Oregon State University Plant Clinic

Stipple spot on stored garlic

Cause

Unknown. Various fungi, including Fusarium spp. and Penicillium sp. have been recovered from garlic with stipple spot, but none consistently. It is unclear if this is a disease due to microorganisms or if the speckling is due to abiotic factors.

Occurrence

This problem shows up on an infrequent but annoying basis. Not all cloves within a head are affected, but many of them may be.

Symptoms

This problem shows up as tiny amber colored specks. These stippled areas are slightly raised above the white portions of the clove . There may be no indication that the cloves are affected until the skins are peeled away. Affected cloves do not get any worse, although they may decay if these spots become infected with secondary fungi.

Management

• None known