Evaluation of allicin content and botanical traits in Iranian garlic (Allium satimm L.) ecotypes

Twenty-four garlic ecotypes collected from the main cultivation areas of Iran were analyzed to evaluate their genetic diversity. Pre-culture evaluation of phytomedical (allicin content) and botanical traits are discussed in this paper. The studied morphological characters were: bulb mean weight, clove mean weight and clove number per bulb. We found a significant positive correlation between clove and bulb mean weight as well, negative correlation between clove mean weight and clove number. Phytomedical evaluation by HPLC showed that all samples are rich in allicin and their recorded values were higher than pharmaceutical grade. Statistical analysis showed that the allicin content in Ge5, a local selected clone from northeast, was at least two times higher than other ecotypes. There was no significant correlation between the ecological condition and the allicin content. Cluster analysis on morphological and phytomedical characters arranged the ecotypes in six main groups. The ecotype of group A showed the highest botanical and pharmaceutical potential which could be. considered in future breeding programs. In general we did not detect significant relationship between genetic diversity and geographical origins, so probably the genetic factors have more influence than ecology. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.