Genetic Diversity Among Garlic Clones as Revealed by Aflp, Phenotypic Descriptors and S-Amino Acids Level

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) belongs to well known vegetables. Garlic is considered a valuable source of health benefit compounds. S-amino acids, namely S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxides, are one of the major garlic constituents. We evaluated a set of garlic genetics resources representing namely valuable germplasm from Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and former Soviet Union. We showed that differences exist among analysed genotypes in S-amino acids (alliin/methiin) level and donors of high level of alliin/methiin can be identified. High alliin/methiin level was found within genetic resources and registered cultivars under the use. Level of alliin and isoalliin did not correlate with measured level of methiin. Donors of high methiin level were found within accessions marked as being "wild" in EVIGEZ database. Sufficient variability was found by AFLP analysis as well. Accessions were divided by PCA basically into two categories: hardnecks (Ophioscorodon group, Longicuspis group) and softneck (sativum group). Presented work showes possibility to find suitable donors of biologically active compounds in garlic.