This ppt was presented in Doctoral seminar. This presentation helps the audience to know the problems facing by farmers related to garlic cultivation in India

1. Problems and prospects of garlic
cultivation in India
DOCTORAL SEMINAR –I
(VSC-691)
Seminar In-charge
Dr. HR Sharma
Professor and Head
Dept. of Vegetable Science
Speaker
Manish Chauhan
(H-2018-42-D)
Ph.D. Research Scholar

2. INTRODUCTION
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Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a world’s favorite, versatile horticultural commodity consumed for culinary,
medicinal and antimicrobial purposes and is being cultivated for 5000 years
The aroma in garlic is due to volatile organosulfur compound “Allicin”
Its medicinal value has been appreciated especially, in the Ayurvedic systems of medicine for digestive
systems disorders, blood cholesterol, sterility, cough etc
The antibacterial action by virtue of allicin has been found to have potential in organic farming for
treatment of plant disease
Malik et al., 2017

3. Contd.
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The principle producers of garlic are China, Egypt, India, Turkey, South Korea and Spain.
In India, garlic is commercially cultivated throughout the country.
The long day garlic is cultivated only in temperate regions especially in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, and Uttrakhand.
This type requires long photoperiod (13+ hours) with warm temperature (20-25 ᵒC) for bulbing.
In temperate India, the planting time for long day garlic falls around September-October.
The increase in day length from around February following the decline in snowfall and rise in temperature
till the month of May is congenial for bulbing and bulb development.

4. Country
Area
(000 ha)
Production
(000 MT)
Productivity
(MT/ha)
China 787.95 22273.80 28.26
India 303.00 1721.00 5.67
Bangladesh 71.41 461.97 6.46
Spain 28.43 273.47 9.62
Russia 21.93 211.98 9.66
Myanmar 28.09 207.09 7.37
Ukraine 22.20 187.02 8.42
Korea 28.35 64.24 11.70
Source: FAOSTAT, 2018
Area, production and
productivity of garlic in
world

5. State Area (‘000 ha) Production(‘000 MT) Productivity(MT/ha)
Rajasthan 112.89 582.08 5.16
Madhya Pradesh 92.50 405.00 4.38
Uttar Pradesh 35.22 188.61 5.36
Gujarat 19.08 151.01 7.91
Punjab 6.46 73.74 11.42
Assam 10.35 61.61 5.95
West Bengal 3.70 36.10 9.76
Odisha 10.90 35.50 3.26
Haryana 5.00 32.00 6.40
Maharashtra 2.58 13.96 5.41
India(approx) 316.98 1610.62 5.08
Horticulture Statistics at a Glance
2018
Area & Production in India

6. State
Area
(000 ha)
Production
(000 MT)
Productivity
(MT/ha)
HIMACHAL PRADESH 4.95 8.49 1.72
Horticulture Statistics at a Glance 2018
Area & Production in HP

7. Indian garlic germplasm and cultivars
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Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (DOGR), Rajgurunagar
Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan (VPKAS),Almora
Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH),Srinagar
Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth(MPKV), Rahuri
National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), New Delhi

8. S.no HARD-NECK SOFT-NECK
1. Hard-neck varieties bolt and flower but
these flowers are usually sterile.
Soft-neck varieties do not flower at all
2. Hard neck varieties cannot be braided
for storage soft-neck varieties can be
braided and stored
Soft-neck varieties can be braided and
stored
3. Hard neck (long- day varieties) is
characterized by big bulbs, less number
of cloves (10-15), ease of peeling and,
generally, have low storage life.
Soft-neck (short-day) varieties are
characterized by small bulbs, more
number of cloves (20-45), more aroma
and are, generally, good storers.
Lawande et al., 2009
TYPES

