Onion Production Research Articles

Effects of Priming on Onion Seed Germination and Field Performance during Summer Sowing

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the suitable to priming treatments on seed germination, bulb production and quality of onion.
 Study Design: The experiment was set up in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications.
 Place and Duration of the Study: The experiment was conducted in Horticulture farm at Sher-e Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from April to October 2021.
 Methodology: Seeds were immersed in each priming media for 12 and 24 hours, including distilled water, IAA (100 ppm), KCl (2.5%), and PEG-6000 (10%). The treatments were consisted of T1 (water 12 hr)), T2 (water 24 hr), T3 (PEG 12 hr), T4 (PEG 24 hr), T5 (IAA 12 hr), T6 (IAA 24 hr), T7 (KCl 12 hr) and T8 (KCl 24 hr).
 Results: The maximum germination percentage (93%), plant height (25.93 cm), total chlorophyll (28.47 mg/g) of onion leaves, bulb yield (19.96 t/ha), total soluble solid (14.05 °Brix), reducing sugar (7.41%), and phenolic content (11.12 mg/100 g) of onion bulbs were recorded in the T3 treatment. However, the maximum fresh leaves/plant at bulb formation stage (3.73) and ascorbic acid content of onion bulb (7.20 mg/100 g) was recorded in T4 treatment.
 Conclusion: It can be concluded that seed priming with PEG6000 (10%) for 12 hours improved growth, yield, and quality compared to other priming treatments.

Selection of Suitable Date of Transplanting for Year Round Production of Onion (Allium cepa L.) cv Agrifound Dark Red

Round the year onion production is an important issue to challenge the price fluctuation during different time of year and different location of the country. The present experiment was conducted at sub-tropical region of Uttar Pradesh during early kharif, kharif and late kharif season of 2021-22 and 2022-23 to find out the optimum date of transplanting and choice of suitable planting condition (raised and flat bed) for Agrifound Dark Red cultivar of onion for off-season production. The experiment consisted of nine dates of transplanting (1st day of April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December). Based on two years data of experiment which was laid out in two Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications, results indicated that transplanting on 1st October showed maximum vegetative growth in terms of plant height (66.23 cm), number of leaves per plant (13.32), length of leaf (65.85 cm) was observed in plants when transplanted on 1st November (D8) at 120 days after transplanting (DAT). However, maximum neck thickness (21.92 mm) was recorded in 1st October transplanting, but the change was non-significant. The harvesting days might be early when transplanting was done on 1st July (D4) and October transplanting (D7) caused late harvesting as compared to others. It indicated that 1st October transplanting produced more bulb yield (347.76 q/ha) followed by 1st November transplanting. Among the two conditions, raised bed (B1) showed the better performance in respect of growth and yield specially in kharif season production. Therefore, it may be concluded that Agrifound Dark Red variety may be transplanted on 1st October to get maximum production in central Uttar Pradesh which may be beneficial for increasing farmers’ income.

Probing Anticancer Molecules from Onion Peels Waste; First Synthesis and Biological Studies of a Rare Quercetin Derivative-Pachypodol

Background: The constant increase in global onion production escalates the generation of onion peel waste. For instance, globally, >50 lakh tons of onion waste are generated annually. Methods: Its objectionable odor precludes its use in agriculture or disposal as landfilling presents environmental issues. Previous studies show that two major flavonoids, quercetin and its glycosides (spiraeoside), have been identified in abundance in onion waste. By utilizing the spiraeoside (quercetin-4ʹ-glucoside), a rapid synthesis of pachypodol (quercetin-3,3′,7-trimethyl ether, and a rare flavonol), an essential Ayurvedic product, has been developed and achieved. Pachypodol and analogs were studied for their ability to inhibit matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP-2 & 9) activity. Amongst the compounds tested, pachypodol significantly inhibited MMP-2 activity. Results: In-silico docking studies suggest that, unlike most known MMP inhibitors, pachypodol interacts selectively with MMP-2 through the residues Ile222, Tyr223, and Thr227 in a zincindependent manner. Conclusion: The experimental studies also prove that pachypodol inhibits the MMP-2 enzyme in a zinc-independent way.

Onion (Allium cepa L.) and Drought: Current Situation and Perspectives.

