oak wilt

American  

noun

Plant Pathology.

1. a disease of oaks, characterized by wilting and discoloration of the leaves and defoliation, usually starting at and spreading from the top of the tree and the ends of the branches, caused by a fungus, Chalara quercina.

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Etymology

Origin of oak wilt

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Example Sentences

The cost for treating oak wilt, or any tree disease that requires a fungicide injection, depends on the tree’s diameter at breast height, or DBH.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Leaf blister, sooty mold, oak wilt, leaf scorch: Been there, done that.

From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate

In 1949 Wisconsin workers demonstrated the local spread of oak wilt through natural root grafts.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 43rd Annual Meeting Rockport, Indiana, August 25, 26 and 27, 1952 by Northern Nut Growers Association

There is reason to believe that oak wilt can be checked before it reaches devastating proportions comparable to chestnut blight which wiped out our American chestnuts.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 43rd Annual Meeting Rockport, Indiana, August 25, 26 and 27, 1952 by Northern Nut Growers Association

Until recently the causal fungus of oak wilt was known only in its asexual or imperfect form living in the sap stream of infected trees.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 43rd Annual Meeting Rockport, Indiana, August 25, 26 and 27, 1952 by Northern Nut Growers Association