The Garlic Problem Solver Quiz Quiz

Discover key facts about common garlic diseases, their symptoms, management strategies, and how to distinguish similar-sounding threats. This medium-difficulty quiz helps clarify important challenges for garlic growers.

1. Identifying White Rot in Garlic

   Which symptom most clearly indicates a garlic plant is infected with white rot (Sclerotium cepivorum)?

   1. Black, sunken lesions on the neck
   2. White, fluffy fungal growth around the base of the bulb
   3. Yellow streaks forming on the leaves
   4. Purplish blotches on the stem

   Explanation: White rot is identified by a characteristic white, fluffy fungal growth at the bulb's base. Yellow streaks on leaves often indicate nutrient issues or viruses, black lesions typically result from neck rot, and purplish blotches are signs of some Fusarium species, not white rot.

2. Garlic Downy Mildew Clues

   During cool, moist weather, a garlic crop shows pale, elongated patches on leaves that later develop a grayish-purple down. Which disease is this most likely?

   1. Rust
   2. Botrytis neck rot
   3. Downy mildew
   4. Basal rot

   Explanation: Downy mildew starts with pale patches on leaves and produces a grayish-purple mold under cool, wet conditions. Rust shows orange pustules, Botrytis neck rot affects the neck, and basal rot causes decay at the base, not down or leaf patches.

3. Managing Fusarium Basal Rot

   What is the most effective cultural practice to reduce the risk of Fusarium basal rot in garlic fields?

   1. Increasing irrigation frequency
   2. Practicing crop rotation with non-Allium plants
   3. Applying excess nitrogen fertilizer
   4. Planting garlic in the same location each year

   Explanation: Rotating with non-Allium crops interrupts the Fusarium cycle and lowers disease pressure. Increased irrigation and excess nitrogen can promote disease, while replanting in the same site heightens Fusarium risk due to residual pathogens.

4. Virus Transmission in Garlic

   A garlic grower notices stunted plants with yellow mosaic patterns on leaves. Which of the following is the main mode of transmission for most garlic viruses?

   1. Use of infected planting material (cloves)
   2. Wind-borne spores
   3. Animals grazing in the field
   4. Excess sunlight

   Explanation: Garlic viruses are most commonly spread through vegetative propagation using infected cloves. Animals and wind-borne spores do not usually transmit viruses, and excess sunlight is unrelated to virus infection.

5. Purple Blotch Confusion

   If dark, sunken lesions with purple halos appear on garlic leaves after extended wet periods, which pathogen is likely responsible?

   1. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
   2. Penicillium allii
   3. Alternaria porri
   4. Agrobacterium tumefaciens

   Explanation: Alternaria porri causes purple blotch, producing characteristic dark lesions with purple margins. Penicillium allii usually causes post-harvest blue mold, Agrobacterium tumefaciens leads to galls, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes watery rot and cottony growth, not purple blotch.