Effect of antioxidants on growth, yield and quality of garlic (Allium sativumL.)

Abstract

Yield and quality of garlic are the areas of major concern for growers as well as processors. Afield experiment was carried out to study the effect of different level of antioxidants viz., thiourea and citric acid and their combinations on plant growth, yield and quality attributes of garlic (variety G-282)under Malwa agro-climatic conditions of Madhya Pradesh in India. The treatments were replicated thrice in factorial randomized block design. Significant variation was observed in yield and quality attributes. Plant growth attributes i.e. plant height, number of leaves, chlorophyll content and carotenoid contents were observed maximum in combination treatmentof antioxidants (Thiourea 200 ppm + Citric Acid 200 ppm) at all the stages. The yield attributes, i.e., neck thickness, fresh weight of bulb, bulb diameter, dry weight of bulbs, number of cloves per bulb and bulb yield (q/ha) showed maximum values in combinationtreatmentof thiourea and citric acid.The treatment with higher level of antioxidants and their combinations was significantly superior forquality attributes viz., Total Soluble Solids (%), ascorbic acid (mg/g), pyruvic acid (μmoles g−1 fresh weight), phenol (g/100 g−1 dry weight), volatile oil (%)and flavonoid contentsingarlic bulb.