Distribution, accumulation and speciation of selenium at the different growth stages of four garlic clones.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for humans. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) metabolises Se into important Se-amino acids like Se-methylselenocysteine (Se-MetSeCys), precursor of methylselenol, an active species for cancer prevention. Therefore, the Se accumulation and speciation in garlic were studied to evaluate their relations with growth stages and types of plant clones. Four garlic clones (Nieve INTA, Union FCA, Gostoso INTA and Rubí INTA) were fortified with a Se solution (169 g Se L-1). The association of Se to different molecular weight fractions was evaluated by size-exclusion chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS) detection. Also, anion exchange chromatography (AEC-ICP-MS) was used for the determination of Se-amino acids, while their identification was performed by ESI-MS/MS. The Se was incorporated into high (7-5 kDa) and low (2-4 kDa) molecular weight fractions. The presence of Se-MetSeCys was observed mostly. Se-MetSeCys increased in bulbs to a maximum value but increased, then decreased, in leaves and roots. The Se-organic species were mostly found in bulbs in the last growth stage. Garlic showed a significant ability to accumulate and metabolise Se, specially, the red clones (Gostoso INTA and Rubí INTA). Also, this work suggests that this plant may become an attractive source of Se-amino acids with important biological properties.

Chinese chives and garlic in intercropping in strawberry high tunnels for Neopamera bilobata Say (Hemiptera: Rhyparochromidae) control.

Strawberry is affected by several pests and diseases. Neopamera bilobata is an emerging pest that has been reported by several strawberry growers, usually associated with catfacing symptoms in fruits. We evaluated intercropping garlic or Chinese chives on N. bilobata populations on strawberry crops grown in high tunnels in two experiments. In the first experiment, we evaluated N. bilobata populations on strawberry intercropping with garlic plants (three densities: 8, 16, 24 GP - garlic plant per plot) on the bags by taking 12 samples from December 2015 to April 2017. N. bilobata populations on strawberry were also assessed when Chinese chives were grown under the suspended wooden structures in which strawberry plants are grown ('undercropping') (14 samples), in two high tunnels, from November 2016 to March 2017. The number of nymphs and adults on 14 randomly selected fruits per plot were assessed. During the garlic intercropping experiment, the treatments of three densities of garlic reduced N. bilobata populations; however, the 24 GP treatment caused a greater reduction than the 8 GP treatment. Garlic densities reduced N. bilobata populations by 35, 50, and 64% for the 8, 16, and 24 GP treatments, respectively. Chinese chives cultivated under the structures reduced N. bilobata populations by 47%. The results suggest that intercropping garlic or undercropping Chinese chives are suitable tools to be tested in integrated pest management in strawberry crops.

Control potential of Meloidogyne javanica and Ditylenchus spp. using fluorescent Pseudomonas and Bacillus spp.

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) have different mechanisms of action in the development of plants, such as growth promotion, production of phytohormones and antibiotic substances and changes in root exudates. These help to control plant diseases. In order to evaluate the potential of microorganisms in the control of Meloidogyne javanica and Ditylenchus spp., five rhizobacteria isolated from rhizosphere of garlic cultivated in the Curitibanos (SC) region were tested. Hatching chambers were set on Petri dishes, in which were added 10 mL of bacterial suspension and 1 mL of M. javanica eggs suspension, at the rate of 4500, on the filter paper of each chamber. The same procedure was performed with 300 juvenile Ditylenchus spp. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications. The evaluations were performed every 72 h for nine days. The antagonized population of nematodes was determined in Peters counting chamber, determining the percentage hatching (for M. javanica) and motility (for Ditylenchus spp). Isolates CBSAL02 and CBSAL05 significantly reduced the hatching of M. javanica eggs (74% and 54.77%, respectively) and the motility of Ditylenchus spp. (55.19% and 53.53%, respectively) in vitro. Isolates were identified as belonging to the genera Pseudomonas (CBSAL05) and Bacillus (CBSAL02).(AU)

Suitability of edaphic arthropods as prey for Proctolaelaps bickleyi and Cosmolaelaps brevistilis (Acari: Mesostigmata: Melicharidae, Laelapidae) under laboratory conditions.

