Characterisation of local population of spring garlic (Allium sativum L.) from Ljubinje, Republic of Srpska

Genetic resources such as garlic (Allium sativum L.) play a crucial role in the preservation of agricultural biodiversity, food security and breeding programs aimed at improving yield and resilience. Garlic is a vegetatively propagated crop with strong site-specific adaptation that often loses its typical morphological characteristics when transferred to a different agroecological zone. For the specified reasons, the aim of this study was to analyse the local population of spring garlic, which is of particular importance for the area of East Herzegovina, locally called Saransak, which is an important genetic resource as well. The results indicated an average bulb weight of 40.42 g, with an average of 15.30 cloves per bulb and 6.63 dry external scales. The bulb dimensions were 42.69 mm in height and 43.93 mm in diameter, whereas the clove characteristics included an average weight of 3.28 g, height of 36.14 mm and diameter of 13.71 mm. Additionally, the soluble dry matter content was 15.73% Brix, suggesting a high nutritional potential and marketability. These morphological traits align with previous studies that have highlighted bulb weight and clove number as critical factors for improving garlic yield and quality. The high bulb weight and clove count suggest that Saransak could be a promising candidate for breeding programs aimed at enhancing commercial garlic varieties. Furthermore, the observed morphological variability underscores the adaptive traits of garlic and the influence of environmental conditions on phenotypic expression. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic resources of garlic and supports future breeding efforts to develop high yielding and environmentally resilient varieties. Given its favorable agronomic characteristics, the Saransak population warrants further research for its potential application in garlic cultivation and improvement.