Diseases

Phytophthora blight — Leek

Allium porrum L.

A fungal disease of leeks, known globally as "white tip," caused by the oomycete Phytophthora porri. It is characterized by the lesion and dieback of leaf tips during cool, wet periods.

In the reference 7 varieties crop Leek, where this is mentioned in the description.

The causal agent of the disease is the highly specialized oomycete Phytophthora porri, which is capable of producing oospores that persist in the soil for up to four years. The infection develops actively in cool, wet weather, and the dispersal of zoospores occurs primarily via raindrops, which carry the pathogen from the soil to the plant leaves.

The disease manifests as water-soaked spots, followed by the characteristic whitening and dieback of leaf tips, which, under intense development, leads to the stunting or collapse of the entire plant. Specific pathogen races and R-genes for resistance in leeks have not been identified; breeding efforts are focused on the selection of cultivars with polygenic resistance.

General information about the subject — on the page Late blight.

Sources8

Varieties of Leek mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.