Koch, M.F., Dept. of Vegetable Crops, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Taanami, Z., Dept. of Vegetable Crops, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Levy, E., Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Protection and Inspection Services, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) plants in an experimental field at Bet Dagan developed a whitish leaf tip dieback in late November 1993. Infected plants were smaller and produced smaller bulbs than healthy plants. Yields were reduced by 35% compared with similar plots which were not affected. Erwinia herbicola (Lohnis) Dye was identified as the causal organism. The very warm winter and the overhead sprinkler system used in the field are thought to have caused the outbreak. Similar but milder symptoms were observed in the 1994/95 and 1995/96 crops, in which only leaf tips were affected and no major yield losses occurred. E. herbicola was isolated from lesions on infected plants in both years. © 1996 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.