Wilting leaves - disease? Overwatering?

I planted this grafted fuyu persimmon two months ago. About a month ago it started budding and has been putting out large, healthy stems and beautiful new leaves. Just overnight about half the tree started wilting. Mostly the bottom leaves are soft, curling, drooping and have irregular brown patches. The top few stems are still looking very good (except for one tiny brown spot). I've never had a plant go from vigorous, healthy growth to almost completely blighted within 24 hours. Could this be transplant shock? It's newly planted, but could that occur even after having an initially strong 'leafing out?'
It's on an automatic watering system. About 10 minutes steady trickle every other day.

Hi Collette, welcome to Permies!

I am not experienced with fruit trees but the symptoms remind me of bacterial rot in the vegetables. Roots are infected first and the pathogens travel up the stem quickly, making the leaves soft.

Maybe someone will chime in and help you.

Hi Collette. Sorry to hear about your persimmon tree. It does sound and look like a fungal disease that started in the soil to me, but I'm not 100% sure. Do you see any other symptoms on the stems, trunk or root crown of the tree?
Is the tree in a location where the soil drains well? Persimmons need well-draining soil.
I would definitely reduce watering. I think you are watering too much now that the tree has been in the ground a couple months. Water only when the top inch of soil is dry, probably once or twice a week.

If it is fungal, here is what I would use to treat it.

It is simple and inexpensive and cannot hurt to try it.

If the tree doesn't improve it might be something else:

https://permies.com/t/93537/toxic-Fungicide#1423936