GARLIC VR Mamaril Garlic, Allium stivum L. or bawang is a perennial herb of the Amaryllidaceae family. The plant produces bulb which is surrounded by sheaths and composed of bulblets, cloves, or set, all of which are capable of forming a new plant. The bulblet in fresh or in processed form has been used as food, condiment, and for medicinal purposes. Aside from being an indispensable recado (ingredient), garlic is also used to cure athlete’s foot and hypertension. It is used in preparation of drugs, insecticide and explosives.The crop is widely cultivated in the Ilocos, Southern Tagalog and central Luzon regions. All varieties grown in the Philippines are of native origin. These are batangas white, Ilocos white and Batanes white. Garlic is dry season crop because it is harvested during the hot summer months. However, the crop is more productive during cool months when the days are shortest since bulb formation occurs at this period.The best soil types for its cultivation are clay alluvial and sandy loam. Cool weather is needed by the crop during its early stage of growth. During ripening stage, a comparative dry soil, dry atmosphere and moderately high temperature are important.Areas with an elevation of 8,000 to 1,500 meters above the sea level are good places for cultivation. Garlic is a relatively good source of calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. Its leaves are sources of protein and of Vitamins A and C. In the Ilocos Region and in many parts of the country, the green tops are used for pinakbet, an Ilocano delicacy.Garlic is said to contain antibiotic substances that inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and fungi. People in the rural areas use garlic to treat wounds, toothache, epilepsy, and fungal skin diseases. Scientific experiments in Germany, for instance, have shown that certain compounds in garlic block the blood platelets from forming into blood clots, which could cause heart attacks (coronary thrombosis) and strokes. CULTURAL MANAGEMENT Varieties. ‘Ilocos White’ is the most common variety of garlic planted for commercial production in the country. It has purple to white scales. It is moderately resistant to insect pests and diseases. It matures 90 to 110 days after planting and has a potential yield of 3.5 tons per hectare. It has a prolonged span of shelf life.
Pests Symptoms or Damage Management Pink Root Phoma terrestris bulb. Infected roots first turn light pink, then darken through red and purple, shrivel, turn black, and die. The pinkish red discoloration may extend up into the scales of the bulb. New roots also may become infected. If infection continues, plants become stunted. Many weak Fusarium species can also cause pink roots, Pink root is primarily a problem on onion; garlic is infected by the pink root organism. Avoid repeated cropping of onion on the same soil, use of resistant varieties, good soil tilth and fertility, control of insects and other diseases to maintain healthy plants, and preplant soil fumigation. Downy Mildew, Peronospora destructor 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 often enlarge in the direction of prevailing winds. The disease can develop from an initial infection by airborne spores into an epidemic very quickly if humidity and temperature conditions. Initial sources of disease can be infected bulbs, sets, seeds, and plant debris. 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. 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