Effect of long photoperiod on the reproductive and bulbing processes in garlic (Allium sativum L.) genotypes

Deepu Mathew, Yitzhak Forer, Haim D. Rabinowitch, Rina Kamenetsky*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) genotypes differ considerably in scape length, flowering ability, and seed production. In bolting clones reproductive processes are facilitated by a combination of specific temperature and photoperiod regimes. However, it is yet unclear whether the phase-specific photoperiod effect on florogenesis is universal for all garlic genotypes. We investigated the effect of ambient day length interruption by 10 or 30 days of long photoperiod in ten garlic accessions belonging to four bio-morphological grups. It was evident that garlic genotypes vary significantly in response to long photoperiod, and that in some clones the treatment enhances florogenesis, flower stalk elongation and bulbing. The competition for resources by the simultaneously developing bulb and inflorescence sinks differentially determines the fate of stalk elongation and flower development in the investigated genotypes. It is concluded that florogenesis in garlic can be promoted by exposure to proper environmental stimuli, during pre-planting storage and sprouting to the later growth stages. The genetic variability acquired from sexual reproduction and vegetatively preserved collections can serve in genetic and physiological studies as well as in breeding programs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)166-173
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental and Experimental Botany
Volume71
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2011

Keywords

  • Breeding
  • Development
  • Diversity
  • Flowering physiology
  • Genetic variability
  • Seed production
  • Sexual propagation

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