red rot

American  

noun

1. Plant Pathology. any of several fungal diseases of sugarcane, sorgo, and some trees, characterized by a red discoloration within the affected stalks.

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Etymology

Origin of red rot

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

People who handle rare books for a living are used to doing battle with a range of dastardly scourges, including red rot, beetles and thieves.

From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2023

This sometimes shows in the color, as the "red rot" of pine or the "bluing" of ash.

From Wood and Forest by Noyes, William