Storage of garlic bulbs (Allium sativum L.): A review

Storage of garlic for extended availability during lean season of bulbs of satisfactory quality is a multidimensional issue, which comprises various pre- and post-harvest parameters. The main aims of storage bulb crops are to sustain the "quality capital" present at harvest and to fulfill consumer demand for extended accessibility of adequate quality of bulbs. Hence, increasing garlic yield and improving bulb quality are the specified characteristics for garlic farmers, sellers, and consumers. Proper pre- and post-harvest management is essential to maintain the quality characteristics like the content of dry matter, pungency, total soluble solids, sugars, skin color, and integrity. Timely irrigation and appropriate fertilization are important preharvest parameters whereas proper curing and storage parameters viz., temperature, relative humidity, ventilation, packaging material, and processing treatments are postharvest factors. In this article, a review has been made to describe the conventional and improved structures for storage and the influence of storage practices on quality parameters of garlic bulbs, so as to reduce the postharvest losses through proper storage methods and further valorize garlic bulbs. Practical Applications The storage losses of the garlic are very high due to the lack of proper storage structures. The physiological weight losses and losses due to diseases are the main storage losses in garlic. The postharvest losses during storage are up to 40% under ambient conditions causing the increase of the market price at a microlevel and decrease availability at the macrolevel. Thus, the promotion and encouragement for eco-friendly effective storage technologies to overcome these storage losses is aimed to accomplish the need of the ever-growing population.