Productivity and Quality of Garlic Produced Using Below-Zero Temperatures When Treating Seed Cloves

José Magno Queiroz Luz,Roberta Camargos De Oliveira,Carlos Inácio Garcia De Oliveira,Túlio Garcia De Oliveira,Sérgio Macedo Silva,Renata Castoldi,Breno Nunes Rodrigues De Azevedo

doi:10.3390/horticulturae8020096

Abstract

Garlic cultivation has increased in Brazil in recent years primarily due to the adoption of appropriate technologies, such as the use of low temperatures during the maintenance of garlic seeds to overcome dormancy. However, there is no information on the effects of below-zero temperatures when treating seed cloves on garlic development. Therefore, this study’s objective was to evaluate the effects of below-zero temperatures and different visual indices of overcoming dormancy (VIDs) on garlic performance in Cristalina County, Goias State, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replicates in a 2 × 3 factorial scheme: with two VIDs (40% and 60%), and three temperature ranges (−1 to −3 °C, 1 to 3 °C, and 2 to 4 °C). Vegetative characteristics, bulbar ratios, and commercial bulb yields were evaluated. The results showed that below-zero temperatures resulted in better vegetative characteristics. The yield increased after using below-zero temperatures to treat seed cloves with a VID of 60%. The garlic produced had a higher market value. We concluded that there is an enormous potential for using below-zero temperatures to improve the performance of the “Ito” garlic variety, and more studies should be conducted with other varieties of economic importance to enhance Brazilian garlic production.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilGarlic crops (Allium sativum L.) are economically important in Brazil, with a cultivation area of 16,000 hectares and production of approximately 290 thousand tons [1].The nationwide production of garlic only accounts for 45% of consumption, with the other 55% being imported from China (46%), Argentina (39%), Spain (12%), and other countries (3%) [2].to compete with imported garlic, Brazilian growers should achieve greater productivity through the implementation of proper management and innovative technologies, such as the use of improved cultivars, and the adoption of virus-free clove seeds [3].Because of its origin (Central Asia—Afghanistan), garlic requires low temperatures and photoperiods (13–14 h) to induce bulbil differentiation
Assessments at 38 and 77 days after planting (DAP) for the relative index of chlorophyll (RIC) showed no significant interaction between temperatures ranges and visual indices of overcoming dormancy (VIDs) for the three planting times (Table 2)
The highest values were obtained for the first and second planting times at 77 DAP using a VID of 60%

Summary

Introduction

Introduction published maps and institutional affilGarlic crops (Allium sativum L.) are economically important in Brazil, with a cultivation area of 16,000 hectares and production of approximately 290 thousand tons [1].The nationwide production of garlic only accounts for 45% of consumption, with the other 55% being imported from China (46%), Argentina (39%), Spain (12%), and other countries (3%) [2].to compete with imported garlic, Brazilian growers should achieve greater productivity through the implementation of proper management and innovative technologies, such as the use of improved cultivars, and the adoption of virus-free clove seeds [3].Because of its origin (Central Asia—Afghanistan), garlic requires low temperatures and photoperiods (13–14 h) to induce bulbil differentiation. The nationwide production of garlic only accounts for 45% of consumption, with the other 55% being imported from China (46%), Argentina (39%), Spain (12%), and other countries (3%) [2]. To compete with imported garlic, Brazilian growers should achieve greater productivity through the implementation of proper management and innovative technologies, such as the use of improved cultivars, and the adoption of virus-free clove seeds [3]. Because of its origin (Central Asia—Afghanistan), garlic requires low temperatures and photoperiods (13–14 h) to induce bulbil differentiation. After undergoing mutation, the noble garlic planted in Brazil’s southern regions does not demand low temperatures, and the region’s prevailing temperatures are sufficient for bulbil differentiation [4]. After undergoing mutation, the noble garlic planted in Brazil’s southern regions does not demand low temperatures, and the region’s prevailing temperatures are sufficient for bulbil differentiation [4]. iations.

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Conclusion