Noble garlic cultivars were submitted to the vernalization (4ºC) during 50 days in the region of Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The evaluated cultivars were Caçador 30, Caçador 40, Caçador, Caxiense, Chonan, Contestado, Gigante Núcleo, Quitéria and Quitéria obtained through tissue culture (CT). The experimental design was a complete randomized block, with three replications. No significant differences were observed in relation to plant height 60 days after planting date. Caxiense presented the highest total production of bulbs, differing significantly from the cultivars Caçador 30 and Contestado. The cultivars showing lesser indexes of secondary growth were Chonan, Gigante Núcleo, Quitéria and Caçador. Contestado and Caxiense presented the greatest percentages of bulbs with this abnormality. The highest commercial productions of bulbs were obtained with Quitéria and Caçador. No statistical differences in relation to average weight of bulbs and number of cloves per bulb were observed among the cultivars. Gigante Núcleo presented greater average weight of cloves when compared with Contestado, Quitéria (CT) and Caçador 30, that did not differ from each other.
Allium sativum; production; secondary growth
