Detailed Explanation of Garlic Irradiation Preservation Technology and Key Operational Points

After garlic matures, it begins to sprout and enters the reproductive growth phase of cell division, which results in cloves scattering, shriveling, and loss of nutrients during storage, rendering it unfit for consumption. During the dormant period, Y-ray irradiation processing is used, utilizing radiant energy to damage the sprout buds of garlic cloves, inhibit their normal growth, prevent sprouting, reduce nutrient consumption during storage and transport, ensure commodity quality, and meet hygienic standards for safe storage. This is what is commonly known as garlic irradiation preservation technology.

Garlic harvesting and pre-treatment. Because garlic varieties have different characteristics, the suitable harvest period varies from region to region, and the suitable harvest period that favors garlic storage should be identified. Generally speaking, when the outer skin of the garlic has aged, lost water, and become thin, but the color is still fresh and physiological dormancy begins, it should be harvested and dug up in a timely manner. After the garlic bulbs are dug out, they are tied into bundles, stacked into piles or braided into garlic strings or tied into garlic bunches, sun-dried and then air-dried until fully dry, and the soil is shaken off thoroughly; the garlic bulbs are cut off, sorted, sieved, and graded. Graded garlic bulbs are packaged in polypropylene woven bags, corrugated cardboard boxes, white cardboard boxes, wicker baskets, or nylon mesh bags, packed into units of about 25-30 kg, and the bag openings are tied tightly with plastic rope. This facilitates transportation and the process operations of irradiation processing.

Determination of the suitable period for garlic irradiation. Practice has shown that irradiation during the dormant period gives the best storage results. However, the dormant period varies greatly among different garlic varieties (about 60-69 days). Therefore, determining the suitable irradiation period is extremely important.

Identification of irradiated garlic and stack-house storage. After receiving Y-ray irradiation, the cells of the garlic clove sprout buds are damaged and cell division is blocked, gradually developing into deformed sprouts that cannot form normal stems and roots and shrivel, with the sprout body turning brownish-red. According to observations, regardless of whether the garlic was treated early, mid-term, or late, most of it shows brown sprout buds (sprouts turning red) in early September. Based on this anatomical characteristic, the effectiveness of garlic irradiation treatment can be identified.

Because garlic irradiation inhibits sprouting, it is relatively tolerant of high temperatures and also tolerates low-temperature storage, so it can be stored in short-term piles in a cool, ventilated, and dry place. However, considering differences in natural conditions and long-term storage, a stack-house warehouse should be established. In the early stage, attention should be paid to moisture prevention, heat dissipation, and ventilation, and the stack house should be equipped with convection ventilation windows. Stacks should preferably be 6-8 bags high and 2 bags wide, with passages left between stacks and wooden boards laid at the bottom. Throughout the storage period, turn the stacks 1-2 times on sunny days to remove hot and humid air from within the stacks. In this way, it can be stored for about 6 months, and when it is taken out of storage around the Spring Festival the following year, it can still meet the hygienic standard requirements for irradiated garlic issued by the Ministry of Health of China. Irradiated garlic is guaranteed to have its inherent color and pungent flavor, with plump bulbs, no insect damage, no rot, no off-odor, and no sprouting.