Abstract
<jats:p>The aim of the project was to expand the range of garlic varieties suitable for cultivation in Austria. The project successfully demonstrated that biotechnological methods such as meristem culture are highly effective for virus elimination in garlic varieties. Meristem culture, combined with chemotherapy, proved to be an efficient method for virus removal, but success rates varied significantly between varieties. Acclimatization to outdoor conditions remains a challenge: varieties like Red Toch showed good propagation in vitro, but low survival rates. Varieties such as "Deutscher Porzellan", "Waldviertler Weingartenknoblauch," "Eibesbrunner Weingartenknoblauch", and "Striped Glacer" showed excellent results in all phases - from pathogen elimination to in vitro propagation and acclimatization. Targeted measures reduced the failure rate to 20-30%. Spring planting under protected conditions (raised beds, tunnels with aphid netting) led to vigorous plants and marketable bulbs after two generations. Multi-year acclimatization also showed progress and lays the foundation for stable crop development. The virus-free plants produced are a valuable basis for sustainable, regional seed garlic production in Austria. The results demonstrate that innovative propagation techniques offer a promising perspective for domestic garlic cultivation.</jats:p>