Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Vegetable > Onion > Discolored rotten roots
Onion > Root > Discolored rotten roots
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Fusarium basal rot
Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae
- Roots are rotted or absent and the bulb is often easily pulled from the ground
- Onion bulb has watery brown decay starting at the base and extending up into the bulb
- A white fuzzy growth can often be seen on the rotted basal plate
- Leaves turn yellow to brown from the tip down and wilt
- More information on Fusarium Basal Rot
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Pink root
Phoma terrestris
- Sunken dark pink to maroon areas on roots
- Infected roots break off easily
- Leaves turn yellow with a reddish tinge from the tip down due to root damage
- Plants are stunted and may produce no to very small bulbs
- Commonly occurs mid to late season, in areas with poor soil
- Control this disease by not planting any onion family (allium) crops for at least 4 years in the same place.