9. CULTIVARS
BHIMA OMKAR (SD)
Yield: 8-14 t/ha
Source: DOGR, Pune
BHIMA PURPLE (SD)
Yield: 6-7 t/ha
Source: DOGR, Pune
YAMUNA SAFED (SD)
Yield: 15-17 t/ha
Source: NHRDF, New Delhi
AGRIFOUND WHITE (SD)
Yield: 12-14 t/ha
Source: NHRDF, New Delhi
OOTY-1 (ID)
Yield: 15-17 t/ha
Source: TNAU, COIMBATORE

10. VL GARLIC-1 (LD)
Yield: 14-15 t/ha
Source: VPKAS, ALMORA
VL LAHSUN-2 (LD)
Yield: 24-26 t/ha
Source: VPKAS, ALMORA
AGRIFOUND PARVATI (LD)
Yield: 17-18 t/ha
Source: NHRDF, NEW DELHI
AGRIFOUND PARVATI-2 (LD)
Yield: 17-22 t/ha
Source: NHRDF, NEW DELHI
CITH-G-1(LD)
Yield: 25-35 t/ha
Source: ICAR-CITH, SRINAGAR

11. GHC-1 (LONG DAY)
Yield: 200-225q/ha
Source: CSK HPKV, PALAMPUR

12. KANDAGHAT SELECTION (LONG DAY)
YIELD: 140-200q/ha
Source: KVK, Kandaghat

13. PROBLEMS & PROSPECTS

14. 
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Garlic has very limited genetic variability because it is inherently apomictic.
Most garlic accessions and commercial cultivars either don’t flower or have sterile pistils and/or stamens
or exhibit floral abortion.
This restriction also necessitates the use of cloves as propagating material, which is cumbersome and
cost intensive approach to garlic propagation and production.
The various possible morphological, physiological, genetic, anatomical and molecular reasons of
apomixes have been attributed to floral abnormalities, sterile hybridity from cross between two ancestral
parents , competition of floral buds with vegetative topsets, tapetal degeneration, interference of
degenerative like diseases with sexual reproduction etc.
STERILITY

15. 
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Many long day garlic clones bolt and bear flowers but they do not set seeds while short day garlic
completely lacks flowering
The cloves (sometimes top-sets) as propagating material are susceptible to diseases and
disorders (discoloring, sprouting, rooting, and rotting) and demand curing, storage space and
maintenance till next planting time
In India, clonal selection has so far been a successful player in isolation of genetically superior
accessions but no efforts have been directed towards discovery or induction of male fertile
accessions
Contd.

16. 
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Tissue culture technique for induction of somaclonal variations in garlic is being attempted at the ICAR-DOGR,
Rajgurunagar
Along with molecular screening of garlic accessions for identifying bolting genes, work on exploitation of
somaclonal variations may also be required in long day garlic for creation of variation for its further improvement.
Although plant regeneration has been achieved from different explants types, use of root tips has advantages
over other explants due to their virus-free condition and to their availability in a relatively high number (30 or
more per clove
There are prospects that a somaclonal variant having potential to flower under natural conditions may be
achieved
The markers linked with bolting behavior of garlic can be very beneficial in understanding the flowering habit of
garlic and in developing fertile clones
Improvement
Sharma A K, 2015

17. ֎
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Identified as obligatory apomict, garlic is considered to have very limited genetic variability.
Owing to this, garlic is given the status of undomesticated crop despite its long history of cultivation, as
humans have not been able to tap most of its genetic variation (Burba JL., 1997)
The vegetative nature of reproduction makes impossible the use of conventional methods of crop
improvement.
The absence of genetic variability limits the breeding of newer cultivars for high yield, better quality and
pest resistance via hybridization or selection.
At present, most of the genetic improvement in garlic through clonal selection has been achieved mainly in
clove number, size and earliness (Etoh T., 2000)
Limited genetic variability

