Garlic (Allium sativum) storage in tropical region–A review

Garlic (Allium sativum) is one of the important spices used worldwide in different cuisines. Garlic is grown in one season but its demand is around the year. Thus A large quantity of garlic is stored to fulfill the demand during off season. The storage losses of garlic in temperate region are lower as compared to tropical region. The storage losses of garlic is higher in tropical region due to higher temperature and humidity during storage period. These losses may be 15 to 40 percent which includes physiological weight loss (PLW), rotting and sprouting. There are several reasons of higher storage losses such as genetic makeup of cultivars, type of manure and fertilizer and their time of application and quality, quantity, method and time of application of water, pre harvest treatments, harvesting time, field curing, drying, store environment, storage structures etc.. There are two distinct temperature regimes where losses are minimum. One is high temperature regime, where storage temperature is 25-30⁰C and another is low temperature regime, where temperature is augmented maintained 0 to 2⁰C. Best results under both the temperature regimes are obtained when humidity is maintained at 65 to 70 %. The storage losses in high temperature conditions (25-30⁰C) are high (30-35%) but storage cost is low. Various research works carried out on assessment of losses and reduction of storage losses through pre and post harvest management and modification of storage environment in the tropical garlic growing regions of the world are summarized in this review article.