Onions (Allium cepa L.) are the second most commonly produced and consumed vegetable worldwide due to their economic, nutritional, and medicinal benefits. However, drought hinders vegetative growth, lowers yields and bulb quality, reduces photosynthetic activity, and alters the onion plant's metabolism. This review provides a summary of global research on the impact of drought on onions. It specifically seeks to shed light on aspects that remain unclear and generate research avenues. Relevant scientific articles were sourced from the AGORA database, Web of Science (WoS), and search engines such as Google Scholar, Scopus, MEDLINE/PubMed, and SCImago to achieve this objective. A total of 117 scientific articles and documents related to onion and drought were critically examined. The review revealed agromorphological, physiological, biochemical, and genomic studies depicting factors that contribute to drought tolerance in onion genotypes. However, there was little research on the physiological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics of drought tolerance in onions, which need to be deepened to establish its adaptation mechanisms. Understanding the mechanisms of onion response to water stress will contribute to fast-tracking the development of drought-tolerant genotypes and optimize onion production. Future research should be more focused on investigating onion drought tolerance mechanisms and structural and functional genomics and identifying genes responsible for onion drought tolerance.

Productivity of onion depending on the seeding fraction and feeding with water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers

The productivity of agricultural crops is determined by the choice of varieties, planting material, the optimal time of sowing and planting depending on the climatic conditions of the region, the use of organic and mineral fertilizers, and care methods. Planting material plays an important role in the growth and development of onions and the formation of yield. Onions are very demanding in terms of nutrition, this is due to the length of the growing season, growth rates and poorly developed root system. To obtain high and high-quality onion yields, it is necessary to use fertilizers in an accessible form. Water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers quickly and evenly penetrate deep into the soil. Fertilizers improve the growth and development of plants, regulating nutrition processes, increase the yield and quality of the resulting products. As a result of many years of research, it was found that optimizing the mineral nutrition of onions through the use of fertilizers in active form provides a significant increase in the yield of onions. A comparative assessment of the productivity of onions when grown from sets of different fractions using water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers in the conditions of the Udmurt Republic has been little studied.Materials and methods. The purpose of the research: to improve the technology of cultivating onions depending on the fraction of the set and fertilizing with water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers. In 2020–2021 On onions of the Stuttgarter Riesen variety, a two-factor experiment was carried out to study the effect of fertilizing with Aquarin and Rastvorin fertilizers when using different fractions of sets for planting. The studies were carried out using generally accepted methods.Results and its discussion. In the Udmurt Republic, the optimal for planting Stuttgarten Riesen onions is the medium and large fraction of the set, and the positive effect of water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers Aquarin and Rastvorin on the yield and its structure has been revealed. However, it is more economically profitable to use the fine fraction of sets when growing onions.

Unlocking the Secrets of the Onion Genome: A Path to Sustainable Onion Production

Onion is a vegetable plant with high nutritional and biological value, which is why it is an essential food in the human diet. The annual production of onions in Serbia is about 30 thousand tons, with an increasing tendency to grow. A similar trend is observed worldwide, bearing in mind that every year, it is necessary to produce about 800,000 tons more onions to match the production with the increase in the global population of people on planet Earth.

Does chitosan affect bulb yield and quality of sweet onion (Allium cepa L.)?

ABSTRACT Chitosan, a polymer derived from shellfish, may enhance plant health and have antimicrobial properties. Effects of chitosan applications to sweet onion (Allium cepa L.) in the field on bulb yield and quality were evaluated. The study was conducted in Tifton (sandy loam) and Reidsville (loamy sand), GA, during the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 winter seasons (Dec. to May). “Century” sweet onion seedlings were transplanted to beds (1.8-m centers) in mid-December. Treatments were chitosan (117 mg·L−1) applied before transplanting plus monthly applications at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 months after transplanting, and an untreated control (water). Harvested bulbs were stored for 3 mo [2.0°C, 80% RH, 0.586 kPa of vapor pressure deficit, 4% CO2, and 10% O2]. Chitosan did not affect bulb marketable and total number and weight, individual bulb weight, and incidence of bulb sour skin (caused by Burkholderia cepacia). Immediately after harvest, chitosan did not influence bulb dry matter, soluble solids concentration, pungency, and total phenols concentration. However, after 3 months of storage, bulb SSC and total phenols decreased, and bulb dry matter and pungency increased. In conclusion, chitosan applications before and during sweet onion production did not affect marketable or total bulb yield, bulb sour skin incidence, or bulb chemical composition.

Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate and Timing on Short-day Onion Production

Onions (Allium cepa) are typically planted late fall and harvested in spring in the Vidalia, GA, USA, region. Onions grown here are renowned for their for sweetness and are marketed to consumers as Vidalia onions. High rainfall during the relatively long growing season (4 to 5 months) may result in nitrogen (N) leaching during production. Therefore, fertilizer applications are usually aligned with stages of crop development to ensure nutrient availability for the entire season. Although the impacts of N application rate have been previously investigated for Vidalia onion production, the optimal timing for the final N application of the season has not been determined. The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal timing of the last fertilizer N application (at bulb initiation, during bulb growth, or during bulb maturation) in conjunction with the impact of three N application rates (75, 105, and 135 lb/acre N) on yield and quality in Vidalia onion. Soil N levels were affected by N rate, year, and onion growth stage. In 2020, up to 135 lb/acre N was required to maximize onion yields, and in 2021, onion yields were unchanged among N fertilizer treatments. Final N applications at bulb initiation resulted in greater yields than applications made during bulb growth or bulb maturation. In addition, as the N rate increased and the time of final application occurred later in bulb development, pungency values increased. Incidence of sour skin (Burkholderia cepacia) and center rot (Pantoea sp.) diseases were greater in 2020 compared with 2021 and seemed to be affected by environmental conditions more than N fertilization.

Changes in the expression of COI1, TIR1, and ERF1 genes and respective MiRNAs in Fusarium basal Rot-Stressed onion

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae (FOC), as basal rot fungus, is the most detrimental pathogen causing a serious threat to onion productivity in the world. In this study, we first determined FOC tolerance in seven Iranian onion cultivars, two known international onions (Texas Early Grano and Sweet Yellow Spanish), and an Allium species related to the onion (Allium asarence) based on the infection severity. Then, a transcriptional screen was performed by comparing the transcript levels of some pathogen-responsive genes (ERF1, COI1, and TIR1) and their predicted miRNAs in the sensitive (Ghermeze Azarshahr Cv.) and the resistant (A. asarence) onions to determine key genes and their miRNAs involved in the defense responses of onions to FOC. From our results, a difference was found in the COI1 and ERF1 expression 48 h after inoculation with FOC as compared to the respective 24 and 72 h. It can be explained by either special mechanisms involved in raising energy consumption efficiency or the interactive effects of other genes in the jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET) signaling pathways. Moreover, expression analysis of the pathogen-responsive genes and their targeting miRNAs identified the miR-5629, which targets the COI1 gene as a likely key factor in conferring resistance in the FOC-resistant onion, i.e., A. asarence. However, exploring the function of the miRNA/target pair is highly recommended to deeply understand the effect of the miRNA/target pair-associated pathway in the control of A. asarense-FOC interaction.

Sequential herbicide application coupled with mulch enhances the productivity and quality of winter onion (Allium cepa L.) while effectively controlling the mixed weed flora

Weed control poses substantial difficulties for winter season onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivation in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains, primarily due to the constrained efficacy of the existing herbicides. To address this issue, a 2-year field study was conducted to assess the efficacy of pre- and post-emergence herbicides (pendimethalin, ethoxysulfuron, imazethapyr, and quizalofop-p-ethyl) individually and in combination with crop residue mulch for weed control in winter onion. The results revealed that using herbicides or mulches in isolation did not provide satisfactory weed control. However, the integration of natural mulch with pendimethalin followed by quizalofop-p-ethyl application proved to be the most effective weed control strategy, resulting in the least reduction in bulb yield (10.3%) compared to other treatments. On the contrary, combinations of pendimethalin with ethoxysulfuron or imazethapyr showed adverse effects on the onion crop and inflicted the highest yield losses among all treatments (78.6 and 83.4%, respectively). However, the combination of pendimethalin with quizalofop-p-ethyl coupled with crop mulch resulted in season-long weed control and over 80% bulb yield (36.58 t/ha) gains compared to the weed-free condition. These findings emphasize the efficacy of combining herbicides and mulches as an integrated weed management strategy for onions. By adopting such integrated approaches, farmers could improve weed control while maintaining bulb yield and quality, reducing the risks associated with herbicide resistance, and promoting sustainable onion production in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Marketing management of onion seed production

