Differential Carbohydrate Gene Expression During Light and Air Temperature Treatment Controls Nutritive Quality of <i>Allium sativum</i>

Light and air temperature are considered vital environmental cues that control developmental processes in crop plants. In the current report we investigated the effect of light (day/night: 8 h/16 h and 16 h/8 h) and air temperature (day/night: 18/12°C and 23/17°C) on garlic quality and relative genes expression. Garlic morphological traits significantly increased at 16 h light and 23°C at 30 days after treatment (DAT). Soluble protein content was observed maximum at 16 h light and 23°C at 30 DAT. Carbohydrates were also increased with increment in duration (30 DAT) of light (16 h) and high air temperature (23°C). Phenolic compounds were also significantly enhanced at 16 h light and 23°C at 30 DAT. At 30 DAT, antioxidants were observed in highest quantity at 16 h light and 23°C. Expression analysis of carbohydrate metabolism genes revealed that 6&amp;1‐FRUCTAN EXOHYDROLASEs ( 6&amp;1‐FEH ), FRUCTAN 6‐FRUCTOSYLTRANSFERASES ( 6‐FFT ) and CELL WALL INVERTASEs ( CWI ) exhibited highest expression under 16 h light and 23°C whereas, SUCROSE 1‐FRUCTOSYLTRANSFERASEs ( 1‐SST ) and TREHALOSE 6‐PHOSPHATE SYNTHASEs ( T6P ) exhibited highest expression under 8h + 23°C and 16h + 18°C, respectively. In conclusion, the results of our research suggested that long periods of light and high air temperature are beneficial for maintaining garlic nutritive quality.