18. ♠
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For improving fertility trait and obtaining true seeds, selections for improved inflorescence traits are done
As a result, lines with inflorescence having reduced number of bulb-lets have been achieved, which might
result in production of genetic stocks having no bulb-lets and complete pollen fertility in future (Burba JL.,
1997)
In addition to this, some molecular markers have also been developed for marker assisted selection of male
fertile plants before flowering (Zewdie Y et al., 2005)
The validation and utilization of these markers in available germplasm for long day region can effectively
assist in selection of male fertile plants for development of true seed setting lines/parents. These parents on
inbreeding can act as genetic contributors to F1 hybrids or as base material for further selections.(Ipek M et
al., 2015)
Improvement

19. Khar A., 2012
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Garlic has the 32.7 pg DNA per 2C nucleus with low GC content and large amount of repetitive sequences.
Among vegetable crops, this size is the largest, almost approaching that of onion.
The large size and duplication are the major hindrances in developing biotechnological tools (like genomic
libraries, molecular markers, diversity analysis, genetic fingerprinting), mapping and tagging of genes for
assigning functions to the genes and other molecular studies.
With commencement of laboratory based sexual reproduction in garlic, few genetic maps have been
developed in last decade although the density of markers including isozymes, RAPDs, AFLPs, and SSRs is
low and only few gene specific markers have been mapped, for example, for male sterility, allinase, chitinase,
CHS (Chalcone synthase) and SST (Somatostatin).
Large genomic size

20. 
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In addition to their utilization in marker assisted selection, these genetic maps have revealed the nature of
genome, extent of diversity and duplication in germplasm and will give way to a full map for garlic in future.
(Ayabe M and Sumi S., 2001)
In context with Indian long day garlic, progress in understanding of genome may result in finding out the
genes, which may help in breeding the garlic lines that are relatively resilient to climatic extremes, biotic stress,
post harvest damage and better quality traits since the infrastructure for assuring such conditions is not very
efficient in the country.
Improvement

21. Different stages of garlic tissue culture
methods

22. 
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PURPLE BLOTCH: Alternaria porii (Ellis)
Management:
Seed treatment - thiram @ 2.5g/kg of seed
Three sprays of Copper oxychloride - 0.25%,
Chlorothalanil - 0.2% and Zineb - 0.2%
Mancozeb - 0.2%
STEMPHYLIUM LEAF BLIGHT: Stemphylium
vesicarium (Wallr.)
Management:
Three sprays of Copper oxychloride - 0.25%,
Chlorothalanil - 0.2% and Zineb - 0.2%
Mancozeb - 0.2%
DOWNY MILDEW: Peronospora destructor (Brek.)
Management:
Mildew-contaminated sets should not be planted,
and a rotation schedule that excludes allium crops
for more than years should be followed
Disease and pests

23. ONION YELLOW DWARF
Onion yellow dwarf virus in
Vegetable research farm, UHF
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CONTROL:
Production of virus-free bulbs in areas
free of virus
Virus-free planting stock produced
through indexing and meristem tip
culture apparently eliminates the virus

24. ♠
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Garlic is affected by a viral mixture including mainly Potyvirus, Carlavirus and Allexivirus. This causes 78%
bulb weight reduction (Conci et al, 2005)
Production of virus-free garlic plants has been attained through shoot tip culture (PenaIglesias and Ayuso,
1982), meristem tip culture (Li et al, 1995) and by thermotherapy in combination with meristem tip culture
(Senula et al, 2000) and chemotherapy (Senula et al, 2000)
For virus identification electron microsocopy, DAS- ELISA test (Fajardo et al, 2002) and RT-PCR techniques
are being routinely used
RT-PCR tests have been developed for detection of onion yellow dwarf virus OYDV), garlic carla virus (GCLV)
and mite-borne viruses (garlic mite-borne filamentous virus) (Bertaccini et al, 2004)
Virus-free garlic stocks exhibit an increase in yield and other morphological traits (Fajardo et al, 2002). It has
also been found that virus- free plants reinfected in 2-3 years of cultivation in the open field (Melo et al, 2006)
Virus-free garlic

