Dying phyllostachys aureus maybe a fungus problem

Question: Phyllostachys aureus 60ft garden 20 yrs old enclosed on 3 sides is dying. 1st leaf tips brown then yellow/orange hue green fades striates, culm bottom fades to brown color dries, then top culm area dries completely, leafs tan color paper thin fall off, breakage of culm top. Occurs to new 20ft growth and old culms even 5ft emergency shoots after full leafing (not before). Clay dirt, compacted on top but wet underneath. Some roots above ground are fine some dry some rotted underneath the soil. Help, pls.

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 02, 2023, 9:53 AM EDT
response: Thank you for your question.  Have you noticed any mushrooms beginning to grow on your bamboo or around your bamboo plants?

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 02, 2023, 12:36 PM EDT
response: No mushrooms. The only odd thing is a well defined white adhered dusty ring 3-5mm thick that circles each nodule. Similar to the white sooty mold left by certain insects... but i have not seen any pests, either.  We did have a horrible news covered aphid infestation in the city of Austin Last yr before the ice storm. I uncovered the leaf clutter to expose the dirt. Noticed lots of dirt missing. Root dendrils exposed... Maybe culms are not getting nutrition & drying out?

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 03, 2023, 2:40 PM EDT
response: My best guess is that repeated damage from extreme cold (Feb 2021 and December 2022) caused dieback and general stress on your bamboo that can lead to disease infection. This species is noted for rootrot and heartrot fungal diseases. Basically once the fungal pathogen moves into the roots or the basal core of the plant, it continues to infect the new shoots as they emerge, causing growth to exhibit visual symptoms you described. Attached below are some helpful resources on bamboo. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/bamboo-phyllostachys-sp-leaf-spots https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/phyllostachys-aurea/

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 03, 2023, 7:30 PM EDT
response: So last question:If it is heart rot & I remove the bamboo & roots, what should I treat the soild with or do to the soil before planting a whole new crop?Thanks for all your input. It is appreciated.On Wed, May 3, 2023, 1:40 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 04, 2023, 4:32 PM EDT
response: Unfortunately, I do not feel confident enough to give out any suggestions for treatment as their is limited information on this subject and their are currently no fungicides on the market registered specifically for use on bamboo. I did find a couple articles that talk about root rot which I will share with you and some best management practices you can use. Also you can check out the Texas Plant Pathology Lab at https://plantclinic.tamu.edu/forms/ to get more information on sending in a plant sample. https://gardenforindoor.com/lucky-bamboo-root-rot/ https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/rot/phytophthora-root-rot-of-trees-and-shrubs https://www.bamboo.org/bamboo-planting-and-care/

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 04, 2023, 6:40 PM EDT
response: Thanks for all your input!On Thu, May 4, 2023, 3:32 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 05, 2023, 9:10 AM EDT
response: You're welcome!