Diseases of Glossy Privet

Armillaria Root Rot

• Sometimes called oak root rot or shoestring root rot, armillaria is a general term used to describe 20 distinct but similar fungi that affect trees and shrubs. Oaks and maples are the most commonly affected trees, but glossy privet is also susceptible. Symptoms include dieback, premature leaf drop in autumn and a general decline in vigor. Black, shoestring-like rhizomorphs appear under the bark after the tree has died, and golden-yellow mushrooms typically grow around the base of the tree. It is difficult to save a tree once it's infected, but you can prevent armillaria root rot in glossy privet by using disease-free planting materials and avoiding excessively wet soil. Stressed trees are more susceptible.

Sooty Mold

• Sooty mold appears in the form of a velvety, gray-black dusty or crust-like coating on the leaves and occasionally branches of glossy privet and other trees. Sooty mold is generally considered to be a cosmetic problem, since it rarely damages trees or causes any decline in health. It is most often caused by sucking insects such as scales and aphids. These pests produce a waste product called honeydew, which promotes sooty mold growth. You can attack the problem at its source by identifying and removing these insects through pesticides or cultural control.

Phytophthora Root Rot

• Phytophthora is a fungal disease. Its symptoms are similar to those of armillaria root rot, and of several other plant diseases. Glossy privet infected with phytophthora may show stunted growth; branch dieback; small, discolored leaves; and a general loss of vigor. Roots will be reddish and brittle. Phytophthora is most common in wet, hot soil. Once trees show symptoms, it is often too late to save them, so prevention is the best course of action. When you plant glossy privet, choose only healthy, vigorous plants; use disease-free planting materials; choose a location with well-drained soil; and do not plant seedlings any deeper than they were grown in the nursery.

Verticillium Wilt

• Verticillium wilt is caused by a soil-borne fungi, and can affect glossy privet as well as a number of other trees and shrubs. The disease enters the plant through wounds in the roots, which may occur naturally or as a result of pests or mechanical damage. Verticillium wilt can travel internally throughout the tree, causing yellowing foliage, leaf scorch, slow growth and dieback of branches and shoots. As with other fungal infections, prevention is the best course of action.