Co-Authors:
Kritzman, G., Division of Plant Pathology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Abstract:
To detect latent Botrytis allii Munn in onion bulbs, samples of bulbs were incubated for 2 days at 4°C, followed by 16 days' incubation at 15°C. The bulbs were then bisected longitudinally and the bulb halves were stained with an alcoholic solution of bromocresol green and methyl red. Healthy tissues stained green and diseased tissues stained red. Botrytis allii was detected in 14% of the bulbs thus tested. The reliability of the method was tested by using a selective medium for isolation and identification of Botrytis and by field plantings of onion bulbs; confirmatory results were obtained in both tests. The new method enables the disease to be diagnosed cheaply, easily and long before normal expression of symptoms in the field. © 1983.