MSc.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.), an important foreign exchange earner, is used as a
spice or condiment throughout the country. India ranks second in area and production
of garlic in the world. In Kerala, garlic cultivation is confined to Devikulam block of
Idukki district and it is cultivated commercially in Kanthalloor and Vattavada
panchayats. Singapore, Mettupalayam and Malapoondu are the major local cultivars
prevalent in this area. Information on the performance of improved garlic varieties in
the high range of Kerala is lacking. Hence, the present study was undertaken with an
objective to evaluate the performance of various garlic genotypes for yield and quality
in the Kanthalloor panchayat of Idukki district.
The experiment was conducted in farmers’ fields of Kanthalloor panchayat
during first crop season from May-September 2017. Nine released varieties like
Yamuna Safed, Yamuna Safed-2, Yamuna Safed-3, Yamuna Safed-8, Yamuna Safed-
9, Bhima Omkar, Bhima Purple, AAS-2, Ooty-1 and one local cultivar were evaluated
for biometric characters and biochemical parameters.
In all genotypes, stem colour was yellowish green. Anthocyanin pigmentation
at the base of pseudostem was noticed in all genotypes except Yamuna Safed-9, Bhima
Omkar and local cultivar. The local cultivar was early in germination (8 days) and also
recorded a higher value of Visual Index of Dormancy (80.89%). The field survival per
cent at two months after planting was high in Yamuna Safed-9 (97%), Yamuna Safed-
3 (96%) and AAS-2 (96%).
At two months after planting, local cultivar recorded highest plant height, leaf
width and neck thickness, whereas number of leaves per plant was highest in AAS-2.
At the time of harvest Yamuna Safed-3 recorded highest plant height, number of leaves
per plant and neck thickness but the leaf width was high in local cultivar. The genotypes
AAS-2 and local cultivar had shortest duration of 95 days.
White coloured bulbs were observed in Yamuna Safed, Yamuna Safed-8 and
Bhima Omkar. In all genotypes bulbs were oval in shape in longitudinal section. The
skin colour of clove was cream in general, but it was purple in Yamuna Safed-9 and
Bhima Purple and pink in AAS-2. Invariably the clove flesh colour was yellow in all
genotypes evaluated.
Single clove bulbs were observed in genotypes Yamuna Safed-8, Yamuna
Safed-2 and Yamuna Safed (79.16%, 25.17% and 22.26% respectively) which indicate
that these genotypes were poor in clove differentiation in the agro ecological situations
of Kanthalloor during first crop season. The genotypes local cultivar and Yamuna
Safed-3 recorded a high fresh bulb weight (15.66g and 15.31g respectively). The
variety AAS-2 recorded highest number of cloves per bulb (16). The number of cloves
per bulb in Yamuna Safed-3 (14.47) was on par with AAS-2. The variety Yamuna
Safed-3 recorded highest estimated yield per hectare (5.96t) followed by local cultivar
and Ooty-1 (4.48t and 4.47t respectively).
Fresh bulb weight showed highly significant positive correlation with leaf
width, plant girth, plant height, leaf length, equatorial diameter, polar diameter and
clove length. The genotypes were grouped into five non-overlapping clusters based on
yield and yield attributing characters. The genotypes Yamuna Safed-3 and local
cultivar, the high yielders fall in cluster 2 and it has the least distance to cluster 5 which
includes Ooty-1. But considering the important yield and quality aspects in trade i.e.
yield, fresh bulb weight, clove weight, essential oil content and pungency the local
cultivar was found to be the promising genotype over Yamuna Safed-3. But when the
genotypes were ranked considering the important yield and quality aspects in trade, the
local cultivar was found to be the promising genotype over Yamuna Safed-3.