# Fusarium wilt

> A soil-borne fungal disease, chiefly Fusarium oxysporum, that blocks water-conducting tissue, causing one-sided yellowing, wilting and brown streaks inside the stem.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fusarium-wilt.html
- Also written: Fusarium, Fusarium oxysporum, fusarium root rot, Fusarium crown rot, Fusarium solani
- Glossary category: Pests and diseases · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Fusarium wilt is a vascular disease caused by *Fusarium oxysporum*, a soil-borne fungus that enters through roots and grows into the [xylem](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/xylem.md), the water-conducting tissue. As it blocks the vessels, the plant cannot move water. Other *Fusarium* species, such as *F. solani*, cause crown and [root rot](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/root-rot.md), and several species also infect buds.

## In practice

Symptoms often start on one side of a plant or one branch: leaves yellow and wilt, then the whole plant collapses even in moist media. Cutting the lower stem lengthwise shows brown or reddish streaks in the wood. The fungus survives in soil for years as resting spores and spreads on media, tools, water and clones. There is no cure for an infected plant; remove it with its medium, sanitise containers and tools, and do not reuse that soil. In hydroponics it often appears alongside *[Pythium](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/pythium.md)*. Clean propagation material and fresh media are the [prevention](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cultural-control.md).

## Don't confuse with

- **Pythium**: a water mould causing slimy root rot rather than vascular streaks.
- **Underwatering**: plants recover after watering; fusarium wilt does not.
- **Septoria leaf spot**: spots on leaves, no wilt.

## Related terms

[Pythium](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/pythium.md), [Root rot](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/root-rot.md), [Damping-off](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/damping-off.md), [Sanitation](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/sanitation.md), [Quarantine](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/quarantine.md)

## Read more

- [Fusarium in cannabis: wilt, crown rot and bud rot](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/diseases/fusarium.md)

## Sources

1. Punja ZK, Rodriguez G, 2018. Fusarium and Pythium species infecting roots of hydroponically grown marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) plants. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 40(4):498–513. https://doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2018.1535466
2. Utah State University Extension. Hemp Fusarium wilt (IPM Notes). https://extension.usu.edu/planthealth/ipm/notes_ag/hemp-fusarium-wilt
3. Punja ZK, 2021. Emerging diseases of Cannabis sativa and sustainable management. Pest Management Science 77:3857–3870. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8451794/