Onion Plants Research Articles

Exploring The Antibacterial Potential of Aqueous and Ethanol Extracts from Bawang Dayak (Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr) Against Skin Infectious Bacteria Through KLT-Bioautography

Dayak onion plants (Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr) have chemical compounds that have potential as antibacterials such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolics, steroids and tannins. This study aims to determine the antibacterial activity of water extracts and ethanol extracts of dayak onion bulbs (Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr). This research was conducted with the stages of sample extraction, screening of test bacteria, bioautogram profile testing and antibacterial activity by KLT-Bioautography method. Screening test results at a concentration of 1% against test bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were able to inhibit the growth of test bacteria. Then continued with KLT-Bioautography testing using n-hexan: ethyl acetate (2: 1) eluent. The KLT-Bioautography test results showed that there was 1 active spot with an Rf value of 0.63 in the water extract and an Rf value of 0.60 in the ethanol extract against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria. Based on the research, water extract and ethanol extract of dayak onion bulb (Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr) have potential as antibacterial.Keywords: Antibacterial, KLT-Bioautography, Dayak Onion Bulbs

The tale of two Ions Na+ and Cl−: unraveling onion plant responses to varying salt treatments

BackgroundExploring the adaptive responses of onions (Allium cepa L.) to salinity reveals a critical challenge for this salt-sensitive crop. While previous studies have concentrated on the effects of sodium (Na+), this research highlights the substantial yet less-explored impact of chloride (Cl−) accumulation. Two onion varieties were subjected to treatments with different sodium and chloride containing salts to observe early metabolic responses without causing toxicity.ResultsThe initial effects of salinity on onions showed increased concentrations of both ions, with Cl− having a more pronounced impact on metabolic profiles than Na+. Onions initially adapt to salinity by first altering their organic acid concentrations, which are critical for essential functions such as energy production and stress response. The landrace Birnförmige exhibited more effective regulation of its Na+/K+ balance and a milder response to Cl− compared to the hybrid Hytech. Metabolic alterations were analyzed using advanced techniques, revealing specific responses in leaves and bulbs to Cl− accumulation, with significant changes observed in organic acids involved in the TCA cycle, such as fumaric acid, and succinic acid, in both varieties. Additionally, there was a variety-specific increase in ethanolamine in Birnförmige and lysine in Hytech in response to Cl− accumulation.ConclusionThis comprehensive study offers new insights into onion ion regulation and stress adaptation during the initial stages of salinity exposure, emphasizing the importance of considering both Na+ and Cl− when assessing plant responses to salinity.

Current state and open issues of priming onion seeds

Relevance. In the context of climate change, onion cultivation has become a challenge and innovative solutions are needed to support breeders and seed producers as well as farmers, starting with critical issues of seed quality. Seed priming successfully improves seed viability, which leads to rapid and uniform germination and emergence of onion seedlings.Results. Priming onion seeds can improve viability, especially under unfavorable conditions such as low/high temperatures, reduced water availability and salinity. It is a simple, low-cost and low-risk intervention that can be a useful technology for farmers and have a positive impact on their livelihoods by increasing the rate of seed germination, increasing the rate of plant development, reducing harvest time and increasing yields. Although this method is common for radish, tomato, carrot and cabbage seeds, this method is less popular for onions. This review provides an up-to-date picture of the scientific and technological advances that have contributed to increasing seed germination and vigor in onion plants to date. For large-scale commercial use, optimal priming methods and conditions tailored to different varieties or seed lots will require further extensive experimental work. It cannot be denied that seed priming technology is characterized by ease of operation, low cost and high practical value in industrial and market contexts. It can be foreseen that this technology will have wider prospects in agricultural production and green building. In addition, seed priming can effectively restore or enhance seed viability and ensure successful retention of germplasm resources and subsequent development, especially for onion seeds that rapidly lose viability.

Effect of KCl Fertilizer and Humic Acid to The Growth and Yields Of Spring Onion (Allium fistulosum L.)

