For 2 years now, healthy crocus corms without any sign of injury showed, after some short period of drying, depressed areas on their living surface (living tissues below the protective envelopes) - as displayed on the two pictures below.
[ Specified attachment is not available ]
I had previous contacts with professionals who suggested that the living tissues of the corm could have been crushed by stones or tools while digging them out of the ground, and that the observed trace was simply a scar.
Indeed, it appears to be a scar, but its origin remains mysterious.
This year, we have been very carreful with the digging procedure and I am 100% sure that crushing cannot be the cause for these marks.
As visible on the picture, the shape is regular and comes with a systematic signature, always following the node limits.
It would be random if it was a crushing scar or a gnaw scar.
The tissue simply appears to have dried from within just below the surface, its surface appearance slightly changes, and the corm remains healthy for months until planting.
The mark pops up within days on previously unmarked healthy corms and does not expand further.
It does not seem to be contagious, and marked corms grow well.
I would very much appreciate any feedback of the croconut community, suggestion, brainstorming.
Has anyone of you already observed this and enquired about it ?
Is it physiological, a disease, a virus ?