Fungal problem -- mate is scheduled for treatment (5,3,7)
I believe the answer is:
dutch elm disease
'fungal problem' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'mate is scheduled for treatment' is the wordplay.
'for treatment' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'mate'+'is'+'scheduled'='mateisscheduled'
'mateisscheduled' with letters rearranged gives 'DUTCH ELM DISEASE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dutch elm disease that I've seen before include "tree problem" , "threat to the forest" , "What bark beetles help to cause" , "Disorder of trees" , "Fungal tree ailment" .)