The decrease in nutrients in the soil occurs due to leaching, which causes a reduction in the growth and quality of plant yields. Using KCl fertilizer and humic acid is one of the efforts to increase nutrients in the soil and plant growth and yield. This research was conducted in Seda Village, Mandirancan District, Kuningan Regency, from June to August 2024. The research method used was an experimental method with a complete randomized design (CRD), consisting of 16 treatments repeated 2 times. The observed variables consisted of the number of leaves, plant height, number of tillers, root volume, dry weight per cluster, relative growth rate, and fresh weight per cluster. The results of this study showed that the use of KCl fertilizer at a dose of 1.2 g/plant and 0 g/plant humic acid gave good growth and yield in spring onion plants.

Effect of Iron Nanoparticles Prepared from Onion Extract on Cucumber Plant Growth and Production

In recent years, it has been shown that the use of chemical fertilizers negatively affects the environment and public health. Nano fertilizer have been discovered and used, and one of their many advantages is the speed and ease of obtaining them from various plant sources, which are cheap and currently available it's friendly for environment. The field experiment was carried out in the spring season of 2021 in a mixture of salty clay (cohesive soil) for the purpose of studying the effect of spraying synthetic nanoparticles used from iron oxide particles with onion plant extract at concentrations of 100, 200 and 300 parts per million on the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus). The prepared nanoparticles were identified by the following assays: UV-visible spectrophotometry, XRD, FTIR, TEM, SEM and AFM. The results showed a significant effect of using Nano pesticides, especially with high concentration, in increasing average plant height, plant dry weight, leaf area and total plant yield. It was concluded from this study that the positive effect of Nano-fertilizer prepared with onion extract on plant growth, which led to an increase in cucumber productivity and the quality of its fruits, from that there is the possibility of using it as an alternative to conditional mineral fertilizers, after conducting several studies on the safety of using these plants treated with Nano-fertilizers for humans.

Enhancing chromium resistance and bulb quality in onion (Allium cepa L.) through copper nanoparticles and possible health risk

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic metal in soil–plant system, hence causing possible health risks prominently in the areas with forgoing industrial activities. Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) have been reported as an excellent adsorbent for pollutants. Therefore, this study investigates how copper nanoparticles enhance onion growth while decreasing chromium uptake in onion plants. Additionally, it examines the potential health risks of consuming onion plants with elevated chromium levels. The results demonstrated that the addition of CuNPs at 15 mg kg−1 significantly improved the plant height (48%), leaf length (37%), fresh weight of root (61%), root dry weight (70%), fresh weight of bulb (52%), bulb dry weight (59%), leaves fresh weight (52%) and dry weight of leaves (59%), leaf area (72%), number of onion leaves per plant (60%), Chl. a (42%), chl. b (36%), carotenoids (40%), total chlorophyll (40%), chlorophyll contents SPAD value (56%), relative water contents (35%), membrane stability index (16%), total sugars (25%), crude protein (21%), ascorbic acid (19%) and ash contents (64%) at 10 mg kg−1 Cr. Whereas, maximum decline of Cr by 46% in roots, 68% in leaves and 92% in bulb was found with application of 15 mg kg−1 of Cu NPs in onion plants under 10 mg kg−1 Cr toxicity. The health risk assessment parameters of onion plants showed minimum values 0.0028 for average daily intake (ADI), 0.001911 for Non-cancer risk (NCR), and 0.001433 for cancer risk (CR) in plants treated with Cu NPs at 15 mg kg−1 concentration grown in soil spiked with 10 mg kg−1 chromium. It is concluded that Cu NPs at 15 mg kg−1 concentration improved growth of plants in control as well as Cr contaminated soil. Therefore, use of Cu NPs at 15 mg kg−1 concentration is recommended for improving growth of plants under normal and metal contaminated soils.

Localization of Iris Yellow Spot Virus in Naturally Infected Onion Plants: A Sampling Approach for Reliable Diagnosis

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) from the genus Orthotospovirus of the family Tospoviridae can cause considerable yield reduction and crop loss in allium crops, especially dry bulb onion. While infected plants may or may not express symptoms of iris yellow spot disease, these onion plants can test negative for the virus because not all tissues contain detectable levels of IYSV due to its uneven distribution. The purpose of this study was to identify tissue locations of symptomatic onion plants that have the highest likelihood of testing positive for IYSV in DAS-ELISA using specific antibodies. Results revealed that the greatest likelihood of detecting IYSV from a single symptomatic plant occurred with tissue near foliar lesions located on the distal portions of older leaves (range: 42-71%). These low to moderate probability detection levels can predictably be overcome by testing pooled tissue samples from the same plant or from multiple plants. Indeed, the likelihood of distal and proximal youngest leaf tissue testing positive for IYSV from a single plant to a four-plant composite sample would increase from 44% to 90% and from 50% to 94%, respectively. Implications of these results for IYSV detection and surveillance in onion production systems are discussed.

