Waxy breakdown is a physiological disorder that affects garlic during latter stages of growth and is often associated with periods of high temperature near harvest. Early symptoms are small, light yellow areas in the clove flesh that darken to yellow or amber with time. Finally the clove is translucent, sticky and waxy, but the outer dry skins are not usually affected. Low oxygen levels and inadequate ventilation during handling and storage may also contribute to development of waxy breakdown. Affected garlic bulbs may show little external evidence until decay is advanced.
Affected bulbs are light in weight and the individual cloves are soft and spongy and powdery dry.
In an advanced stage of decay, the cloves break down in a green or gray powdery mass. Low humidity in storage retards rot development. Outer cloves of bulbs are easily damaged during mechanical harvest and these damaged areas discolor and decay during storage. Therefore high quality garlic for the fresh market is usually harvested manually to avoid mechanical damage. Curing garlic is the process by which the outer leaf sheaths and neck tissues of the bulb are dried.