GARLIC FLOWERING IN RESPONSE TO CLONE, PHOTOPERIOD, GROWTH TEMPERATURE, AND COLD-STORAGE

The effects of cold storage, photoperiod, and growth temperature on fl owering incidence in four clones of garlic (Allium sativum L.) were st udied. While flowering percentage was influenced most by clone, intera ctions with photoperiod, growth temperature, and storage occurred. Clo ne R81 flowered equally well in all conditions, whereas flowering perc entage of clones D129, D130, and PI485592 was reduced by cold (4C) sto rage of either bulbs or plants, long (16-h) photoperiod, and at 18C re lative to 10C. The highest flowering percentage in all garlic clones w as achieved by growing plants at 10C under short (9- to 10-h) photoper iod with no cold storage of bulbs before planting.