UC IPM Online UC ANR home page UC IPM home page

UC IPM Home

Search

SKIP navigation
How to Manage Pests

Home & garden
Agriculture
Natural environments
Exotic & invasive

Weather data & products
Degree-days
Interactive tools & models

Educational Resources

Publications & more
Workshops and events
PCA exam helper
Pesticide information

Research and IPM

Grants programs
Funded-project results

 
  Printer-friendly version

How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Downy mildew sporulation on onion leaf.

Onion and Garlic

Downy Mildew

Pathogen: Peronospora destructor

(Reviewed 1/07, updated 1/07)

In this Guideline:

SYMPTOMS

Downy mildew can infect both onions and garlic. The first evidence of disease is a fine, furry, grayish white to purple growth on the surface of older leaves. Leaf tissue under the growth becomes pale green, then yellow, and finally collapses. Large, yellowish, circular clumps of infected plants, a few to many feet in diameter, may be the first symptom noticed in the field. The yellowing patterns often enlarge in the direction of prevailing winds.

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

Downy mildew can develop from an initial infection by airborne spores into an epidemic very quickly if humidity and temperature conditions (1.5­–7 hours of leaf wetness and 43° to 80°F) are favorable. Spores can travel long distances in moist air, but are quickly killed by dry conditions. Initial sources of disease can be infected bulbs, sets, seeds, and plant debris.

MANAGEMENT

Cultural Control
Use disease-free bulbs, sets, and seed. Use a 3-year rotation away from Allium crops in fields where the disease has occurred. Destroy volunteer Allium plants in and around the field and buildings. Locate onion fields where there is good air movement to promote rapid drying of foliage. Currently there are a few red onion cultivars (e.g., Calred) that are resistant to downy mildew.

Chemical Control
Spray at the first sign of disease; fungicides may be applied on a 7-day schedule, if necessary. For all fungicides, thorough coverage of foliage is important in the control of downy mildew.

Common name Amount/Acre R.E.I.+ P.H.I.+
(trade name)   (hours) (days)
When choosing a pesticide, consider information relating to environmental impact.
 
A. FENAMIDONE
  (Reason) 500 SC 5.5 fl oz 12 7
  MODE OF ACTION: A QoI (Group 11)1 fungicide.
  COMMENTS: Do not apply more than 22 fl oz/acre/season or make more than one application before alternating with a fungicide that has a different mode of action Group number.
 
B. MANCOZEB/MEFENOXAM
  (Ridomil Gold) MZ 1.5–2 lb 48 7
  MODE OF ACTION: A multi-site (Group M3)1 dithiocarbamate and a PA (Group 4)1 acylalanine fungicide.
  COMMENTS: Registered for use on garlic, bulb onions, and shallots (dry bulb). Do not apply to exposed bulb.
 
C. MEFENOXAM/CHLOROTHALONIL
  (Ridomil Gold/Bravo) 1.5–2 lb 48 Bulb onions: 7
        Green onions: 21
  MODE OF ACTION: A PA (Group 4)1 acylalanine and a multi-site contact (Group M5)1 chloronitrile fungicide.
  COMMENTS: Registered for use on garlic, bulb onions, green onions, and shallots (dry bulb).
 
D. CHLOROTHALONIL
  (Bravo Weatherstik, Applause, Echo) 1.5–3 pt 12 Garlic, bulb onions: 7
Green onions, leeks, shallots: 14
  MODE OF ACTION: A multi-site contact (Group M5)1 chloronitrile fungicide.
  COMMENTS: See label regarding special instructions related to the 12 hour R.E.I.
 
E. MANCOZEB
  (Penncozeb) 75DF 2–3 lb 24 7
  (Dithane M45) 80W 2–3 lb 24 7
  (Dithane F45) 37%F 1.7–2.4 qt 24 7
  MODE OF ACTION: A multi-site contact (Group M3)1 dithiocarbamate fungicide.
  COMMENTS: Registered for use on garlic, shallots, and bulb onions only. Do not apply to exposed bulb.
 
F. MANEB 80W 2–3 lb 24 7
  MODE OF ACTION: A multi-site contact (Group M3)1 dithiocarbamate fungicide.
  COMMENTS: Registered for use on garlic and bulb and green onions only. Do not apply to exposed bulb.
 
G. COPPER# Label rates 24 check label
  MODE OF ACTION: A multi-site contact (Group M1)1 inorganic fungicide.
  COMMENTS: Not as effective as other materials, but some products are acceptable for use in an organically certified crop.
 
 
+  Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment until the harvest may take place. In some cases the R.E.I. exceeds the P.H.I. The longer of these two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest may take place.
# Acceptable for use on organically grown produce.
1 Group numbers are assigned by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) according to different modes of actions. Fungicides with a different group number are suitable to alternate in a resistance management program. For more information, see http://www.frac.info/.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Onion and Garlic
UC ANR Publication 3453
Diseases
R. M. Davis, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
B. J. Aegerter, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin Co.
Acknowledgment for contributions to the diseases section:
F. F. Laemmlen, UC Cooperative Extension, Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo counties
R. E. Voss, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis

Top of page

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r584100111.html revised: January 31, 2007. Contact webmaster.