PENGARUH KONSENTRASI PUPUK ORGANIK CAIR LIMBAH SAYUR TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKSI TANAMAN BAWANG DAUN BUNCHING (Allium fistulosum L.) DENGAN SISTEM SUMBU (WICK SYSTEM)

This research was conducted with the aim of knowing the effect of Effect of Liquid Organic Fertilizer Concentration of Vegetable Waste on the Growth and Production of Onion Bunching Plants (Allium fistulosum L.) With Hydroponic Axis System (Wick System). This study was conducted with the aim of knowing the effect of the best concentration of organic fertilizers in increasing the growth and production of Bunching Onion Plants (Allium fistulosum L.) with a Hydroponic System (Wick System). This research was conducted in Tamamaung Village, Panakukkang District, Makassar City. Which runs from March to June 2022. This study was prepared with a Complete Randomized Design (RAL) consisting of 1 factorial, namely liquid organic fertilizer (POC) and used 4 treatments, namely 10ml / liter of water, 20ml / liter of water, 30 ml / liter of water and 40 ml / liter of water. The parameters observed are 4, namely plant height, number of saplings, root length and fresh weight of the plant. The results showed that the application of various concentrations of liquid organic fertilizer to the growth and production of onion bunching plants had an influence on the parameters of plant height, number of saplings and fresh weight of plants. The concentration of 40ml/liter of water is best in increasing the growth and production of onion plants at plant height of 28.66 cm, the number of saplings is 23 saplings, the root length is 7 cm and the fresh weight of the plant is 39 grams.

APLIKASI DOSIS PUPUK ORGANIK CAIR (POC) LIMBAH KULIT BAWANG MERAH DAN KOMPOSISI MEDIA TANAM TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKSI TANAMAN CABAI RAWIT (Capsicum frutescens L.)

This study aims to determine the effect of onion peel POC and planting media composition on the growth and production of cayenne pepper. This study was conducted at the Greenhouse Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, Muslim University of Indonesia from June to September 2022. This study used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) two-factor factorial pattern. The first factor is the POC dose of shallot skin which consists of 4 levels, namely control, 200 ml/L, 250 ml/L 300 ml/L and the second factor is the composition of the growing media which consists of 4 levels, namely control, soil: compos: roasted husk = 1:1:1, soil: compost: burnt husk = 1:2:1, soil: compost: burnt husk = 2:1:2. So that 16 combinations were obtained, each combination was repeated 3 times so that 48 experimental units were obtained. The parameters of this study consisted of plant height, flowering start time, number of branches, fruit weight, and production per hectare. The results of the LOF administration of onion skin did not affect all the observation parameters. Planting media material showed that the application of soil:compost: roasted husk=2:1:2 had a very significant effect on plant height and had a significant effect on flowering age, planting fruit weight, and production tons/day. The interaction of onion peel LOF and the composition of the growing media did not give the best effect on all observation parameters.

Microbial Biostimulants and Seaweed Extract Synergistically Influence Seedling Growth and Morphology of Three Onion Cultivars

