Production of virus-free garlic (<i>Allium sativum</i>L.) and shallot (<i>A. ascalonicum</i>L.) by meristem-tip culture

TLDR

UK garlic cultivars are commonly infected with multiple viruses. Meristem‑tip culture was used to produce virus‑free plants of eight garlic cultivars and the shallot cv Noordhollandse Strogele. Infection surveys revealed that UK garlic cultivars and the shallot cv Noordhollandse Strogele carry OYDV, SLV, and other poty‑ or carlaviruses, and thermotherapy at 38 °C before meristem culture raised the virus‑free recovery rate from 25–50 % to 85 %.

Abstract

SummaryAll garlic cultivars used for crop production in the UK are infected with two or more viruses. ISEM decoration tests have indicated that onion yellow dwarf (OYDV), leek yellow stripe and shallot latent viruses (SLV) infect some cultivars in various combinations with other unidentified poty- or carlaviruses. The shallot cv Noordhollandse Strogele was infected by OYDV, SLV and a second potyvirus. Virus-free plants of eight garlic cultivars and the shallot cv Noordhollandse Strogele were produced by meristem-tip culture. The percentage of virus-free garlic plants regenerated was increased from 25–50% to 85% when infected parent plants were subjected to thermotherapy at 38 °C prior to tissue culture.