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The widespread belief among gardeners that purchasing certified garlic planting material completely resolves the issue of infections has proven to be incorrect. A new study from the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) has demonstrated that even seed garlic from a “clean seed” program can harbor dangerous fungal infections internally, including Fusarium. Therefore, the primary focus should be not so much on selecting the material, but on verifying it before planting, especially during the preparation for the autumn campaign.
Risks of Fusarium infection even with certification
During the research, Canadian scientists analyzed seed garlic for the presence of the Fusarium pathogen. It was found that even material that has undergone the official “clean seed” program is not always completely safe. The fungal pathogen was detected among certified garlic, indicating the absence of a one hundred percent guarantee even after certification. Planting such material can contribute to introducing the infection into the soil and the subsequent spread of the disease.