Above ground symptoms of the plants in these photographs are those expected with root rot. However, the root system is healthy white. Tissue in a circle at the top of the root is brown and sunken. There had been some days prior when wind was exceptionally strong. During such days plants can be jostled back and forth and in the process be damaged if the soil surface around the plant crown is dry and crusted. This illustrates the importance of digging up wilted plants and examining the roots rather than concluding based on plant above ground appearance that a pathogen is the culprit.
