Agronomic evaluation of virus-free and virus-infected garlic (Allium sativumL.)

Abstract

The yield from virus-free bulbs of five garlic cultivars (Rosé du Var, Moulinin, Printanor, Blanc de la Drôme and Isles of Scilly) was substantially higher than that from comparable infected stocks. Growth, measured by leaf length, was significantly greater for virus-free plants of these cultivars at mid-season, and at harvest the virus-free bulbs contained a higher proportion of bigger cloves than infected bulbs. In contrast, the yield from virus- free bulbs of cv. Fructidor was similar to infected bulbs, as was the amount of mid-season growth and the proportion of large to small cloves. Infected stocks of cvs Rosé du Var and Moulinin that had been selected to remove the most severely diseased plants gave better yields than unselected infected stocks, but less than virus-free stocks. The yield of selected stocks of cv. Fructidor was significantly less than unselected infected stocks.