This study was carried out at the experimental field of Universidade Federal de Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from May to October, 1991, and aimed at evaluating the influence of paclobutrazol doses on secondary growth control and morphologic and marketable characteristics of garlic (Allium sativum L.). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five replications and four paclobutrazol doses (0, 500, 1,000 and 1,500 mg of a.i. L-1). Reduction in plant height and in number of leaves per plant at 60 and 90 days after planting was observed with paclobutrazol applications. Total bulbs and marketable yields showed significant effects with the application of paclobutrazol doses, and both concentrations of 725 mg L-1 and 777 mg L-1 were the ones with best performance. The percentage of secondary growth evidenced negative quadratic effect with the increment of paclobutrazol doses, and the concentration of 1,163 mg L-1 showed the highest reduction. Mean bulb weight increased up to the dose of 744 mg L-1 of paclobutrazol. There were no significant differences among treatments for cloves per bulb.
Allium sativum; plant growth; substance; yields; productivity