Soils are often complex habitats inhabited by a wide range of organisms, some harmful to plants and others beneficial, for example by attacking harmful organisms. Beneficial organisms include predatory mites, some of which have been commercialized for biological control of pest insects and mites. The objective of this work was to evaluate under laboratory condition the suitability of representative soil insect and mite pests, especially Aceria tulipae (Keifer), as prey to the soil-inhabiting predatory mites Proctolaelaps bickleyi (Bram) and Cosmolaelaps brevistilis (Karg). Predation, oviposition and survivorship of recently molted adult females of the predators were assessed in the dark in rearing chambers at 25 ± 1 °C and 75 ± 3% RH. Predation rate by P. bickleyi on A. tulipae was significantly higher than that by C. brevistilis (196.3 vs. 71.0 specimens/day). About 482 A. tulipae were preyed by each P. bickleyi at each day, when 500 A. tulipae were made available daily to the predator. Oviposition rate on that prey was also higher for P. bickleyi (4.2 eggs/day). For C. brevistilis, the highest level of oviposition was on Caliothrips phaseoli (Hood) (1.2 eggs/day). Survivorship was always higher for C. brevistilis (≥ 70%), given its ability to remain alive relatively long even in the absence of prey. High rates of survivorship of P. bickleyi were observed on A. tulipae, Bradysia matogrossensis (Lane) and Protorhabditis sp. Promising results were obtained for P. bickleyi on A. tulipae and even on other prey, justifying the conduction of complementary studies under field condition.

Quantile regression of nonlinear models to describe different levels of dry matter accumulation in garlic plants / Regressão quantílica de um modelo não linear para descrição de diferentes níveis de acúmulo de matéria seca em plantas de alho

Plant growth analyses are important because they generate information on the demand and necessary care for each development stage of a plant. Nonlinear regression models are appropriate for the description of curves of growth, since they include parameters with practical biological interpretation. However, these models present information in terms of the conditional mean, and they are subject to problems in the adjustment caused by possible outliers or asymmetry in the distribution of the data. Quantile regression can solve these problems, and it allows the estimation of different quantiles, generating more complete and robust results. The objective of this research was to adjust a nonlinear quantile regression model for the study of dry matter accumulation in garlic plants (Allium sativum L.) over time, estimating parameters at three different quantiles and classifying each garlic accession according to its growth rate and asymptotic weight. The nonlinear regression model fitted was a Logistic model, and 30 garlic accessions were evaluated. These 30 accessions were divided based on the model with the closest quantile estimates; 12 accessions were classified as of lesser interest for planting, 6 were classified as intermediate, and 12 were classified as of greater interest for planting.(AU)

Análises de crescimento de plantas são importantes, pois geram informações sobre a demanda e os cuidados necessários para cada etapa de seu desenvolvimento. Modelos de regressão não linear são apropriados para descrever curvas de crescimento por apresentarem parâmetros com interpretação prática biológica. Entretanto, estes modelos apresentam informações em termos médios, e estão sujeitos a problemas no ajuste proporcionados por possíveis valores extremos ou assimetria na distribuição dos dados. A regressão quantílica pode contornar estes problemas, e ainda permite estimativas de diferentes quantis, gerando resultados mais completos e robustos. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi ajustar um modelo de regressão quantílica não linear para o estudo do acúmulo de matéria seca em plantas de alho (Allium sativum L.) ao longo do tempo, estimando seus parâmetros em três diferentes quantis e classificando cada acesso de alho de acordo com sua taxa de crescimento e peso assintótico. O modelo de regressão não linear ajustado foi o Logístico, e foram utilizados 30 acessos de alho. Estes foram divididos de acordo com a curva do quantil de estimativas mais próximas, sendo classificados 12 acessos como de baixo interesse para o plantio, 6 de interesse intermediário e 12 como de alto interesse.(AU)

Agromorphological performance of garlic landraces in Piauí, Brazil / Desempenho agromorfológico de variedades crioulas de alho no Piauí

In garlic (Allium sativum L.), genotype evaluation facilitates the search for better varieties. The aim of this study was to use morphoagronomic traits to evaluate three garlic landraces, namely, “Cateto Roxo Local”, “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1” and “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2”. They were planted on May 1, 2014 and May 23, 2014, in the municipality of Sussuapara, State of Piauí, Brazil. These varieties have similar behavior at the vegetative stage. “Cateto Roxo Local” had the highest average bulb mass, clove number per bulb, and clove mass per bulb. “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1” and “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2” had the largest clove diameter per bulb. In Sussuapara - PI, “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1” and “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2” are recommended for planting in the beginning of May, whereas “Cateto Roxo Local” should be planted in the third week of May.

