dieback
Gradual vegetation death
Dieback is the gradual dying of plant shoots, branches, or roots, typically starting at the tips and progressing toward the main stem.
It results from disease, drought, frost, or other environmental stress: The oak showed severe dieback after the fungal infection.
In forestry and horticulture, dieback often signals broader ecosystem problems or pest infestations.
Plant disease causing decay
- cankerUlcerous sore or blight
- phytophthoraPlant-attacking oomycete genus
- wiltingLosing turgor and drooping
- necrosisLocalized cell death
pathogen · fungus · infestation · chlorosis · mortality · infection · spores · mycelium
Overhead protective covering
- mortalityState of eventual death
- standUpright support structure
- deadwoodUnproductive people or things
- snagUnforeseen complication
crown · bark beetle · deforestation · regeneration · understory · tree line · old-growth · forest decline
Cutting vegetation for health
- graftingJoining tissues to grow together
- rootstockBase for grafted plants
- transplantingMoving living growth elsewhere
- fertilizingAdding nutrients to soil
irrigation · mulching · cultivation · nursery · propagation · arboriculture · orchard · branch removal
Prolonged water scarcity
- salinityDissolved mineral concentration
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
- desertificationLand becoming barren, infertile
ecosystem collapse · pollution · acid rain · ozone damage · waterlogging · frost damage · heat stress
blight
Plant disease causing decay
- cankerUlcerous sore or blight
- phytophthoraPlant-attacking oomycete genus
- wiltingLosing turgor and drooping
necrosis · pathogen · fungus · infestation · chlorosis · mortality · infection · spores · mycelium · rot
canopy
Overhead protective covering
snag · crown · bark beetle · deforestation · regeneration · understory · tree line · old-growth · forest decline
pruning
Cutting vegetation for health
- graftingJoining tissues to grow together
- rootstockBase for grafted plants
- transplantingMoving living growth elsewhere
fertilizing · irrigation · mulching · cultivation · nursery · propagation · arboriculture · orchard · branch removal · deadheading
drought
Prolonged water scarcity
- salinityDissolved mineral concentration
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
desertification · ecosystem collapse · pollution · acid rain · ozone damage · waterlogging · frost damage · heat stress
- Seasonal Changesbloom, thaw, freeze, leafing, budding
- crop problemsblight, drought damage, crop disease, root rot, wilting
- forest damageforest fire, forest fires, wildfires, bark beetle, bark beetles
- fungal diseasescandidiasis, histoplasmosis, blight, powdery mildew, downy mildew
- plant afflictionsblight, mildew, rot, wilt, root rot
- plant problemsroot rot, iron deficiency, calcium deficiency, wilting, yellow leaves
diebackregrowth
Growing back again
new growth · flourishing · thriving · recovery · regeneration
diebacknew growth
Recently sprouted plant material
budding · sprouting · proliferation · outgrowth · branching out