Article by :- Kartik Rai
Introduction
Garlic is a common crop in India but it does have issues with diseases which in turn reduce the yield and quality of the crop. These issues are brought on by fungi, bacteria and sometimes viruses. If farmers are able to identify the issue early they can save their crop. Today we will go over the main diseases of garlic as they present in Indian growing conditions, what the symptoms are, and what can be done to control them. Also we will look at how Parth AI by Krishiverse which is to make disease identification and management much easier for farmers.
Purple Blotch
This is a common garlic disease caused by Alternaria porri. It shows as small, water-soaked spots that turn purple or brown on leaves. If severe, the leaves dry and the bulbs remain small.
Control: Remove affected leaves, keep the crop well-spaced, avoid overhead irrigation, and spray recommended fungicides.
Downy Mildew
Caused by Peronospora destructor, this disease appears as pale yellow patches that later turn into a white or gray powder. It spreads fast in cool, humid weather.
Control: Avoid dense planting, improve air circulation, and spray fungicides at first signs.
Basal Rot
This disease is caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Plants show yellowing leaves, root rot, and bulbs become soft from the base.
Control: Use disease-free cloves, treat cloves before planting, rotate crops, and avoid waterlogging.
White Rot
Caused by Sclerotium cepivorum, it is one of the hardest to manage. Plants wilt and die, and a white fungal growth with black sclerotia appears at the bulb base.
Control: Avoid planting in infected soil, rotate with non-host crops, and use fungicides.
Stemphylium Blight
This disease is becoming more common in garlic. It is caused by Stemphylium vesicarium. It begins as small yellow spots on leaves, which later turn brown and merge, drying the whole leaf.
Control: Spray fungicides at early stage, avoid excess nitrogen fertilizers, and ensure balanced irrigation.
Rust
Garlic rust is caused by Puccinia allii. Orange to brown powdery pustules form on leaves, reducing photosynthesis and bulb growth.
Control: Destroy infected plant debris, avoid excess moisture, and spray recommended fungicides.
Neck Rot
This disease is caused by Botrytis allii. It mainly attacks during storage. The neck of the bulb becomes soft and watery, later covered with gray fungal growth.
Control: Harvest at proper maturity, cure bulbs properly before storage, and avoid storing in humid places.
Mosaic Disease (Viral)
Caused by different viruses, this disease shows yellow streaks and mottling on leaves. Plants become stunted and yield is reduced. It spreads mainly through infected cloves.
Control: Use virus-free seed cloves, control aphid population, and remove infected plants from the field.
How Parth AI Can Help Farmers
In the field many of these diseases present very similarly. Farmers may put out too much time or money using the wrong spray. With Parth AI by Krishiverse what a farmer does is take a picture of the infected plant and upload it. The AI at once determines what the disease is and puts out in local language what the farmer can do about it practically. Also it gives out reminders of when to spray and what the right dose should be which in turn helps farmers to save money and protect the crop.
Conclusion
Garlic is an income-generating crop, but its diseases can cause heavy loss if not managed. Purple blotch, downy mildew, basal rot, white rot, stemphylium blight, rust, neck rot, and viral mosaic are the main problems in Indian fields. Early detection, crop rotation, proper irrigation, clean seed, and timely fungicide use are the keys to protection.