Changes of Quality properties of Hamedan white Garlic at the Cut off Dates and Different levels of Irrigation During Storage and Relationship with Water - use Efficiency

This research was conducted on completely randomized block design in a split plot experiment during 3 years in Hamedan consisting of three levels of irrigation (75%, 100%, 125% water requirement) as main plot and cut off dates of irrigation as sub plot, (current date, a week before and a week after the current date of irrigation in the region) at three replications. Garlic bulbs were harvested 20 days after cut off irrigation and the effect of cut off dates and different levels of irrigation on some qualitative factors during 6 months of storage were measured. The relationship between color, weight loss and sprouting with water - use efficiency were determined at the end of storage duration. Results showed that during storage, pyruvate content, color changes, weight loss and sprouting increased and moisture content of cloves decreased significantly. Pyruvate content, weight loss and spoilage increased and color changes decreased due to the delay of cut off irrigation. The amount of water irrigation showed no significant effect on measured factors. With increasing water - use efficiency, weight loss, spoilage and color changes decreased. Consequently, 75% water requirement with the highest water - use efficiency and cut off date a week earlier than the current date was appropriate for this region.