Onion (Allium cepa L.), a globally cultivated vegetable crop, possesses a shallow root system, making it vulnerable to abiotic stresses. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events in recent years necessitates sustainable solutions to enhance onion growth. Biostimulants offer a promising and accessible approach to promote onion growth and quality in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. This study investigated the effects of nine commercial microbial biostimulants (LALRISE Mycorrhizae, LALRISE Bacillus, Mighty Mycorrhizae, MycoApply, Spectrum DS, Spectrum Myco, Spectrum, Tribus Original, and Tribus Continuum) and one non-microbial commercial biostimulant (Kelpak—seaweed extract) on the seedling growth of three onion cultivars: Carta Blanca (white), Don Victoro (yellow), and Sofire (red). The results indicated that biostimulants did not significantly affect onion seed germination, but germination rates did vary among the onion cultivars. These cultivars also exhibited significant morphological and biomass differences, with principal component analysis revealing a more obvious effect on root growth compared to shoot growth. Kelpak seaweed extract increased the plant height, leaf area, and shoot fresh weight and dry weight of onion seedlings but decreased the root-to-shoot dry-weight ratio. The effects of microbial biostimulants on onion seedling growth depended on both the onion cultivar and Kelpak seaweed extract. In general, LALRISE Mycorrhizae, Mighty Mycorrhizae, Spectrum Myco, Spectrum DS, and Tribus Continuum exhibited positive effects on seedling growth in certain onion cultivars. Furthermore, the benefits of microbial biostimulants were amplified when combined with Kelpak seaweed extract application. These findings suggest a synergistic interaction between microbial and non-microbial biostimulants, leading to enhanced onion seedling growth. Further research is required to evaluate the long-term effects of these biostimulants on onion plant growth after transplanting to fields.

Development of a sequential sampling plan for classifying Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) populations in onion fields.

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, is a global pest of onion crops, causing substantial economic damage by diminishing bulb yields and transmitting plant pathogens. Insecticides are used to manage T. tabaci infestations with control decisions traditionally based on action thresholds that require visually counting thrips on a fixed, predetermined number of onion plants per field. However, this approach for treatment decisions is inefficient when thrips populations are well above or below the action threshold. The aim of this research was to develop a sequential sampling plan that would provide a rapid and reliable classification of thrips populations in commercial onion fields above or below prespecified management thresholds. The study was conducted in a total of 24 commercial onion fields in New York in 2021 and 2022. Taylor's power law and Wald's Sequential Probability Ratio Test were used in concert to develop each sampling plan. Simulated and historical field data of thrips populations were used to further validate the efficacy of each sampling plan. Results demonstrated the sequential sampling plan required an average of 78% fewer samples to make a control decision compared with the traditional fixed-sampling approach. Treatment decisions were reached in 72% of cases after inspecting only 10 plants, while only 6% of the cases required examining more than 25 plants. Comparisons with fixed-sample sizes ranging from 23 to 68 plants revealed a 96% agreement in decision-making and a 78% reduction in sampling effort when using the sequential sampling plans.

Onion‐pathogenic Burkholderia species: Role and regulation of characterized virulence determinants

AbstractMembers of the bacterial genus Burkholderia are a routine threat to onion production worldwide. In addition to the common onion‐pathogenic species, Burkholderia cepacia, Burkholderia orbicola and Burkholderia gladioli, other Burkholderia species have the potential to cause onion disease. Despite their impacts and long‐known association with onion disease, the virulence mechanisms of onion‐pathogenic Burkholderia are far less well understood than Burkholderia in human and murine infection models. In this review, we will focus on genetically characterized virulence factors in species that contribute to symptom production in onion and other plant hosts. Specifically, we will focus on the variable roles of specialized protein secretion systems (T2SS, T3SS and T4SS) and secreted proteins, thiosulphinate tolerance gene (TTG) clusters and the well‐characterized phytotoxin toxoflavin in virulence. The regulation and roles of LuxI/LuxS quorum‐sensing system and IclR‐type transcriptional regulator, qsmR, as master regulators of secondary metabolite production and virulence factors will also be discussed. The TTG clusters, involved in bacterial tolerance to thiosulphinate defence compounds, exhibit onion tissue‐specific contributions to virulence. This suggests that Burkholderia onion pathogens have tissue‐specific virulence strategies for causing disease.

First Report of Erwinia aphidicola Causing Bulb Rot of Onion in Chile.

