Bulb Morphological Characteristics as Selection Indices to Improve Yield of Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Abstract

During this study, 21 garlic genotypes consisted of ten clones of Egyp tian cultivar, nine clones of Chinese cultivar, as well as their origi nal populations were evaluated to estimate the extent of improvement i n four yield component traits after six cycles of clonal selection. Al so, simple phenotypic correlation among these traits and their relatio nship with yield. Besides estimating linear and quadratic responses (s imple and multiple regression); to clarify the relationship between yi eld and the four studied characteristics. This research has been condu cted at the Research farm of Faculty of Agriculture in “Abies” area of Alexandria University, Egypt, for 2020/2021 during the winter season, in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The st udied traits were included bulb weight, cloves weight per bulb, averag e clove weight, cloves number per bulb, and yield per plot. T-test in group reflected a significant improvement in the four yield components traits, whether in the improved clones of Egyptian or Chinese cultiva r. The results illustrated, also, that yield per plot showed a highly significant positive correlation with bulb weight, cloves weight per b ulb, and average clove weight. Stepwise regression indicated that more than 98% of the variation in yield is explained by bulb weight, avera ge clove weight, and cloves number per bulb. Thus, high yield of garli c plants can be obtained by selecting breeding materials with these af orementioned three variables.