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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #134375
Title: IMPROVEMENT OF VARIETAL GARLIC VIABILITY BY COLD STORAGE

Author
item Rotindo, Kate
item Volk, Gayle

Submitted to: Colorado State University Undergraduate Research: Creative Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2002
Publication Date: 4/23/2002
Citation: Cross, K.E., Volk, G.M. 2002. Improvement of varietal garlic viability by cold storage. Colorado State University Undergraduate Research: Creative Symposium, April 23, 2002, Fort Collins, Colorado. p.17.

Interpretive Summary: Garlic is a specialty horticultural crop that is usually planted in the fall and harvested in late summer. By delaying the planting until spring, high winter winds that blow away much needed mulch and irrigation operational challenges could be avoided. Cold storage trials were performed to determine if garlic could be kept for spring planting. Four varieties of garlic harvested in the summer of 2001 were stored at 15C, room temperature, 5C, 0C, and -5C. Shoot tip length in relation to clove size was measured periodically during the storage period for each treatment as an indicator of storability. Garlic stored best at 0C and -5C and maintained viability until garlic could be planted in the field. Field trials will be conducted this spring to test field performance of stored garlic.

Technical Abstract: Garlic is a specialty horticultural crop that is usually planted in the fall and harvested in late summer. By delaying the planting until spring, high winter winds that blow away much needed mulch and irrigation operational challenges could be avoided. Cold storage trials were performed to determine if garlic could be kept for spring planting. Four varieties of garlic harvested in the summer of 2001 were stored at 15C, room temperature, 5C, 0C, and -5C. Shoot tip length in relation to clove size was measured periodically during the storage period for each treatment as an indicator of storability. Garlic stored best at 0C and -5C and maintained viability until garlic could be planted in the field. Field trials will be conducted this spring to test field performance of stored garlic.