Agrobiological estimation of the collection samples of Allium sativum subsp. vulgare (Kuzn.)

Abstract

Purpose. To study biological features of biological potential realization of softneck garlic productivity.
 Methods. Field, laboratory, statistical and calculation-analytical.
 Results. The results of studying local and introduced forms of softneck garlic cultivars (samples No. 1, 14, 16, 19, 24, 27) in comparison with varieties (‘Prometei’ (standard) and ‘Liubasha’) in terms of productivity are presented. In the research, field, laboratory and statistical methods were used. The experimental design was a systemic complete block design without replicates. It was found that all, without exception, softneck garlic cultivars have an erectoid type of leaf placement. Introduced cultivars featured low seedstalk formation, which is a manifestation of adaptation to growing conditions. All studied cultivars were characterized by lower values of the number of air bulbils in the inflorescence compared to the standard cultivar ‘Prometei’. Thus, ‘Liubasha’ formed 16.1% fewer bulbils than the standard; however, its 1000-bulbil weight was 37.2% larger than in ‘Prometei’. The softneck cultivars that formed bulbils on the reduced seedstalk were characterized by a very small number of bulbils − by 89.7–90.8% less than in the standard – however, the formed bulbils had very large 1000-bulbil weight. Thus, sample No. 1 formed bulbils by 542.0% larger in terms of the 1000-bulbil weight than standard; sample No. 16 by 554.3%; sample No. 27 by 752.9%. Samples No. 14, 19 and 24 did not formed seedstalks. In terms of the bulbil yield, the samples that formed bulbils had by 11.7–40.1% lower indicators than the standard. Cultivar ‘Liubasha’ was characterized by a 19.0% higher bulbil yield. The vast majority of collection samples of winter garlic formed smaller bulbs. Sample No. 16 had a large bulb wight compared to the standard. Collection samples had significantly lower yield except for No. 16, which exceeded the standard by 30.2 and 56.8%.
 Conclusions. Collection samples have a significantly higher dry matter content. The promising samples (No. 14, 16, 19, 24) were selected by a number of characteristics as promising for further breding of softneck table garlic cultivars. In further research, the content of secondary metabolites and the storage of the samples in uncontrolled conditions will be studied in order to create table garlic cultivars suitable for long-term storage.