Does this look like Verticillium Wilt to you?

[Cruiser]

From a “Little Gem” vine maple. One leader from a clump of three was almost completely desiccated and held no leaves. I suspect it did not leaf out at all this season.
The other two trunks appeared ok. Tree located in mostly shaded location at a nursery.

 

[Rivian]

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Take it to your county agent for a diagnosis.

 

[Cruiser]

Thanks. The tree is for sale at a nursery. The owner was notified.

 

[Rivian]

Half of the time Vine Maples are mentioned its about their demise from Verticilium, it seems to me.

 

[rockm]

Looks like and acts like verticillium, doesn't necessarily mean it is though. My money is on the "yes it is" side though--sporadically dead top growth is a classic sign of it. It kills off portions of a tree over years until there's nothing left. The discoloration is another sign. I would avoid buying anything from the nursery, this crap spreads through mycellium in the soil and can flare when conditions are right. I lost a very nice Amur maple to it about 20 years ago. Sad to see a developed bonsai begin dying off piece by piece and being able to do nothing about it. There is no real effective treatment for it. Best way to get past it is to provide conditions that allow the tree to outgrow the vert's progress.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Looks like it. I lost my exposed root maple raft when it shipped. The Ohio State guy said most likely triggered in the change in Temps. As it originally was from California. And we had fluctuating Temps. Nothing drastic. But enough to set it off. That was my first real devastating loss with bonsai. It was a lovely tree.