**5.2 Days to harvest and yield**

Varieties of garlic can be harvested at either 150 (early cycle), 180 (intermediate cycle) or 210 (late cycle) days after planting. Late cycle varieties showed greater bulb and clove weights [i.e., 'California' and 'Coreano' varieties, and 'Perla' cultivars (Table 1)]. Greatest bulb

Fig. 1. Garlic genotypes from the germplasm bank at Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias - Campo Experimental Pabellón Aguascalientes (INIFAP-CAEPAB).

weight varieties (i.e., 'California') showed more than 75% greater bulb weight than lowest bulb weight varieties (i.e., 'Pata de Perro'). 'Perla' cultivars ('C-3-1/25' and 'C-37-1/8') had a better tolerance to environmental conditions (Fig. 1), their bulbs had fewer cloves (10-12) (Table 1), and their bulb and clove weights were favorably compared with those of commercial varieties (i.e., 'Chino' and 'Coreano': Table 1). 'Sonora', 'Positas', 'Hermosillo', 'Español', 'Pepita', 'Massone', 'Nicaragua', 'Nacajuca' and 'Chileno' cultivars showed very similar patterns in morphological characteristics and yields (Table 1). Correlation between bulb length and clove weight against bulb weight showed an R2 = 0.9668, while clove weight against bulb weight had an R² = 0.635 (both highly significant, *p* <0.01); in agreement with results of Heredia & Delgadillo (2002), these varieties which showed greater bulb weights also showed greater clove weights.


Fig. 1. Garlic genotypes from the germplasm bank at Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias - Campo Experimental Pabellón Aguascalientes (INIFAP-

weight varieties (i.e., 'California') showed more than 75% greater bulb weight than lowest bulb weight varieties (i.e., 'Pata de Perro'). 'Perla' cultivars ('C-3-1/25' and 'C-37-1/8') had a better tolerance to environmental conditions (Fig. 1), their bulbs had fewer cloves (10-12) (Table 1), and their bulb and clove weights were favorably compared with those of commercial varieties (i.e., 'Chino' and 'Coreano': Table 1). 'Sonora', 'Positas', 'Hermosillo', 'Español', 'Pepita', 'Massone', 'Nicaragua', 'Nacajuca' and 'Chileno' cultivars showed very similar patterns in morphological characteristics and yields (Table 1). Correlation between bulb length and clove weight against bulb weight showed an R2 = 0.9668, while clove weight against bulb weight had an R² = 0.635 (both highly significant, *p* <0.01); in agreement with results of Heredia & Delgadillo (2002), these varieties which showed greater bulb weights

CAEPAB).

also showed greater clove weights.


Table 1. Size and weight of garlic varieties cultivated in Aguascalientes (Central-North Region of Mexico). Data are presented according to standard descriptors for garlic (IPGRI, 2001). Each value shows the mean ± SE.

#### **5.3 Postharvest photosynthesis and respiratory activity of stored cloves**

In order to understand some physiological events of stored garlic, analyses of six genotypes under storage were focused on the respiratory process and photosynthesis. To accomplish that goal, photosynthetic activity of stored cloves during 0, 30, 60 and 90 d were measured on three cloves selected at random from the container of each genotype. Measurements included: evaporation rate mM/s/m2/s (E), stomatal conductance mM/m2/s (G), net photosynthesis assimilation µM/m2/s (A) and CO2 internal concentration ppm (CI). From these measurements, it was found that for some genotypes like 'C-CN-9/2' evapotranspiration was the highest at 30 d, as opposed to 'Criollo Aguascalientes' and 'Chino Jaspeado' with the lowest value at 90 d. Stomatal conductance was high 'C-CN-9/25', mainly after 90 d. Most genotypes showed negative photosynthesis rate, and internal CO2 showed no clear tendency within genotypes. Weight remained stable during the first 60 d, but after that period, it decreased about 1/3 of the initial values. The bulbs behavior at the final of postharvest period is show in the Fig. 2.

Fig. 2. View of stored garlic at 90 d. Sprouted heads are from short-shelf life cultivars. Heads with low number of sprouting bulbs are from 'Perla' (bottom left corner).
