Bacterial and fungal diseases of garlic
Farmer's Weekly|Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Garlic can be prone to bacterial and fungal diseases, and it's important that farmers are proactive in preventing infection and practise appropriate management. Magda du Toit reports.
Magda du Toit
Bacterial and fungal diseases of garlic

Growing garlic from seed to harvest requires careful planning, as well as proper and ongoing production management practices to ensure a healthy crop. By paying attention to factors like soil health, watering, and pest and disease management, the risks associated with garlic production can be minimised.

Speaking at the South African Garlic Growers’ Association’s annual conference in Pretoria recently, Elsie Cruywagen, specialist researcher in mycology and plant pathology at the Agricultural Research Council Vegetable, Industrial and Medicinal Plant (ARC-VIMP) Institute, pointed out that garlic is susceptible to several diseases. “Garlic is prone to mainly fungal and viral and to a lesser extent bacterial diseases,” she said.

She added that most of the major fungal diseases are soilborne.

Cruywagen said that although there aren’t any active research projects on at present, ad hoc samples are being received at the ARCVIMP Diagnostic Centre at Roodeplaat.

“In the past we received samples for diagnosis of black mould, blue mould and Fusarium basal rot.”

Cruywagen pointed out that there are about 10 groups of bacterial diseases that affect garlic and over 35 fungal diseases can impair garlic production. Some of these are listed below.

LEAF DISEASES Leaf blight

Leaf blight is caused by Stemphylium vesicarium. The pathogen’s spores are dispersed by wind and are present throughout the garlic growing season, with spore counts increasing as the season progresses. Stemphylium leaf blight thrives in warm and humid climates.

Lesions generally develop during warm temperatures with adequate rainfall or irrigation until harvest. S. vesicarium is also found in onions and asparagus.

Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA FARMER'S WEEKLYSe alt
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Farmer's Weekly

Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation

Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Farmer's Weekly

Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards

Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.

time-read
1 min  |
November 22, 2024
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
Farmer's Weekly

Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards

The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.

time-read
1 min  |
November 22, 2024
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Farmer's Weekly

Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach

Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
Farmer's Weekly

Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic

The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Farmer's Weekly

Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting

Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 22, 2024
THE HITCHING POST
Farmer's Weekly

THE HITCHING POST

I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Farmer's Weekly

Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!

Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
Farmer's Weekly

Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?

In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 22, 2024
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
Farmer's Weekly

Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season

In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 22, 2024