FUNGUS>HONEY FUNGUS - Also terMEd ARMILLARIA or ROOT ROT.  A serious fungal condition that, given the difficulty of eradication,  can result in death of the tree.

Symptons are ROOTS which turn brown and begin to rot, SHOOTS become stunted, LEAVES/NEEDLEs drop and branches die.  In autumn yellow capped fungi with brown scales and white GALLS will appear at the base of the tree.