium solani, it is possible that we are dealing with more than one race of this species. One race may be a toxin producer causing the trees to succumb to dry root rot. The other may be a non-toxin producer where no disease is produced. Through molecular analysis, we are investigating if different strains of
Fusarium do exist.
On a closing note, it has recently been discovered that there is a triggering mechanism which will cause this fungus under certain, as yet unknown, environmental conditions to begin producing chemicals which are toxic to plants. This mechanism is governed by a gene which is present on a unique type of chromosome called a dispensable chromosome. This entire chromosome may be ignored for years and the fungus may not be pathogenic. However, when utilized, this chromosome harbors toxin genes, which may turn the fungus into the dry root rot pathogen. This is a real breakthrough. The key now will be to ascertain what conditions trigger the change and how we can prevent it.
