Natural Fungicide Fights Garlic White Rot

“White rot” is a fast-spreading and persistent fungus responsible for decimating California’s garlic acreage, which produces 86% of the national garlic production. In order to control this pest, scientists at the University of California, Davis, have developed a natural fungicide that is between 95-99% effective against white rot.

This fungicide is however no conventional treatment, as the fungicide must be applied to the field a season before a farmer wishes to cultivate garlic. The active ingredient is a garlicky-smelling compound, named DADS (for diallele disulfide), found naturally in garlic and onions. When applied to the soil, DADS tricks white rot spores into germinating, but in the absence of the crop, the fungus dies through lack of food. Researchers hope the fungicide can be used as part of an integrated pest management strategy for white rot.

“I'm optimistic that this fungicide will enable growers to produce a profitable crop on infested fields," said Mike Davis, UC Davis plant pathologist. "The next phase of our research, a demonstration project beginning this fall, will focus on how this compound performs in a commercial field.”

Read more at
http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=8250