This is a recording of a live Webinar held on 13 November 2018.
White Rot is the most destructive disease to infect Allium families around the world. The reproductive black-poppy-seed-like Sclerotia survive in soils between 30 and 50 years, and have a devastating impact on Onions, Garlic, Shallots, Leeks and Chives. It can be spread by infected bulbs, infected soil on plants, plant tissue, human and machine traffic on-farm and to surrounding properties by winds during soil tillage.
At levels of only 1 sclerotia/litre of soil, 25% of crop may be lost and through successive seasons at 20 sclerotia/litre of soil you may experience full crop failure.
It is known to exist in both backyards and commercial farms and it is important for every Allium grower, especially garlic and onion growers to know:
(1) How to identify it on the plant and bulb
(2) How to safely destroy it
(3) Whether you can safely sell the plants or bulbs
(4) How to contain it so that soil-borne spores aren’t spread to surrounding properties
(5) And what, if any, are effective suppression or eradication practices to prevent further outbreaks