Comparison of Different Physical Methods and Preservatives for Control of Fusarium proliferatum Rot in Garlic

La Placa, Laura; Giorni, Paola; Mondani, Letizia; Magan, Naresh; Battilani, Paola

doi:10.3390/horticulturae8121203

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Comparison of Different Physical Methods and Preservatives for Control of Fusarium proliferatum Rot in Garlic

by

Laura La Placa

¹,

Paola Giorni

¹

,

Letizia Mondani

¹,

Naresh Magan

²

and

Paola Battilani

^1,*

¹

Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy

²

Applied Mycology Group, Institute of BioScience and Technology, Cranfield University, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4DT, UK

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Horticulturae 2022, 8(12), 1203; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121203

Submission received: 17 November 2022 / Revised: 7 December 2022 / Accepted: 13 December 2022 / Published: 15 December 2022

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plants Pathology and Advances in Disease Management)

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Abstract

Dry rot is an emerging issue for garlic production worldwide and Fusarium proliferatum is its major causal agent. Since the disease is seed-transmitted, sowing healthy cloves is crucial. In this study, some disinfection strategies were tested on garlic seeds, including steam, dry heat, chemical disinfectants and gaseous ozone (O₃). Steam reduced the Colony Forming Units·g⁻¹ (CFUs·g⁻¹) by up to 92% in garlic seeds, but, at the same time, it affected their germination (−36%). Similarly, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and peracetic acid (C₂H₄O₃) reduced the CFUs·g⁻¹ by up to 83%; however, these methods also severely impaired germination (−40%). Dry heat did not negatively impact germination, but fungal contamination was not significantly reduced. The most promising strategy was gaseous O₃ treatment; it decreased CFUs·g⁻¹ by up to 96%, without causing any reduction of germination. The treatments applied were partially effective because the fungus is predominantly located in the outer layer of the seed, although it is also found in the inner portions. Some of these treatments can contribute to garlic protection from seed-borne pathogens and possibly reduce the occurrence of garlic dry rot.

Keywords: Fusarium proliferatum; garlic; dry rot; physical methods; preservatives

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MDPI and ACS Style

La Placa, L.; Giorni, P.; Mondani, L.; Magan, N.; Battilani, P. Comparison of Different Physical Methods and Preservatives for Control of Fusarium proliferatum Rot in Garlic. Horticulturae 2022, 8, 1203. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121203

AMA Style

La Placa L, Giorni P, Mondani L, Magan N, Battilani P. Comparison of Different Physical Methods and Preservatives for Control of Fusarium proliferatum Rot in Garlic. Horticulturae. 2022; 8(12):1203. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121203

Chicago/Turabian Style

La Placa, Laura, Paola Giorni, Letizia Mondani, Naresh Magan, and Paola Battilani. 2022. "Comparison of Different Physical Methods and Preservatives for Control of Fusarium proliferatum Rot in Garlic" Horticulturae 8, no. 12: 1203. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121203

APA Style

La Placa, L., Giorni, P., Mondani, L., Magan, N., & Battilani, P. (2022). Comparison of Different Physical Methods and Preservatives for Control of Fusarium proliferatum Rot in Garlic. Horticulturae, 8(12), 1203. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121203

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Comparison of Different Physical Methods and Preservatives for Control of Fusarium proliferatum Rot in Garlic

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