25. Reduced bulb size
Small lesions on
clove
Yellow brown rotten
lesions
Deep cracks
Post-harvest diseases in garlic
BASAL ROT: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. garlic
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Management:
Avoid rotations with Allium spp.(e.g. onions and leeks) and cereals
Store bulbs at cool temperatures and low humidity with good ventilation
Avoid storing damaged bulbs

26. WHITE ROT: Sclerotium cepivorum,S. rolfsii
Wilting and toppling
over
Infected bulbs
White sclerotia on
bulbs
Fluffy white mycelium
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Management:
Rotating out of Allium crops for ten years
Destroying infected tissue
Planting disease - free seed stock
Seed dressing with benomyl or carbendazim(100-150g/kg of seed)

27. Black powdery
mass
Shrivelled rottten bulb
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Rapid and thorough curing.
Storage - good ventilation.
Temp - just above 0° C
Pink rot: Pyrenochaeta terrestis
Red colour roots Black spores on roots
 Long rotations should be
practiced to prevent build
up of inoculum in the soil
Black mould: Aspergillus niger, A. alliaceous
Management
Management

28. Neck rot
Black sclerotia on
bulb
Grey mould on clove
Rotten neck
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Management:
Promoting rapid drying at harvest and good aeration in storage is best for managing Botrytis on bulbs.
Additionally, cooler storage temperatures may help control the disease.
NECK ROT: Botrytis allii

29. 
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Thrips
Spray Neem oil 1 to 3 %.
Spray 10% Need seed juice 45, 60, 75th day after
planting.
In 10 liters of water, add 300ml Dasakavya and 30 ml
Nilgiri oil to spray 3 times for 15 days.
Thrips
Infested
Garlic
INSECTS & PESTS
SOIL BORNE GARLIC DISEASE
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Garlic rot disease
Trichoderma viride @ 5 kg / ha can be applied.
Pseudomonas florascens 5 kg / ha can be applied.
To control the disease Pseudomonas solution can
be applied the root for 7 days.
Vermicompost 5 tons / ha to be applied when
preparing to land at the scale.
Garlic
Clove
Rot
Disease

30. ♠
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Causes of rubber nature
White garlic rubber and teeth formation of garlic
was due to the poor drainage facility in hilly zones
and rainy seasons, in the areas of water stagnating
and silty soil low lying areas.
Higher level watering also a cause for rubber
nature.
Excess Nitrogen i.e, 150 to 250 kg applying is
also produced large quantity of rubber garlic.
Applying of High levels of nitrogen, urea increases
the number of rubber garlic.
Prevention methods of rubber nature
Already potato, carrot, cabbage and vegetables
grown in places, after harvest significant amounts
of fertilizers in the soil before planting the white
garlic soil test can be done and get
recommendation of experts to study the best
option.
Spray Boron 0.1% and Molybdenum 0.05% 45,
50, 75th day of planting will increase the garlic yield
up to 18% and significantly the number of rubber
RUBBER NATURE OF
GARLIC

31. Improvement
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Till date significant laboratory success has been achieved in elimination of viruses and pests by tissue culture
techniques like meristem culture, somaclonal variations, and thermotherapy.
Proper utilization of resistant or clean end products from these experiments will be helpful in developing virus
free/resistant cultivars in future.
Recently, Indian workers have succeeded in characterizing and analyzing candidate gene linked to Fusarium
basal plate rot disease.
The study will help in developing molecular markers linked to this disease and help screening resistant plants/
cultivars at seedling stage . ICAR-DOGR, Rajgurunagar has developed commercial rapid detection RT.
PCR kits for Iris Yellow Spot Virus and Onion Yellow Dwarf Virus useful for rapid and high through put detection
of diseases in garlic crop samples. Few reports on discovery of new viruses (Leek Yellow Stripe Virus) infecting
garlic in India have also been reported.

