I think I can rule out dehydration due to lack of water. I water once per week and I have seen dehydration due to lack of water and this is different. Plus when I've observed deyhdration due to lack of water in the past, the avocado trees respond quickly to watering and perk up. This one has not.
Thanks for the insight, Harry.
Several months ago a single lower branch showed the same symptoms and completely died back. Now several branches are showing similar symptoms.
Perhaps there is a root issue. I don't know.
I still walk around the yard and observe the trees on a daily basis and this wilt came on fast. Seemingly normal branches to wilted in a day or two.
In its early stages, I don't think you can make the diagnosis from just casual observation. Laurel Wilt is a fungus that is carried by the Ambrosia Beetle and causes the tree to be unable to uptake moisture to the branches and leaves. The leaves wilt initially because of loss of hydration. This is the same situation with some other diseases.....like Phytopthera attack on roots, or even a non-disease process like plain old dehydration from lack of water. The main difference is that with the diseases, the leaves turn brown and do not drop. With straight dehydration, there will usually be some attempt by the tree to drop its leaves and limit water loss through the leaves until new hydration occurs.