Articles
NUMBER OF CLOVES PER BULB; SELECTION CRITERIA FOR GARLIC IMPROVEMENT. I. RESULTS WITH “CHILENO” TYPE
On basis of this knowledge number of cloves per bulb (CPB) was used as the main selection criteria.
Only bulbs with equal or less cloves per bulb as the average of the original population were selected.
Same criteria was used in subsequent cycles of selection, but CPB selection level was modified on basis of the average number of cloves obtained in every new generation.
Selection was concurrently performed for other characters, such as: shape, size and color of bulb; vigor and healthy plants; and days to harvest.
After six cycles of selection, six individual selections and two bulk selections were statistically superior in fewer cloves per bulb than both, the original "Chileno" population, and a commercial "Chileno" from a garlic grower.
Only two individual selections (16.5 and 15.9 ton/ha) and one bulk selection (14.5 ton/ha) had statistically higher yields than the original "Chileno" population and the commercial "Chileno" (both 13.5 ton/ha). The bulk selection was released as "Compuesto Chileno" in 1986 and the individual selections in 1987 as “Vikingo l” and “Vikingo 2”. Currently these two varieties are planted in over 50% of the acreage of Chileno type garlic in the agricultural area of El Bajio.
Use of CPB as a changing value according to the average of every new generation was a very effective method to reduce the number of cloves per bulb and hence improve the quality.
Selection pressure for high yields should be included to obtain better results.