Na cultura do alho (Allium sativum L.), a atividade de avaliação de genótipos é importante na busca por variedades superiores e adaptadas. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar avaliação agromorfológica em três variedades crioulas de alho, Cateto Roxo Local, Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1 e Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2, em duas épocas de plantio, 1o de maio e 23 de maio de 2014, no município de Sussuapara - Piauí. As variedades apresentam comportamento semelhante na fase vegetativa das plantas, considerando as duas épocas de plantio. Quanto aos caracteres relacionados à produção, Cateto Roxo Local apresentou maior média para massa de bulbos, número e massa de bulbilhos por bulbo, enquanto Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1 e Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2, se destacaram quanto ao diâmetro dos bulbilhos por bulbo. Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1 e 2 devem ser recomendadas para o plantio no início do mês de maio, enquanto para Cateto Roxo Local, o plantio pode ocorrer até a terceira semana de maio, em Sussuapara - PI.

Agromorphological performance of garlic landraces in Piauí, Brazil / Desempenho agromorfológico de variedades crioulas de alho no Piauí

In garlic (Allium sativum L.), genotype evaluation facilitates the search for better varieties. The aim of this study was to use morphoagronomic traits to evaluate three garlic landraces, namely, “Cateto Roxo Local”, “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1” and “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2”. They were planted on May 1, 2014 and May 23, 2014, in the municipality of Sussuapara, State of Piauí, Brazil. These varieties have similar behavior at the vegetative stage. “Cateto Roxo Local” had the highest average bulb mass, clove number per bulb, and clove mass per bulb. “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1” and “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2” had the largest clove diameter per bulb. In Sussuapara - PI, “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1” and “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2” are recommended for planting in the beginning of May, whereas “Cateto Roxo Local” should be planted in the third week of May.(AU)

Na cultura do alho (Allium sativum L.), a atividade de avaliação de genótipos é importante na busca por variedades superiores e adaptadas. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar avaliação agromorfológica em três variedades crioulas de alho, Cateto Roxo Local, Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1 e Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2, em duas épocas de plantio, 1o de maio e 23 de maio de 2014, no município de Sussuapara - Piauí. As variedades apresentam comportamento semelhante na fase vegetativa das plantas, considerando as duas épocas de plantio. Quanto aos caracteres relacionados à produção, Cateto Roxo Local apresentou maior média para massa de bulbos, número e massa de bulbilhos por bulbo, enquanto Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1 e Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2, se destacaram quanto ao diâmetro dos bulbilhos por bulbo. Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1 e 2 devem ser recomendadas para o plantio no início do mês de maio, enquanto para Cateto Roxo Local, o plantio pode ocorrer até a terceira semana de maio, em Sussuapara - PI.(AU)

Technical viability of alternative fertilization sources for vernalized garlic (Allium sativum L. ) on Santa Catarinas plateau / Viabilidade técnica de fontes alternativas de adubação para o alho (Allium sativum L. ) vernalizado no Planalto Catarinense

O alho é exigente em termos de fertilidade do solo, sendo considerado responsivo a aplicação de nutrientes. Desta forma, o objetivo foi avaliar o efeito de fontes alternativas de fertilizantes sobre a viabilidade técnica e econômica do alho vernalizado, cultivar Roxo Caxiense, na região do planalto Catarinense. O experimento foi conduzido no delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com quatro tratamentos (controle; adubo mineral; cama de aviário; cinza vegetal de caldeira) e quatro repetições. As doses utilizadas foram 0, 1250, 10000 e 15000 kg ha-1 para o tratamento controle, adubação mineral, cinza e cama de aviário, respectivamente. A cultivar utilizada foi a Roxo Caxiense, sendo selecionado para o plantio bulbos nº 5. Avaliou-se diâmetro, massa e produtividade de bulbos, bem como aspectos econômicos relacionados às fontes de adubação. Para o diâmetro de bulbo as fontes diferiram apenas do tratamento controle. Assim, a classificação do alho, nos tratamentos com adubação, ficou em classe 5, enquanto no controle foi classe 4. Para massa de bulbos e produtividade a cama de aviário obteve média superior ao uso de cinza e ao tratamento controle, mas não diferiu da adubação mineral. Contudo, observou-se incremento em produtividade ao utilizar cama de aviário em relação à adubação mineral, e consequentemente maior lucro total por área. A cinza resultou em baixo investimento, porém pela produtividade inferior, obteve menor lucro por área comparado a adubação mineral e cama de aviário. Nas condições de clima e solo do presente estudo a adubação orgânica com cama de aviário mostrou ser viável, gerando incremento de 5,6 e14,5 % em produtividade de bulbos em relação ao uso de adubo mineral e cinza vegetal, respectivamente. O uso de cama de aviário apresentou lucro por hectare de R$ 2.178,2 a mais que a adubação mineral.(AU)

