Because the spores are able to effectively overwinter in plant debris and soil, N. radicicola is not limited by seasonally colder climate conditions.

More chlamydospores will form once the hyphae reach the surface of the host tissue where micro and macronidia will sprout and release the spores.

The symptoms are only present on the surface of the root however and the discolored spots can be scraped off to reveal healthy tissue beneath.

[2] Research has shown that the virality of the N. radicicola is variable and highly dependent on the makeup of the double stranded RNA within the genotype.

Phenotypic features which were closely related to virality such as laccase activity and sporulation were highly dependent on the amount and type of dsRNA present in the genome.

As the name suggests, Ilyonectria mors-panacis is closely related to Nectria radicicola, also known as Ilyonectria radicicola, but the genetic discrepancies between plants observed with root rot and rusty root are significant enough that what was thought to be merely different strains might actually be classified as arising from two different species of fungus.