Brazil could increase garlic production up to the point of supplying the internal demand. To achieve this success, it is necessary to evaluate the maximum number of cultivars to establish the best ones for each region. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate economic yield and quality of bulbs of 20 garlic cultivars in Center-South Paraná state, Brazil. The experiment was carried out between March and September 2009, in Guarapuava, Paraná state. Experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. The treatments consisted of twelve seminoble and eight noble garlic cultivars. We evaluated the total production (TP), commercial production (CP) and commercial classification of bulbs; secondary bulb growth; and six characteristics related to the plant morphology: pseudostem diameter, length and leaf width, length, width and number of cloves. Noble group cultivars have presented TP superior to seminoble cultivars. However, there was no difference in relation to CP. Among cultivars of noble group, San Valentim presented greater CP bulbs, with 8,9 t ha-1. Noble group cultivars have presented higher percentual of bulbs in classes 6 and 7, especially the cultivars Chonan, with 40.3% of the bulbs in the class 7 and cultivar Ito, with 75% of the bulbs in classes 6 and 7. The opposite was observed in the seminoble group, since most bulbs of this group were found in classes 3, 4 and 5. Among the evaluated cultivars, San Valentin showed to be better adapted to the edafoclimatic conditions of the region, presenting a great yielding potential.
Allium sativum; secondary bulb growth; noble garlic; seminoble garlic
