Diseases
White rot
Identify White rot: symptoms, possible causes, prevention, and practical actions for 3 affected plants. Wilting and yellowing of leaves
Editorial diagnosis
Diagnosis overview
White rot is a persistent fungal disease of leeks, garlic, and alliums.
In gardens, White rot can occur on plants including Garlic, Allium, Shallot. In the available profiles, it is linked mainly with Alliums.
The recorded risk level is high. Conditions that favour it include Wet weather or prolonged leaf wetness, Dense planting and poor airflow, Susceptible cultivars. Long survival in soil makes it serious.
Compare upper and lower leaf surfaces, the boundary between healthy and damaged tissue, and spread after wet weather. Coatings, spores, or progressive rot support a disease diagnosis.
A common mistake is to identify a disease from one spot alone; weather, spread, and pathogen structures also need to fit.
At a glance
Plants
3
Category
Alliums
Risk
high
Scientific name
Sclerotium cepivorum
Typical signs
- Yellowing
- White mycelium
- Black sclerotia
- Rotting base
Possible confusion
- Growing problem: Growing problems are usually linked to water, light, temperature, or soil and do not show pathogen growth, pustules, or progressive infection patterns.
- Nutrient deficiency: Deficiency patterns are often more regular and follow leaf age or veins. Diseases more often show spots, coatings, rot, wilting, or pathogen structures.
Immediate actions
- Remove affected plant parts
- Improve airflow
- Avoid overhead watering
- Keep tools clean
- Remove heavily infected plant residues
Prevention
- Use suitable spacing
- Follow crop rotation
- Choose robust cultivars
- Keep leaves dry
- Support soil structure and plant vigour
Affected plants
Guides
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