Skip to main contentSkip to footer

Purple Blotch - Leeks/Onions

Alternaria porri

Pathogen

Fungus

Hosts

Onions and leeks

Symptoms

Spores infect the leaves to produce elliptical lesions which develop a purplish centre and a yellow halo around the outside. These lesions can be several centimetres in length. Under severe disease pressure whole leaves can dieback pre-maturely.

Sporulation leads to the formation of concentric rings.

Development

The lesions can encircle a leaf or stem leading to premature leaf/stem death. Spores can be washed down to the neck area of the bulb giving rise to a watery rot of the outer bulb scales. Spores can also be dispersed by wind.

Overwinters on infected plant debris.

Favourable Factors

Warm, humid weather.

Importance

A disease of leeks, onions and chives.

Losses arise during bulb storage.

Can result in reduced yields with smaller bulbs.

Control

  • Clean seed, sets or bulbs

  • Crop rotation

  • Spray fungicides at the first sign of infection

  • Remove infected plant debris