Evaluation of garlic regenerant plants of their clones on soil with high acidity

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a vegetatively propagated plant, demanding soil fertility and a pH level of 6.5-7. With a decrease in the pH value below 5.5, the yield of major crops, including garlic, decreases by more than 30%, as the dissolution of poorly soluble salts increases, while the volume of available forms of iron, manganese, cobalt, copper, aluminum increases. According to agrochemical surveys of arable land in the Russian Federation, the proportion of acidic soils (pH < 5.5) was 33% and, according to forecasts, will increase. Obtaining stress-resistant forms of plants is possible with the active use of biotechnological methods, including cell selection. The purpose of the work is to evaluate winter garlic regenerant plants obtained from callus on an acidic nutrient medium and their clones against a background with increased soil acidity in a low–volume culture. The research was carried out in 2020-2022 at the ARRIVG - branch of FSBSI FSVC. Garlic plants were grown in soil with an acidity of 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0, in plastic boxes measuring 60×40×23 cm, with a soil volume of 1.5 liters per 1 plant in open ground conditions. 87 single-pronged bulbs of the Gladiator variety and 38 single-pronged bulbs of the Imperator variety obtained by growing garlic regenerant plants on soil with high acidity were studied in the open ground. As a result of the research, garlic bulbs obtained on a small volume with increased soil acidity were selected for further work on creating forms with increased resistance to soil acidity. As a result of the research, garlic bulbs obtained on a small volume with increased soil acidity were selected for further work on creating forms with increased resistance to soil acidity.

Key words: garlic, regenerating plant, increased soil acidity, single-pronged and multi-pronged bulb, low-volume crop