The garlic demand in soil fertility terms and is considered responsive to nutrients application. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the alternative source effects of fertilizers on the technical and economic viability of vernalized garlic, Roxo Caxiense cultivar, in the Santa Catarina plateau region. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks experimental design using four treatments (control treatment, mineral fertilizer, poultry litter, and vegetable ash from boiler) and four replications. The used doses were 0, 1250, 10000 and 15000 kg ha-1 for the control treatment, mineral fertilization, vegetable ash and poultry litter, respectively. The cultivar used was Roxo Caxiense, with nº 5 bulbs selected for planting. The diameter, mass and bulbs productivity were evaluated, as well as economic aspects related to the sources of fertilization. For the bulb diameter, the sources differed only from the control treatment. Thus, the garlic classification in treatments with fertilization was class 5, while in the control it was class 4. For bulb mass and productivity, the poultry litter demonstrated a superior average to the ash use and the control treatment, but did not differ from the mineral fertilization. However, productivity increase was observed when using poultry litter in relation to mineral fertilization, and consequently higher total profit per area. The ash resulted in low investment, but due to lower productivity, it obtained lower profit per area compared to mineral fertilization and poultry litter. In the soil and climate conditions of the present study, organic fertilization with poultry litter proved to be viable, generating an increase of 5.6 and 14.5% in bulb productivity in relation to the use of mineral fertilizer and vegetable ash, respectively. The use of poultry litter presented the profit per hectare of R$ 2,178.2 more than mineral fertilization.(AU)

Patogenicidad de especies de Fusarium asociadas a la pudrición basal del ajo en el centro norte de México / Fusarium species associated with basal rot of garlic in North Central Mexico and its pathogenicity

El ajo en México es uno de los cultivos de hortalizas más rentables, más del 83% de esta superficie es aportada por los estados de Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Sonora, Puebla, Baja California y Aguascalientes. La pudrición basal ocasionada por Fusarium spp. se encuentra ampliamente distribuida a nivel mundial; esta enfermedad se ha convertido en una limitante en zonas productoras de cebolla y ajo, no solo en México, sino también en otros países, En México, se ha informado la presencia de Fusarium oxysporum en plantas en Guanajuato y en semillas de ajo en Aguascalientes. En el estado de Morelos se ha reportado la presencia de Fusarium culmorum en cultivares de cebolla. Asimismo, en Aguascalientes se tienen antecedentes de otras especies como Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium solani y Fusarium acuminatum. Para este trabajo se planteó como objetivo identificar las especies de Fusarium encontradas en los estados de Zacatecas, Guanajuato y Aguascalientes, y evaluar su patogenicidad. Se realizaron recolectas de plantas con síntomas de la enfermedad en los estados antes mencionados. De los muestreos realizados se identificaron las especies F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. verticillioides, F. solani y F. acuminatum; las cepas de Aguascalientes identificadas como AGS1A (F. oxysporum), AGS1B (F. oxysporum) y AGSY-10 (F. acuminatum) fueron las que presentaron bajo condiciones de invernadero un mayor índice de severidad.

Garlic in Mexico is one of the most profitable vegetable crops, grown in almost 5,451 ha; out of which more than 83% are located in Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Sonora, Puebla, Baja California and Aguascalientes. Blossom-end rot caused by Fusarium spp is widely distributed worldwide and has been a limiting factor in onion and garlic production regions, not only in Mexico but also in other countries. The presence of Fusarium oxysporum has been reported in Guanajuato and Aguascalientes. Fusarium culmorum has been reported in onion cultivars of Morelos; and Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium solani and Fusarium acuminatum have been previously reported in Aguascalientes. The goal of this work was identifying the Fusarium species found in Zacatecas, Guanajuato and Aguascalientes, to assess their pathogenicity. Plants with disease symptoms were collected from hereinabove mentioned States. The samples resulted in the identification of: F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. verticillioides, F. solani and F. acuminatum species; out of which Aguascalientes AGS1A (F. oxysporum), AGS1B (F. oxysporum) and AGSY-10 (F. acuminatum) strains showed higher severity under greenhouse conditions.

