Does Botrytis Spread to Sound Onions in Storage?
Albert C. Purvis1, Jason Brock2 and Joel T. Paulk1 1Horticulture Department, Coastal Plain Experiment Station 2Plant Pathology Department, Rural Development Center The University of Georgia Tifton, Georgia 31793 Introduction There are about 5 million units (50-pound bags) of low pungency, sweet onions produced in the Vidalia onion growing area annually. Approximately half of them, 2.4 million units, are put in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage to extend the marketing period. Onions coming out of CA storage command a higher price, usually $20 to $24 per unit compared to $10 to $14 (or less) per unit on the fresh market. Losses during storage range from 10 to 20 percent in good years to 50 to 70 percent in poor years. The primary cause of storage losses is rots from infection by the fungus, Botrytis allii. Thus annual losses caused by Botrytis allii in storage can cost Vidalia onion growers from $5 to $25 million. The question most frequently asked is: Does Botrytis allii spreads from i
