Rotting papaya fruits infected with the plant-pathogenic fungus Lasiodiplodia sp.

A rotting papaya (Carica papaya) fruit after being damaged by the Giant African snail (Achatina fulica ).

A rotting branch of koa (Acacia koa), affected by koa wilt disease.

Definition

Rot is a softening, discoloration, and often disintegration of plant tissue as a result of fungal or bacterial infection.

Etymology. O.E. "to deacy," from P.Gmc. *rutjan (cf. O.S. roton, O.N. rotna, O.Fris. rotia, M.Du. roten, O.H.G. rozzen "to rot"