32. Effect of Pre-harvest Factors on Postharvest
Quality and Shelf Life of Garlic
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According to Baligar et al., (2001) external factors such as soil moisture, temperature,
light, management practices, soil biological, and fertilizer materials, and their
interactions with genetic, morphological, and physiological plant traits have profound
effects on yield and qualities of crops
Sprouting is the major factor limiting storage life of garlic bulbs (Kang and Lee, 1999;
Cantwell et al., 2003)
At harvest, bulbs are in a state of innate dormancy and dormancy terminates when
inner sprout growth begins (Brewster, 1987)

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High dose of N produces quick sprouting of thick-necked bulbs during storage. Moreover, greater
percentage of open thick-necked bulbs results in increased sprouting due to increased access of
oxygen and moisture to the central growing point.
Surface discoloration, moisture loss, and microbial spoilage contribute to loss of shelf life and
quality in peeled garlic cloves (RamirezMoreno et al., 2001).
Changes in the carbohydrate composition of bulbs during storage were reported where the main
change was the hydrolysis of oligosaccharides to reducing sugars (Rutherford and Whittle, 1982).
D-coder compound fertilizer at the rates of 200 and 400 kg ha-1, which supplied N, P, S, and Zn
nutrients, recorded higher percent of dry matter, total soluble solids and pungency of bulbs and
lower percent in weight and diameter losses during three months of storage times (Diriba-
Shiferaw et al., 2013b).
Contd.

34. 
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For long term storage (about 9 months) of garlic, the optimum temperature falls between 0 and -1
ºC and 60-70% humidity (Medina and Garcia 2007).
This environment can’t be maintained at ambient weather of garlic producing regions.
The bulb sprouting may occur at temperature from 5-18 °C.
Temperature in this range easily occurs and stays during the storage period of garlic in temperate
regions.
Though the breeding attempts at improving post harvest life of garlic have not been reported,
NHRDF and ICAR-DOGR have recommended post harvest practices for curing, grading, packaging
and storage of garlic under Indian climatic conditions.
Post-harvest abiotic stresses

35. 
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NHRDF and ICAR-DOGR have recommended post harvest practices for curing, grading,
packaging and storage of garlic under Indian climatic conditions.
The schemes for technical support in the form of minimally as well as fully controlled
environment facilities, credit by state horticulture departments will also favor the
processing of garlic into various value added products (powder, paste, oil, oil macerate,
extract, roasted, frozen etc).
Such incentives may raise farmers interest in large scale cultivation of garlic, thereby,
providing employment opportunities to youth and women, improving gender equity in the
region and boosting India’s garlic production.
IMPROVEMENT

36. 
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Garlic is propagated by cloves, which are carefully detached from composite bulbs without damage or injury to get higher
sprouting in field.
Usage of different sizes of garlic mother cloves as planting material varies in different regions of India and in other
countries.
Generally, cloves of medium to big size are recommended for production of bulbs for consumption, whereas smaller
cloves for further propagation.
An investigation was carried out in Nasik, Maharahstra during three successive rabi seasons and results revealed that
largest clove size and widest spacing were significantly better than other clove sizes and spacings adopted (Lallan Singh et
al, 1996).
However, large clove size and planting in ridges or furrows produced the highest marketable bulb yield, as per Kotgirwar et
al, (1998).
Bulb yield increased with increasing clove size
Bulb weight, diameter were higher with larger cloves (Ramniwas et al, 1998). Similar results were also observed by Alam et al,
(2000). Bulb diameter and bulb weight per ten bulbs increased with increasing clove size. The highest bulb yield (20.92 t/ha)
PLANTING MATERIAL SELECTION IN
GARLIC

37. 
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Studies conducted at DOGR revealed that among the various sizes of mother
cloves evaluated for planting, mother clove size of 1.4-1.6 g recorded higher
marketable bulb yield combined with minimum storage loss (Sankar and
Lawande, 2009)
Based on research work conducted in mother clove selection at various places
suggested that requirement of seed bulbs differs from variety to variety and
depends on bulb size, bulb weight, number of cloves and weight of cloves
Average mother clove size for planting should be more than 1.0 g and seed
rate should be 500 – 950 kg/ha., depending upon planting material availability

