Fusariosis is an ailment that affects cultivated and wild plants. Garlic is no exception. The disease can be caused by imperfect fungi from the genus Fusarium. Their degree of activity is determined by chemical and climatic conditions
Nature of Fusarium Disease
The causative agent penetrates the vascular system of the plant through damage to the root processes, leaves and stems. The infection gets to the infield along with water, soil and seed. This garlic disease is often referred to as bottom rot.
Bulb plants die due to intoxication and a violation of all vital functions. The disease is activated in the warm season. The greatest losses are in August. During storage, the heads most affected by chemical burns, parasites and agricultural implements are most often affected.
Routes of transmission and causes of infection of garlic with fusarium
Fusariosis is transmitted through spores and vegetative parts of affected plants. The causative agent is resistant to sudden temperature changes. It experiences frosts, being in the soil and bulbs.
Factors that increase the risk of infection include:
- low-quality seed;
- abuse of nitrogen fertilizers;
- high humidity;
- planting garlic in beds located in a lowland;
- drying out of the root system;
- the use of equipment and equipment that has not passed disinfection;
- improper watering;
- thickening of landings;
- an abundance of insects;
- fluid stagnation in the ground;
- high air temperature (more than +28 ° С).
Fusarium first hits the bottom of the garlic head. Subsequently, the affected area increases, since the disease captures healthy tissue. Infection can occur both during storage and during the growing season.
Clinical picture
The development of the following symptoms indicates the development of garlic fusariosis:
- brown stripes on green feathers;
- plaque of pink-violet or pink hue in the axils of the leaves, on the stem and roots;
- white blotches at the base of the bulb;
- softening garlic cloves;
- peduncle wither;
- whitish coating between the scales;
- decay and death of roots.
The crop will be lost even if there are several infected cloves on the bed. The same will happen if storage conditions are not followed. A good cause for concern is the increased temperature and excessive humidity in the room where the gardener is going to keep the collected garlic. Mummified heads are unsuitable for planting or cooking culinary masterpieces.
Garlic Fusarium Control Measures
Seeds should be treated with fungicides before planting. High efficiency is characterized by such drugs as Quadris and Fundazole.
Etching should not last longer than 30 minutes. The next step is drying the bulbs.
Fungal infection is difficult to treat, so the affected plants are destroyed. Sick bulbs without fail isolate from healthy. Thus, they reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
In the initial stages, the disease can still be stopped. For this, various means are used, among them there are:
- Fitosporin-M;
- Trichodermin;
- Vitaros;
- Baktofit.
Each medication is accompanied by instructions for use.
To achieve maximum effect, the gardener must strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
Biological products are safe for plants and animals.
The soil is shed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, saturated with dolomite flour or chalk. The last two components are used to saturate the soil with calcium. A boric acid solution is often used to treat uninfected cloves of garlic.
Fusarium Prevention
Fusarium garlic is easier to prevent than to cure. The list of preventive measures is quite extensive.
- Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the seed. Cogs that are marked with signs of defeat are strictly forbidden to plant or use to make compost.
- The garden bed made for this crop should not be placed next to other plants from this family. This will reduce the risk of infection with fungal pathologies.
- The soil for garlic should not be too acidic. At high pH, dolomite flour, slaked lime or limestone is added to the soil. Fertilizer dosage control is also required. Experienced gardeners recommend using complexes for feeding, which include all the necessary components.
For preventive purposes, alternative methods are also used. Treatment solutions can be prepared on the basis of soda and whey. Unconventional methods of therapy can be used in parallel with chemical fungicides.
To prevent the disease, it is necessary:
- observe crop rotation. Plants belonging to the bulbous family cannot be planted in one place for several years in a row;
- regularly apply fertilizers of organic origin to the soil. This will positively affect the immune system of garlic, so that it becomes resistant to fusarium;
- treat the bulbs before planting with disinfecting compounds, for example, Maxim, Fitosporin, potassium permanganate or copper chloride;
- water the soil with fungicides 2 weeks before sowing, make EM preparations. The latter accelerate the formation of humus. It is necessary for proper nutrition of cultural and ornamental crops, their protection from pathogenic microorganisms;
- remove weed in a timely manner;
- sprinkle garlic with Bioreid, Mikosan and Biosporin. Biofungicides will eliminate pathogens that provoke fusarium wilt. It is strictly forbidden to combine drugs from this group with chemical agents;
- after harvest, remove all organic residues from the site;
- provide optimal storage conditions (air humidity - from 75 to 80%, temperature - not higher than +1 ° C). Garlic is placed in storage only after drying.
Fusarium wilting is a disease of a warm climate. Its causative agents most actively manifest themselves in regions characterized by moderately cold winters and hot summers. Crop losses in these regions can be 70-80%. Infection in most cases occurs in the soil. Measures used to combat this fungal ailment in the defeat of various crops, will give the desired result only if the instructions are strictly followed.
