verticillium wilt

[ vur-tuh-sil-ee-uhm ]

noun

, Plant Pathology.

1. a disease affecting many temperate-climate plants in hot weather, caused by soil-inhabiting fungi of the genus Verticillium and characterized by wilt, dulling or yellowing of leaf color, and withering near the base.

Word History and Origins

Origin of verticillium wilt¹

1940–45; < New Latin Verticillium a fungus genus; verticil, -ium