During the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons (December to February), onion plants (Allium cepa L.) showing decay, leaf blight, chlorosis and water soak lesions were collected in Central Chile. Five symptomatic plants were sampled from 20 different onion fields. Brown rot of the external scales was observed in bulbs from two fields: one planted with the cv. Campero (20 ha; O'Higgins Region), and another with cv. Marenge (2 ha; Metropolitan Region). The disease incidence in these fields ranged from 2% to 5%. Isolations were carried out from symptomatic leaves and bulbs from these fields on King's B medium, resulting in small white colonies with smooth margin. Three isolates were selected, two from first field (QCJ3A & QCJ2B), and one from second field (EPB1). A preliminary identification based on 16S rRNA sequences was conducted. BLAST analyses of strains QCJ3A, QCJ2B and EPB1 (GenBank Accession No. PP345601 to PP345603) against the NCBI Database resulted in a match with strains (GenBank Accession No. ON255770.1 and ON255825.1) isolated from infected bulbs in Texas, USA identified as Erwinia spp. (Khanal et al. 2023), with 100% coverage and 100% identity (707 bp out of 707). To evaluate the pathogenicity of these three strains, onion bulbs were inoculated (Guajardo et al. 2023). Toothpicks previously immersed in a bacterial suspension at ~ 108 colony forming units (CFU)/mL were pricked at a 4 cm depth into the shoulders of onion bulbs bought from commercial store and incubated at room temperature. Bulbs inoculated with sterile water served as negative control. A known onion bulb rotting bacterial strain of Dickeya sp. was used as a positive control. At the end of the incubation period (20 days), bulbs were opened longitudinally across their inoculation site, showing that the external scales had a brown color. Negative control remained asymptomatic. Strains were re-isolated from damaged tissue and identified as Erwinia sp. This assay was repeated three times with the same results. For further identification, genomic DNA extraction was carried out using the Blood & Cell Culture DNA Kit (Qiagen), and genome sequencing was performed in the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. The Whole Genome Shotgun project for strains QCJ3A, QCJ2B and EPB1 have been deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under the accession JBANEI010000000, JBANEJ010000000 and JBANEK010000000. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values were 99.6% (EPB1), 98.2% (QCJ2B), and 99.6% (QCJ3A) and DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were 96.9% (EPB1), 83.7% (QCJ2B), and 97.1% (QCJ3A), when compared with the type strain Erwinia aphidicola JCM 21238 (GenBank accession No. GCF_014773485.1). The three strains were deposited in the Chilean Collection of Microbial Genetic Resources (CChRGM). Erwinia aphidicola has been previously described causing diseases in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and pea (Pisum sativum), in Spain (Santos et al. 2009) and in pepper (Capsicum annuum) in China (Luo et al. 2018). Its close relative E. persicina has been reported causing bulb rot in onion in Korea (Cho et al. 2019) and garlic in Europe (Galvez et al. 2015). To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. aphidicola causing a bulb rot of onion in Chile. Although the distribution and prevalence of this bacterium in Chilean agroecosystems is not known, it can be a potential cause of losses in onions and other crops such as beans, peas, and peppers. Additional studies should be conducted to determine the host range of Chilean Erwinia aphidicola strains.

Impacts of Calcium Cyanamide Application as a Nitrogen Source on Growth, Yield, Quality, and Storage Durability of Short-day Onion

Rapid leaching of soluble nitrogen (N) sources in soil poses a significant challenge in agricultural practices. Therefore, gaining a comprehensive understanding of crop responses to slow-release N application rates has become crucial to contributing valuable insights to optimize N management strategies in agriculture. A field study was conducted to investigate the influence of preplant calcium cyanamide fertilizer on the growth, yield, quality, and shelf life of short-day onion. Six levels of calcium cyanamide (CaCN2, 19.8% N), 0, 90, 120, 200, 400, and 600 kg⋅ha−1 CaCN2, which are equivalent to 0, 17.82, 23.76, 39.6, 79.2, and 118.8 kg⋅ha−1 N, respectively, replicated four times were broadcasted and incorporated into the top 5 to 10 cm of soil. Using 400 kg⋅ha−1 of CaCN2 yielded noteworthy improvements in various parameters of onion growth, such as plant height, leaf count, bulb weight per plant, bulb diameter, bulb length, and overall plant weight, as indicated by the study results. The application of different levels of CaCN2 as an N source exerted a significant influence on these growth factors. Moreover, the study revealed a direct correlation between CaCN2 application levels and the storage life of onions. Specifically, the findings demonstrated that the application of 400 kg⋅ha−1 CaCN2 resulted in enhanced yield and overall onion plant growth. However, the application of 600 kg⋅ha−1 CaCN2 increased the incidences of bulb weight loss, rots, and sprouting during the 8-week storage period at room temperature. These findings provide valuable insights for onion investors and farmers in the region and offer practical recommendations for optimizing fertilizer use and storage practices to improve onion production and minimize postharvest losses.

