What occurs when an infected root rot plant is removed from the soil?

When a plant infected with root rot is removed from the soil, the decayed outer surface of the roots often sloughs off. This is a natural response as the damaged parts of the root system are no longer viable. The rot typically affects the outer layers, which can become mushy and disintegrate. The removal of the decayed outer layer can sometimes expose healthier tissue underneath, although the extent of recovery depends on how severe the infection was.

The other outcomes are not typical. For example, the entire plant does not disintegrate immediately upon removal; it may still be intact, but the root system is compromised. Roots do not begin to regrow immediately; instead, they require a conducive environment and time to recover after being affected by root rot. Lastly, stating that nothing significant happens overlooks the biological processes at play, particularly the sloughing off of compromised tissues, which is indicative of the damage caused by root rot.