Morfogênese de plantas de alho in vitro: papel dos reguladores de crescimento na indução e desenvolvimento de bulbos / In vitro morphogenesis of garlic plants: the role of growth regulators in bulb induction and development

Protocolos eficientes de crescimento de ápices caulinares de alho (Allium sativum L.) e posterior bulbificação in vitro são importantes para limpeza clonal e manutenção da fidelidade genética. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de tipos e concentrações de reguladores de crescimento sobre a morfogênese de plantas de alho in vitro. Ápices caulinares com até dois primórdios foram excisados de bulbilhos de alho da cv. 'Jonas' e submetidos ao cultivo in vitro em meio de cultura suplementado de ácido indolacético (0; 1,07; 2,69 e 5,37µM), ácido indolbutírico (0; 0,49; 0,98 e 2,46µM), ácido naftalenoacético (0; 1,07; 2,69 e 5,37µM), ácido jasmônico (0; 1,0; 5,0 e 10,0µM) e ácido abscísico (0; 0,38; 1,89; e 3,78µM). A concentração de 1,07µM de ácido naftalenoacético aplicado ao meio de cultura promoveu incrementos na maioria das variáveis analisadas. O ácido jasmônico induziu a formação de bulbos de alho in vitro, embora tenha apresentado performance inferior ao verificado com o uso de ANA. Por outro lado, a adição de ácido abscísico no meio de cultura inibiu o crescimento de plantas, porém, não impediu a formação de bulbos, sobretudo em concentrações reduzidas. De um modo geral, as variáveis número de bulbos e porcentagem de bulbificação diminuiram com o uso de concentrações elevadas dos reguladores de crescimento testados. Entre os reguladores de crescimento de plantas, o ANA apresenta maior efeito na morfogênese in vitro de plantas de alho, entretanto, o ácido jasmônico e o ABA também apresentam potencial para induzir a formação de bulbos de alho in vitro como o ANA.(AU)

Efficient protocols for garlic (Allium sativum L.) shoot tips growth and later in vitro bulbing are significant for pathogen removal and maintenance of genetic fidelity. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different types and concentrations of growth regulators on in vitro morphogenesis of garlic plants. Shoot meristems with up to two primordial were excised from garlic bulbils (cv. 'Jonas') and cultivated in vitro in culture media supplemented with indoleacetic acid (0; 1,07; 2,69 e 5,37µM), indolbutyric acid (0; 0,49; 0,98 e 2,46µM), naphthaleneacetic acid (0; 1,07; 2,69 e 5,37µM), and abscisic acid (0; 0,38; 1,89; e 3,78µM). The concentration of 1,07µM indoleacetic acid applied to the culture medium promoted increases in most variables analyzed. Jasmonic acid induced formation of garlic bulbs in vitro, although it showed lower performance than that verified with the use of NAA. On the other hand, addition of abscisic acid in culture media inhibited plant growth. However, it did not impede the formation of bulbs, especially when in reduced concentrations. Generally speaking, variables such as number of bulbs and rate of bulbing decreased with the use of high concentrations of the assessed growth regulators. Among plant growth regulators, NAA showed a stronger effect on in vitro morphogenesis of garlic plants. Nonetheless, jasmonic acid and ABA also showed potential to induce formation of garlic bulbs in vitro such as NAA.(AU)

Low-temperature conditioning of "seed" cloves enhances the expression of phenolic metabolism related genes and anthocyanin content in 'Coreano' garlic (Allium sativum) during plant development.

Low-temperature conditioning of garlic "seed" cloves accelerated the development of the crop cycle, decreased plant growth, and increased the synthesis of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins in the outer scale leaves of the bulbs at harvest time, leading to 3-fold content increase compared with those conditioned at room temperature. Cold conditioning of "seed" cloves also altered the anthocyanin profile during bulb development and at harvest. Two new anthocyanins are reported for the first time in garlic. The high phenolics and anthocyanin contents in bulbs of plants generated from "seed" cloves conditioned at 5 °C for 5 weeks were preceded by overexpression of some putative genes of the phenolic metabolism [6-fold for phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL)] and anthocyanin synthesis [1-fold for UDP-sugar:flavonoid 3-O-glycosyltransferase (UFGT)] compared with those conditioned at room temperature.