Effectiveness of onion germplasm, fungicides, and plant extracts in managing purple blotch disease of onion

In the present study conducted at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, ten specific onion lines were evaluated for disease resistance against purple leaf blotch. The variety Phulkara emerged as the top performer with the lowest disease incidence of 6.57% and an AUDPC value of 55.67, indicating resistance to this disease. Various fungicides demonstrated differing effects on disease management. Copper hydroxide proved to be the most effective at 0.10%, reducing disease incidence from 17.59% in the first spray to 12.70% in the third. The second-best fungicide was trifloxystrobin 25% + tebuconazole, which reduced disease incidence from 67.51% in the first spray to 61.67% in the third compared to the control. Among all plant extracts, three sprays of Nicotiana tabacum extract at S/50, S/25, and S/15 proved to be most effective, reducing disease incidence from 43.51% to 35.59%. Similarly, Moringa oleifera extract reduced disease incidence from 42.61% to 35.70% compared to the control. These findings suggest that the onion variety Phulkara, copper hydroxide fungicide at a concentration of 0.10%, and extracts of N. tabacum and M. oleifera exhibit promising potential in managing purple leaf blotch disease in onions. However, further studies are necessary to corroborate these results and to fully understand the biological and chemical implications of their usage.

Biophotons: A Hard Problem

About a hundred years ago, the Russian biologist A. Gurwitsch, based on experiments with onion plants by measuring their growth rate, hypothesized that plants emit a weak electromagnetic field that somehow influences cell growth. This interesting observation remained fundamentally ignored by the scientific community; only in the 1950s the electromagnetic emission from some plants was measured using a photomultiplier used in single counting mode. Later, in the 1980s, several groups around the world started extensive work to understand the origin and role of this ultraweak emission, now called biophotons, coming from living organisms. Biophotons are an endogenous very small production of photons in the visible energy range in and from cells and organisms, and this emission is characteristic of living organisms. Today, there is no doubt that biophotons exist, this emission has been measured by many groups and for many different living organisms, from humans to bacteria. However, the origin of biophotons and whether organisms use them to exchange information is not yet well understood; no model proposed to date is capable of reproducing and interpreting the great variety of experimental data coming from the many different living systems measured so far. In this brief review, we present our experimental work on the biophotons coming from germinating seeds, the main experimental results, and some new methods we are using to analyze the data to open the door for interpretative models of this phenomenon clarifying its function in the regulation and communication between cells and living organisms. We also discuss ideas on how to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the measured signal to open up new experimental possibilities that allow the measurement and the characterization of currently unmeasurable quantities.

Effectiveness of some plant extracts in biocontrol of induced onion basal rot disease in greenhouse conditions

One of Egypt’s most notable and historically significant vegetable crops is the Liliaceae plant, Allium cepa L. In this study, the effectiveness of methanolic extracts of Artemisia absinthium leaves, Calotropis procera latex, Moringa oleifera seeds, and Syzygium aromaticum clove was investigated in vitro and, in a greenhouse, setting against Fusarium oxysporum, the pathogen that causes onion basal rot in Assiut Governorate, Egypt. The S. aromaticum extract exhibited the inhibition peak (63.3%), whereas the A. absinthium extract had the lowest inhibition impact against F. oxysporum growth (41.1%). The gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis revealed that 82 important compounds, with abundances ranging from low to high, were present in the tested S. aromaticum’s methanolic extract. The primary components were acetaldehyde, hydroxy- and 2-propanone, 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-(42.71%), 1,2-ethanediol, and methyl alcohol (34.01%). In comparison to the infected control, the disease severity was significantly reduced by 20% with the use of a plant extracts mixture and Dovex 50% and increased by 62.22% with the use of an extract from A. absinthium. When compared to the infected control, onion plant fresh weight and dry weight were considerably higher under the clove extract therapy. The plant extracts used in this study’s testing contain a number of active ingredients, including amino acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes, which is probably why they have such positive impacts. The application of a combination of plant extracts was suggested as a feasible strategy for improving the growth and productivity of onion plants by the study’s findings. More research is needed to comprehend the mechanisms by which plant extracts promote plant development and to optimize the concentration and timing of administration.

