dieback

[dahy-bak] /ˈdaɪˌbæk/
noun, Plant Pathology
1.
a condition in a plant in which the branches or shoots die from the tip inward, caused by any of several bacteria, fungi, or viruses or by certain environmental conditions.
Origin
1885-90, Americanism; die1 + back2
Examples from the web for dieback
  • One of them is that avoided deforestation may not be permanent-especially where there is a risk of climate-induced forest dieback.
  • Scientists call it sudden wetland dieback, but they are not sure how it started and what they can do to end it.
  • New leaves may appear scorched or a mottled green and yellow, with or without burnt tips accompanied by dieback of branches.
  • Tips of branches affected by this problem turn brown or ash-gray and often show progressive dieback.
  • Symptoms include flagging and dieback of individual branches, which may be killed back to the ground.
  • Symptoms include browning of needles and tip and branch dieback.
  • dieback of major limbs usually occurs within two years and progresses from the bottom of the tree upwards.
  • Symptoms appear as a yellowing of leaves and a progressive, general decline and dieback of branches and limbs.
  • These fungi cause stem dieback on many woody ornamental and fruit plants.
  • dieback of the shoots and cordon is believed to be due to acetylenic phenol metabolites produced by the fungus.
British Dictionary definitions for dieback

dieback

/ˈdaɪˌbæk/
noun
1.
a disease of trees and shrubs characterized by death of the young shoots, which spreads to the larger branches: caused by injury to the roots or attack by bacteria or fungi
2.
any similar condition of herbaceous plants
verb
3.
(intransitive, adverb) (of plants) to suffer from dieback
Encyclopedia Article for dieback

common symptom or name of disease, especially of woody plants, characterized by progressive death of twigs, branches, shoots, or roots, starting at the tips. Staghead is a slow dieback of the upper branches of a tree; the dead, leafless limbs superficially resemble a stag's head. Dieback and staghead are caused by many fungi and a few bacteria that produce cankers, anthracnose, wilts, and stem or root rots. Nematodes, stem- or root-boring insects, mechanical damage, paving over roots, winter injury from cold or deicing salts, and a deficiency or excess of moisture or an essential element may cause dieback, directly or indirectly.

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