Diferenças de produtividade entre cultivares de alho obtidas por cultura de tecidos e multiplicação convencional em um período de nove anos consecutivos / Yield of garlic cultivars for nine consecutive years after the tissue culture

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a campo, o comportamento de cinco cultivares de alho proveniente de cultura de tecidos e estabelecer um tempo máximo de multiplicação convencional de cada cultivar. Os trabalhos foram conduzidos na área experimental do Setor de Olericultura da Universidade Federal de Lavras com uso das seguintes cultivares: Amarante, Gigante Roxo, Gravatá, Gigante de Lavínia e Gigante Roxão. Cada uma destas cultivares tiveram duas procedências: cultura de tecidos e multiplicação convencional. Para cada ano foi adotado um delineamento em blocos ao acaso sendo considerado dez tratamentos (cinco cultivares oriundas de multiplicação convencional e as mesmas cultivares oriundas de cultura de tecidos) com três repetições. Um índice anual foi calculado com base na diferença de produção entre as duas origens de cada cultivar sendo considerada como controle a cultivar de origem convencional. A análise de variância foi aplicada nos respectivos índices com ajuste a um modelo de regressão polinomial. Concluiu-se que as cultivares Gigante Roxo, Gravatá, Gigante de Lavínia e Gigante Roxão provenientes de multiplicação via cultura de tecidos, podem ser multiplicadas convencionalmente por pelo menos nove anos consecutivos. Sugere ­se que a cultivar Amarante seja indexada para vírus e seja submetida a novos estudos.

Morphological changes in garlic (Allium sativum L.) microbulblets during dormancy and sprouting as related to peroxidase activity and gibberellin A3 content.

The aim of this work was to study the physiological mechanisms of dormancy and sprouting during post-harvest of garlic (Allium sativum L.) microbulblets produced by meristem culture of garlic seed cloves. The morphological changes occurring in garlic microbulblets were assessed from harvest till sprouting in relation with peroxidase activity and levels of gibberellins. Also the effect of a cold treatment (30 days at 4 degrees C) given 30 days after harvest was studied. The results showed that during the state of dormancy in garlic microbulblets formation of the leaf primordia and vascular differentiation of the storage leaf occurred, while increases of peroxidase activity and low levels of GA3 (the only active gibberellin identified) were found. At the end of dormancy the sprouting channel was formed, vascular differentiation established, and peaks of soluble peroxidase activity as well as of GA3 were observed. At day 90 post-harvest, garlic microbulblets showed physiologically mature and able to sprout. Further on, bud expansion and decrease of GA3 levels characterized sprouting of the microbulblets. The cold treatment enhanced GA3 levels and anticipated the sprouting process.

Morphological changes in garlic (Allium sativum L. ) microbulblets during dormancy and sprouting as related to peroxidase activity and gibberellin A3 content

The aim of this work was to study the physiological mechanisms of dormancy and sprouting during post-harvest of garlic (Allium sativum L.) microbulblets produced by meristem culture of garlic seed cloves. The morphological changes occurring in garlic microbulblets were assessed from harvest till sprouting in relation with peroxidase activity and levels of gibberellins. Also the effect of a cold treatment (30 days at 4 degrees C) given 30 days after harvest was studied. The results showed that during the state of dormancy in garlic microbulblets formation of the leaf primordia and vascular differentiation of the storage leaf occurred, while increases of peroxidase activity and low levels of GA3 (the only active gibberellin identified) were found. At the end of dormancy the sprouting channel was formed, vascular differentiation established, and peaks of soluble peroxidase activity as well as of GA3 were observed. At day 90 post-harvest, garlic microbulblets showed physiologically mature and able to sprout. Further on, bud expansion and decrease of GA3 levels characterized sprouting of the microbulblets. The cold treatment enhanced GA3 levels and anticipated the sprouting process.(AU)

Biochemical changes in garlic (Allium sativum L.) during storage following gamma-irradiation.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate an acute dose of gamma-rays (10 Gy) on post-dormant garlic seed cloves in terms of total DNA, total RNA, total protein and soluble carbohydrates in order to correlate these levels with sprouting inhibition induced by gamma-irradiation. Decreases in total DNA content were found in inner sprouts immediately and 100 days after irradiation. The total RNA and protein contents and the carbohydrate content of the storage leaf or the inner sprout were not affected by gamma-irradiation. The results support the notion that in post-dormant garlic seed cloves, DNA content and its behaviour seem to be among the sensitive cellular responses to radiation.