38. CASE-STUDIES

39. ♠
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White rot disease was noticed in some Garlic fields during routine surveys of garlic
growing localities of Solan and Sirmour districts of H.P during 2014-15.
Affected plants showed yellowing and wilting of leaves with stunted growth.
The affected plants were easily uprooted from the soil.
White and fluffy mycelial growth was observed in the bulbs incidence was recorded at
Nauhradhar (27.0%) followed by Lanapalar (25.0%) areas of Sirmour district while
minimum incidence was observed at Nauni (2.0%) area of a district Solan.

40. Results
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The pathogen was isolated in pure culture from infected plant tissue on to PDA medium.
Pathogenicity was proved by artificial inoculation of one month old garlic seedlings grown in pots
containing sterilized soil.
On the basis of the cultural and morphological characters of the fungus it was identified as Sclerotium
cepivorum Berk.
This probably constitutes the first report of occurence of white rot of garlic caused by S. Cepivorum in
Himachal Pradesh.

41. 
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Dormancy of garlic (Allium sativum L.) creates a problem in use of freshly harvested garlic bulbs. Thus, pre-
planting treatment of garlic cloves is an important agronomic concern for inducing and improving sprouting
behavior of garlic
Glasshouse experiment was conducted at Haramaya University to evaluate the effect of cold storage (7°C)
durations (10, 20, 30 days and one stored at room temperature that is 21°C for 30 days), clove topping (whole
and cut) and gibberellic acid concentrations (0, 125, 250 and 375 mg/l) and distilled water treatment as second
control on sprouting behavior of improved garlic variety (‘Tseday’).
For cloves stored at ambient temperature (0 day) and non-topped, gibberellic acid application (250 and 375
mg/l) showed a significant increase in sprouting percentage, speed of sprouting and shoot dry mass of garlic
as compared to 125mg/l GA3 treated and the controls.

42. 
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On the other hand, for topped cloves stored at ambient temperature (0 day), 10 and 20 days
cold storage, gibberellic acid treatment did not show a significant influence on these
characteristics as compared to the controls.
The interaction effect of 30 days cold stored and topped cloves significantly increased
pseudo-stem height (40.51%) compared to the lowest values recorded for the non-cold
treated and non-topped cloves. The 30 days cold stored and topped cloves soaked in water
significantly increased sprouting percentage over the period of 19 days after planting, speed
of sprouting (four fold) and above ground shoot dry mass (79.41%) compared to the lowest
values recorded for the non-cold treated and non-topped cloves not soaked in water and
gibberellic acid (GA3).
CONCLUSION: 30 days cold storage, topping and soaking in water could enhance early
sprouting of the garlic variety tested under glasshouse condition.

43. 
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Gupta M and Sonakshi
Department of Plant Pathology
UHF, Nauni
During the survey in Solan and Sirmour districts, maximum disease incidence (58.64%) of basal rot of
garlic was observed at Nauhradhar followed by Batyuri (54.49%) and Thadi (52.48%) in Sirmour district.
Symptoms of the disease were observed on above as well as underground plant parts of garlic. Initial
symptoms appeared as yellowing of leaves starting from tip which progressed downward and plant
showed wilting symptoms.
Affected plants could be easily uprooted and infected bulbs showed rotting symptoms with brown
flattened roots.
Under severe conditions, yellow patches of plants were seen in the field
Studies on basal rot of garlic in Himachal Pradesh

44. ֎
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The associated fungi were isolated in pure culture on PDA and based on
cultural and morphological characters, these were identified as Fusarium
roseum, F. solani and F. oxysporum.
Presence of macro-conidia, micro-conidia and chlamydospores was recorded.
Kandaghat Selection and SG-18 were found to be resistant against F.
oxysporum when inoculated artificially under laboratory conditions.
Out of eleven fungicides tested, captan + carbendazim, carbendazim and
tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin were found most effective and significantly
superior among all the treatments with 100 per cent mycelial growth inhibition
of the pathogen at 50,100 and 250 ppm concentrations under in vitro
conditions.
Soil drenching with captan + carbendazim resulted in minimum disease
incidence (1.99%), maximum disease reduction (93.84%) and highest yield
(4.90 kg/4m2 plot) over other treatments under field conditions

