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

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&1‐FRUCTAN EXOHYDROLASEs ( 6&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.