TY - SER AU - Al-Otayk,S. AU - El-Shinawy,M.Z. AU - Motawei,M.I. TI - Variations in productive characteristics and genetic diversity assessment among garlic cultivars and lines using DNA markers KW - Garlic KW - Genetics KW - Breeding KW - Research N1 - Includes reference N2 - Garlic cultivars; namely, Egyptian, Chinese and Elephant, and six Chinese lines were evaluated for its productivity in two field experiments during 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 winter seasons. The results indicated that the maximum plant height was 70.5 and 70.8 cm for Egyptian cultivar in both seasons, respectively. The maximum values of leaf area per plant were observed with Elephant cultivar and a Chinese line (L2). Elephant cultivar was superior than the other cultivars and lines in plant fresh weight. While, the Chinese line, L4, had the maximum plant dry weight and the highest chlorophyll content. Bulb fresh and dry weights of the Egyptian cultivar, Balady, was the lowest among the cultivars and lines tested. On the other hand, the Egyptian cultivar, Balady, produced more cloves number, compared with the other cultivars and Chinese lines. Elephant and Chinese cultivars gave the highest mean values of bulb diameter, compared with the Egyptian cultivar. Also, the Chinese lines, L2 and L5, gave higher mean values of bulb diameter, compared with the other Chinese lines. The same trend was observed for clove weight. Total soluble solids (TSS) content of cloves was the highest in the Egyptian cultivar and the Chinese line (L5). The marketable yield (g/m2) showed that Elephant cultivar and the Chinese line (L5) produced the highest yield. While, Egyptian cultivar (Balady) and Chinese line 6 (L6) produced the lowest yield. Two types of molecular markers, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), were assayed to determine the genetic diversity of six garlic lines and three garlic cultivars. A high level of polymorphism, among garlic cultivars and lines was found with both RAPD and ISSR markers. While, ISSR revealed higher polymorphism among Chinese lines than RAPD. The UPGMA dendrogram, generated from RAPD data, clearly indicated four main clusters. The dendrogram, generated from ISSR data, clearly indicated five clusters. Chinese line (L6) was separated from the other Chinese lines and this line gave the lowest yield and total soluble solid content, compared to the other lines and the Chinese cultivar. Polymorphic ISSRs, were abundant in garlic and demonstrated genetic diversity among related lines. Accordingly, ISSR was an additional tool for fingerprinting and detailed assessment of genetic relationships in garlic UR - http://nile.enal.sci.eg/EALE/2008/AAR/1308/2/305.pdf ER -