Identifying and Controlling Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum Taxa of Welsh Onion in Sanxing, Taiwan.

Leaves of Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) are subject to various fungal diseases such as anthracnose (Colletotrichum species) and Stemphylium leaf blight (Stemphylium vesicarium). These diseases are the main biotic limitations to Welsh onion production in northern Taiwan. From 2018 to 2020, anthracnose symptoms were observed throughout Welsh onion fields in northern Taiwan, mainly the Sanxing area. In total, 33 strains of Colletotrichum species were isolated from diseased leaves, and major causative agents were identified based on a multilocus phylogenetic analysis using four genomic regions (act, tub2, gapdh, and internal transcribed spacer). Based on this phylogeny, Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose of Welsh onion were identified as C. spaethianum (C. spaethianum species complex) and C. circinans (C. dematium species complex) in the Sanxing area, northern Taiwan. To determine and compare the pathogenicity of each species, representative fungal strains of each species were inoculated on the cultivar 'Siao-Lyu' by spraying spore suspension onto the leaf surface. Welsh onion plants were susceptible to both species, but disease incidence and severity were higher in C. spaethianum. In total, 31 fungicides were tested to determine their efficacy in reducing mycelial growth and conidial germination of representative strains of C. spaethianum and C. circinans under laboratory conditions. Five fungicides-fluazinam, metiram, mancozeb, thiram, and dithianon-effectively reduced mycelial growth and spore germination in both C. spaethianum and C. circinans. In contrast, difenoconazole and trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole, which are commonly used in Welsh onion production in northern Taiwan, mainly the Sanxing area, were ineffective. These results serve as valuable insights for growers, enabling them to identify and address the emergence of anthracnose caused by C. spaethianum and C. circinans of Welsh onion, employing fungicides with diverse modes of action. The findings of this study support sustainable management of anthracnose in Sanxing, northern Taiwan, although further field tests of the fungicides are warranted.

Foliar application of Boron, Calcium, and Indole-3-butyric acid on onion plants to improve seed production

Onion is the third most important cultivated vegetable crop around the world. Two types of varieties are cultivated: Open pollinated cultivars (OP) and first generation hybrids (F1). Little is known about the effects of foliar applications on onion seed production. This study was conducted to evaluate the enhancement of onion seed yield and seed quality through foliar applications of Boron (B), Calcium (Ca), and an auxin, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Male-sterile lines (MSL), and OP planted in pots and open field conditions were used over four seasons. The experiments were carried out with different levels of nutrients and IBA applied to the plants. Our results showed that foliar applications of nutrients and plant growth regulators were effective methods to improve onion seed yield and the number of seed per fruit, while seed quality parameters remained stable. The seed yield was enhanced by B by up to 83 %, but with an increasingly wide variability in comparison to the control. Indole-3-butyric acid improved yields when it was applied alone and mixed with B and Ca (40–45 % for OP and MSL, respectively) compared to the control. Therefore, foliar application of IBA, B and Ca could be effective in improving onion seed yields.

Ecoenzyme Potential as Biostimulant against Germination of Shallots of Seed Origin (TSS) (Allium ascalonicum L.)

Ecoenzymes are the result of fermentation of organic matter waste such as vegetable waste or abundant fruits such as citrus fruit peels, pineapple peels and banana peels. Some of the functions of ecoenzymes are as a solution for floor cleaning, disinfectants, vegetable and fruit cleaners, pest control, plant pathogen control, and plant fertilizers. True shallot Seed (TSS) is an alternative onion plant material in the form of seeds. The use of onion botanical seeds is one of the potential technology alternatives developed to obtain quality onion seeds. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of ecoenzyme application as a seed germination booster through seed soaking method using 3 (three) types of ecoenzyme liquid with a solution concentration of 5.0 ml / L water. The results showed that the application of ecoenzymes was able to increase the germination of TSS seeds compared to controls. Ecoenzymes from orange peels produce the highest percentage of germination compared to ecoenzymes from banana peels and pineapple peels.