Postharvest Handling of Garlic for Control of Pests and Disease

View the project final report

Commodities

• Vegetables: garlic

Practices

• Crop Production: postharvest treatment, seed saving

Garlic growers have improved their growing techniques and drying techniques through support from previous research projects funded by SARE and other granting agencies. A remaining challenge for growers is storage of their crop either until planting or for sale at winter markets. Often, garlic that is of poor quality coming out of storage appeared healthy and in good condition after drying. Key storage issues include Fusarium, Botrytis, and the recently identified Eriophyid mite. Losses out of storage can be devastating and sometimes almost the entire crop is lost (grower reports; team farm visits).

The goal of this project is to answer the question, “How do the conditions of postharvest curing and storage impact the levels of infection by Eriophyid mites and Fusarium spp. in garlic grown in the northeast?” We will achieve this goal by addressing the following objectives:

1. Study and understand the impact of curing temperature and humidity on the postharvest levels of Eriophyid mites and Fusarium spp as well as overall garlic quality.
2. Study and understand the impact of storage temperature and humidity on the postharvest levels of Eriophyid mites and Fusarium spp as well as overall garlic quality.
3. Document research findings in grower-focused guidance publications that address both the ideal conditions determined from experimentation and simple, cost-effective systems that can be used to achieve the target conditions.
4. Share project findings in grower-focused educational events to support learning and adoption of improved practice.

The goal of this project is to answer the question, “How do the conditions of postharvest curing and storage impact the levels of infection by Eriophyid mites and Fusarium spp. in garlic grown in the northeast?” We will achieve this goal by addressing the following objectives:

1. Study and understand the impact of curing temperature and humidity on the postharvest levels of Eriophyid mites and Fusarium spp as well as overall garlic quality.

2. Study and understand the impact of storage temperature and humidity on the postharvest levels of Eriophyid mites and Fusarium spp as well as overall garlic quality.

3. Document research findings in grower-focused guidance publications that address both the ideal conditions determined from experimentation and simple, cost-effective systems that can be used to achieve the target conditions.

4. Share project findings in grower-focused educational events to support learning and adoption of improved practice.