The tissue eventually girdles the rose and kills the plant. Destroy infected plants. The bacterium can survive in galls and plant residue in the soil for many years without a rose host. Do not plant roses in infested soil for at least five years. Verticillium wilt is caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium alboatrum .
Initial symptoms begin with the wilting of new leaves and yellowing of older leaves.
Permanent wilting occurs after a few days and leaves eventually turn brown and die. This disease can be confused with other problems, such as insect infestations or environmentally related causes. Make sure Verticillium wilt is positively identified by an appropriate plant disease clinic before following control measures. To control the disease, remove and destroy infected plants. Because the fungus responsible for the disease survives in the soil, do not plant roses in contaminated soil for three years or longer.