45. ֎
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Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans and has anticancer function.
Garlic can accumulate Se, so it is an option to Se supplementation in the human diet.
The aim of this research was to study Se uptake and accumulation during garlic growth.
Four doses of Na2SeO4 and Na2SeO3 solution were applied in the substrate (0, 5, 10 and 15
kg ha-1 Se) for one time in August 2014, with a random plot design and 3 replicates on garlic
clone Rubi INTA.

46. 
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Three harvests were made, in September, October and December 2014.
After each harvest, leaves, bulbs and roots were separated and conditioned (peeled and
chopped), lyophilized, and finally acid-digested prior to Se, Mg, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, P and S
determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
The Se accumulation was proportional to Se doses and did not affect garlic growth. Also, Se
distribution among different organs was related to the garlic growth cycle.
The Se presence decreased accumulation of Mg, Mn, Cu, Fe, P and S but increased Zn
accumulation in plants.
Garlic can be an important Se source to humans but it is important to consider Se-doses for
biofortification.

47. 
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Experiments were
conducted to study the impact of different photoperiod and temperature
combinations on the growth, morpho‐physiology, and nutritive quality of garlic bulb.
Three garlic cultivars viz; G103, G024,
and G2011‐5 were exposed to different combinations of photoperiod (8h/16h, 10h/14h,
12h/12h, 14h/10h, 16h/8h (light/dark)) and temperature (20 °C/15 °C, 25 °C/18 °C,
and 30 °C/20 °C).

48. ♠
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Results revealed that longer photoperiod (14h or 16h) and higher temperature (25 °C or 30 °C)
treatments significantly improved the garlic bulbing imparting maximum bulb diameter, height,
bulbing index, and the shortest growth period, whereas 12‐h photoperiod had maximum bulb
weight.
In addition, total soluble solid (TSS), content of soluble protein, soluble sugar, total sugar,
glucose, sucrose, fructose, starch, total phenols,
and total flavonoids increased significantly because of 14‐h photoperiod and 30 °C
temperature condition, however exhibited decline with 8h
photoperiod and lowest temperature (20 °C).
These alterations were related to bulb characteristics and bulbing index.
Maximum plant standing height and pseudostem diameter of the garlic plant
were observed at 20 °C. Additionally, plants under the combination of 14h–30 photoperiod and
30 °C had maximum fresh weight, bulb diameter, shortest growth period, maximum
physiological and nutritive quality traits of bulb, while as 12-h 30 °C combinations resulted in
maximum bulb weight and 16h-30 °C had maximum bulb height

49. 
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Among cultivars cv. G103 showed best response to tested photoperiod and
temperature combinations in terms of morpho‐physiological and biochemical attributes
studied, except for bulbing index which was maximum in cv. G024.
Study
concludes the influence of photoperiod and temperature combinations on garlic growth
and bulbing characteristics through the modulations induced in soluble protein,
sugars, and phenolic compounds

50. Conclusion
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In spite of many constraints in achieving world level production and productivity of garlic in India, research is
underway to resolve the current issues and assure India’s better position in domestic and international market.
Currently, most success in achieving genetic improvement in long day garlic has been through clonal selection
but standardization of biotechnological tools to induce variations is afoot.
Molecular markers like SSR, RAPD have been developed for diversity studies. Virus indexing and molecular
studies for locating and characterizing resistance genes have also been initiated.
If results of research are systematically interpreted and applied in garlic breeding, multiplication, production,
storage and processing, garlic can become highly remunerative, and more so to the farmers of Indian
Himalayan Region, which is natural habitat to highly productive long day garlic.