Peca, un defecto menor en bulbos de cebolla causado por Sclerotium sp.

Freckles is a new blemish of white-scaled onion bulbs in the Lower Rio Colorado Valley (Argentina) characterized by the formation of small sclerotia imbedded in the dry scale tissue. The causal agent has been isolated from scales and symptomless roots of onion and was identified as Sclerotium sp. Although in its host range and morphology it resembles Sclerotium cepivorum, it is quite differ - ent with respect to other cultural and pathological traits. In inocula- tion experiments, onion and garlic plants could be infected and the typical sclerotia were formed, but no rot, a symptom characteristic for S. cepivorum, nor any other tissue deterioration was observed. The inoculated fungus could be re-isolated fulfilling Kochs postulates. Freckles is considered a minor imperfection of minimal, if any, eco- nomic importance.