Recent Advances in Molecular Genetics of Onion

Abstract

Onion is an important vegetable crop because it adds nutritional value and diversity to food preparation. Understanding recent advancements in onion molecular genetics is essential to improve production, quality, and disease resistance. Cutting-edge genomic technologies like genetic mapping and RNA sequencing reveal important genes and pathways. The review examines the progress in utilizing various molecular markers to study genetic divergence. The exploration extends to understanding the genes and pathways responsible for bulb color and chemical composition and the genetic factors influencing bulbing, flowering, and vernalization. Additionally, the article explores quantitative trait loci associated with resistance to major damaging diseases and delves into the role of different loci in male sterility and hybrid development. The recent publication of the whole genome sequence of onions will lead to further identification of genes and understanding their roles and functions in metabolic pathways.