Garlic (Allium sativum L.): Overview on its Biology and Genetic Markers Available for the Analysis of Its Diversity in West Africa

Garlic belongs to the Allium genus, which includes more than 750 species divided into 60 taxonomic groups. It is cultivated in many countries throughout world for bulb and used as a spice functional food. The plant vegetatively propagates. This review will focus on origins, biology, analysis of genetic diversity, pharmacological properties garlic. appears from this synthesis that sativum derived longicuspis native Central Asia. Studies diversity through morphological markers revealed wide variation color, shape number cloves ability flower. Biochemical such Esterase (EST), Phosphoglucomutase (PGI), Malate Deshydrogenase (MDH), Diaphorase (DIA well molecular Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRS) Inter-Simple Repeat (ISSR) were successfully used. RFLPs or RAPD are most assessing variability within asexually reproducing garlic species. Work using SSRs limited relative other crops.