An outbreak of aster yellows impacted garlic crops in the Midwest in 2012. The disease persisted in saved seed planted for the 2013 crop – and many farmers saw poor germinationand crop failure. Nine Practical Farmers of Iowa farms submitted samples for testing. Eight out of nine cooperators’ garlic samples tested positive for aster yellows. In garlic, the most important preventative measure to avoid aster yellows is to start with uncontaminated seed.
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