What Is It? | Facts in Depth | For the Professional Diagnostician
Garlic & Onion Diseases | Garlic Bloat Nematode
Garlic Bloat Nematode
Identification
Bulbs
- Begin as slightly discolored, but eventually become very dark in color
- Soft and exhibit cracking
- Basal plate also can be easily separated
- Slightly reduced roots
Foliage
- Leaf splitting, stunting, curled or twisted leaves
- Stem softening/collapse and leaf swelling
- Plants exhibit pre-mature defoliation
Favorable Environmental Conditions
- Warm, moist soils
- Nematodes spread by rain and irrigation
Often Confused With
- Fusarium basal rot
Scouting Notes
Monitor for discoloration, distortion, and pre-mature drop of foliage in plant clusters, which enlarge as the pathogen spreads from plant to plant after periods of rain or wetness.