USMAN IJAZASSISTANT RESEARCH OFFICER

CHALLENGES IN CHALLENGES IN GARLIC BREEDINGGARLIC BREEDING

Allium sativum Family Alliaceae

Oldest crop 5000 years ago in Egyptian It was grown 4000 years

ago Used 2000 years ago in

China

Source: Agri. Statistics of Pakistan 2010-11

Source: Agri. Statistics of Pakistan 2010-11

Source: Agri. Statistics of Pakistan 2010-11

Source: Agri. Statistics of Pakistan 2010-11

Source: Agri. Statistics of Pakistan 2010-11

Province Area(Ha)

Production

(Kg)

Yield(Kg/Ha)

Punjab 2790 23018 8281Sindh 2790 9954 4990KPK 2090 22954 11000

Baluchistan

418 3318 8118

Pakistan 7281 59427 8181

Source: Agri. Statistics of Pakistan 2010-11

Central Asia Wild relative Allium

longicuspis (Etoh & Simon, 2002)

Wild progenitor Allium tuncelianum

(Mathew 1996) Currently found in Turkey

Diploid 2n = 2X = 16 Allium sub-species included

• Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon• Allium sativum var. pekinense• Allium sativum var. sativum

Non-Bolting Incomplete or partial bolting

Flowering ability Leaf traits Bulb traits Plant maturity Cold hardiness Bulbil traits Flower traits

Morphological variation is always complicated

Isozymes:Few polymorphism detected RAPDs:High polymorphism detected but un

reproducible AFLPsHighly conserved and reproducible Karyotype

• Basic karyotype for hardneck• Non Basic karyotype for

softneck

BULB: Consist of cloves surrounded by

dry basal sheath Bolting: 4-12 cloves of uniform

size Non-Bolting: 8-50 cloves of

variable sizeClove: Outer thin protective leaf + Inner

thick storage leaf Storage leaf subtends a

vegetative bud over flattened basal plate

Dormancy:Exposed to cool temperature (15 C or

below)Roots:Adventitious roots start developing basal

plateLeaf: Sprout leaf start elongation and ooze

out Leaves arise in opposite and alternate

orientationPseudostem: Base of consecutive leaves extensively

overlapped

Inflorescence: Umbel 150-200

flowers/umbel Protanderous Bulbils

Perfect / Hermaphrodite Petals: 6 Anthers: 6 Locules: 3 consisting of 2

ovules each Style longer than petals Garlic flower is smaller than

onion

Vernalization (<5 C) Floral induction Scape elongation Inflorescence

development Competition with bulb Floral maturation

Only bolting genotypes are sensitive

Accumulation of pathogens Chromosome aberrations Post-Meiotic tapetal

degeneration Unsuccessful competition with

bulbils Multivalent chromosome

pairing Long-term asexual propagation

Garlic germplasm Diverse Wild relatives Selection Central Asian garlic germplasm

ProcedureDiscovery of male fertile garlic sourcei. Pollination and seed productionSowing timeFlower color: Fertility, Hybrid seed productionBulbil removal: Early senescenceMultiple pollinationsPollinators: Honey bees, House flies, Bluebottle fliesDiseases & pestsWeather: Hot weather (>30 C)

ii. Seed harvest: Dried inflorescence crushed Small seeds are inviable Wind column Select heavier and vigorous

seed 50 seeds/umbel

iii. Growing seedlings: Difficult in early generations Seed treatments: Hormones,

Scarification, Stratification Epigeal germination

Selection for improved floral characteristics

Selection for male fertile flowers Selection for improved seed size

and vigor Selection for seedling vigor

Development of new clones for asexual propagation

Development of seed cultivated garlic cultivars

• Recurrent phenotypic selection• Hybrid garlic cultivars• Open pollinated field cultivars

Not realistic Sexual reproduction is the

necessity T. Etoh, confirmed that garlic seed

is possible USPTO lists three seed derived

garlic cultivars

Clonal selection Partially bolting types Improving production

technology Disease and pest tolerance Improving storage

technology Quality

Germplasm• VRIG-11• G11-1(N)• G11-2(H)• Lahsen Gulabi

VARIETIES Fresh bulb

size(mm)

No of cloves

Fresh bulb

weight

Yield(Tons/Hac)

VRIG-11 59 40 77 51Lehsan Gulabi

51 27 53 34Note: Average was taken for 20 bulbs

VARIETIES Leaf length (cm)

Leaf Width (cm)

No. of Leaves/pl

ant

Plant Height (cm)

VRIG-11 64.8 2.42 10.1 104.8Lehsan Gulabi

56.8 2.27 10.7 91.4

Chemical composition (%)

VRIG-11 Lehsan Gulabi

Moisture 41 34.5

Dry matter 59 65.5

Protein 6.65 6.86

Fat 0.48 0.59

Fiber 2.14 2.81

Mineral 2.43 2.74

Carbohydrates 48.31 52.54

Dry Powder 24.12 29.67

Energy (K Cal/100g)

212.08 229.85

Cultivar Days to maturity 

Yield (tonnes/ha)  

Avg. wt (g)/bulb

Avg.wt(g)/clove 

Chinese 207 21.30  81.45  5.13 Lehson Ghulabi 

190 9.49 39.10 1.73

GS-I 185 9.03 38.92 1.0Mehmood et al, 2000 (Sarhad J. Of Agri.)

Collection of diverse germplasm

Identification of flower producing pockets

Artificial floral induction Molecular markers Somaclonal variation

Asexual propagation, resulted clones do not flower, nearly or

completely sterile, first generation seedlings are very week. But, access to diverse germplasm, adopting new

procedures, careful seedling husbandry, allowed to produce

true seed garlic. Taking advantage of these

breakthrough, garlic breeding is underway

Dr. Shahid Niaz Director, VRI, Faisalabad Mr. Najeeb Ullah Botanist, VRI, Faisalabad Mr. Tahir Iqbal Asst. Botanist, VRI,

Faisalabad