Mother Bulb Weight and Plant Density Influence on Seed Yield and Yield Attributes of Onion

Abstract

Bulb weight and plant density affect onion (Allium cepa L.) seed quality. A field experiment was conducted to investigate effects of bulb weight and plant density on yield and yield attributes of onion, cv. Taherpuri, seed. Bulbs with weights of 5 ± 2, 10 ± 2, and 15 ± 2 g, and plant densities of 100, 120, 133, 150, 160, and 200 plants/6 m2 were used to determine effects. Plant emergence, number of green leaves/plant, umbel diameter, number of flowers/umbel, seed yield/plant, seed yield/plot, and germination percentage were measured. Maximum umbel diameter (7.46 cm), number of flowers/umbel (371.39), number of seeded fruit/umbel (245.16), seed yield/plant (2.94 g), and highest seed germination (96.45%) were with 100 plants/6 m2 and highest seed yield/plot (286.00 g) was obtained at 200 plants/6 m2 when heaviest bulbs were used. The lowest seed yield/plant was when small bulbs were grown at a density of 200 plants/6 m2. For quality onion seed production, a heavy bulb established at the lowest plant density provided the best results.