There are usually no indications in the foliage of this problem. In a season where there is continuous stress from high soil moisture there will be a high incidence of rusty root. This will stay with the root until it is harvested whether the root was affected in the first year or in the third or fourth year. Rusty root symptoms often occur along the shoulder of the root. There are small rusty patches developing on the branch to the left as well.
Rusty root can be a sign of physiological damage to the root.
This can occur as a result of too much moisture or too low a temperature in the winter. Roots that sit in water for a length of time will begin to die and suffocate. In the root at the left the area in the centre of the red circle has been scraped off to reveal the healthy tissue beneath. This symptom will not usually develop into a deep scar or a rot. It cannot be assumed, however, that weak pathogens cannot infect this area, especially in times of severe environmental stress.