The present study titled ‘Marketing management of onion seed production’ is based on a sample of 90 onion seed growers drawn from Shrigonda, Parner and Nagar tehsils of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. The primary data was collected through a survey and pretested questionnaire for the agriculture year 2021–22. The analysis was completed using data gathered from market intermediaries by calculating marketing cost, marketing margin, marketing efficiency, price spread and producer’s share in consumer rupee. Production and disposal patterns of onion seed showed that 90.43 per cent of the produce was marketed. The total amount of onion seed available for sale was 255.18 kg, with 191.54 kg of onion seed sold through channel I, this included Producer  Consumer and was the most efficient method for onion seed distribution. Channel II, included Producer  Wholesaler Retailer  Consumer and accounted the sale of 63.64 kg of total onion seed production. The marketing cost for channel-II was 10.60 per kg followed by channel-I 1.09 per kg. The average per kg price spread for onion seed was 1.09 and 606.37 for Channel I and Channel II, respectively. The marketing efficiency for channel II was 3.

Study on Italian Onion Cultivars/Ecotypes towards Onion Yellow Dwarf Virus (OYDV) Infection

The onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) represents a limiting biotic stress in onion (Allium cepa L.); little information is available regarding resistant varieties. In Italy, onion production is limited but represented by a wide diversity of ecotypes. A two-year trial was carried out to test the OYDV-susceptibility/tolerance of different Italian onion cultivars by rating symptom severity and plant growth parameters and assessing post-harvest secondary infections. The cultivar and ecotypes included in the study were characterized by simple sequence repeats (SSR) analysis, and the expression analysis of two genes (Eukaryotic translation initiation factors, EIFs) involved in potyvirus replication was also performed. Two susceptible and one tolerant cultivar were identified based on symptom expression and virus impact on plants. Although differences in growth parameters were limited to the first-year trial, the infection was correlated to a higher incidence of secondary infections in post-harvest, with altered water balance in infected bulbs. This correlation was also demonstrated during the long-term storage of bulbs. SSR analysis identified different clusters and only one gene isoform (EIF4eiso1) showed different expression levels in the OYDV/onion pathosystem. In conclusion, this study defines the genetic profile of Italian onion cultivars and provides evidence on susceptibility/tolerance features which will be useful in the future for the identification of viral resistance traits in onion.

Increasing Red Onion Plant (Allium ascalonicum L) Growth and Production by Providing Cascing and NPK 16.16.16. Fertilizer

Riau Province relies on other regions, such as North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Java, for its needs. However, when natural disasters occur, or transportation disruptions happen from the sources of onion production, the price of shallots in the market increases. To reduce Riau companies' dependency on this raw material, it is necessary to develop shallot plants using optimal cultivation techniques to maximize growth and production. This research was conducted at the Experimental Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Pasir Pengaraian University, Rokan Hulu Regency, for three months from May 2022 to July 2022. The research utilized a completely randomized factorial design with two factors. The first factor involved the application of Vermicompost Fertilizer, with four treatment levels: 0. 200. 400. and 600 g/plot. The second factor involved the application of NPK 16.16.16 fertilizer with four treatment levels: 0. 10. 20. and 30 g/plot. The parameters observed included plant height, harvest age, number of tubers per cluster, tuber weight per bulb, wet tuber weight per cluster, dry tuber weight, and percentage of tuber weight loss. The research results indicated that the interaction between vermicompost fertilizer and NPK 16.16.16 fertilizer had a significant impact on plant height, harvest age, number of tubers per cluster, number of tubers per tuber, wet tuber weight per cluster, and dry tuber weight per cluster. The best treatment was a combination of Vermicompost 600 g/plot and NPK 16.16.16 30 g/plot. The main effect of the Vermicompost Fertilizer application was significant for all observation parameters, and the main effect of NPK 16.16.16 also had a significant impact on all observation parameters.

First Report of Stemphylium vesicarium Causing Onion Stemphylium Leaf Blight in Mauritius.

In August 2021, severe leaf blight symptoms were observed on onion (Allium cepa L. cvs Francia and Askari F1 hybrid) in commercial fields located in Mauritius, namely La Forêt (20°19'56.1"S57°30'04.9"E), St Aubin (20°29'47.0"S57°32'29.4"E) and Chapiron (20°20'46.8"S 57°29'12.8"E). Infected leaves displayed small circular to oblong yellow-pale-brown and spindle shaped lesions which later coalesced and formed necrotic areas with black sporulation. Three fields were selected from each region, and along a W-pattern across the fields a disease incidence ranging 53-93% and a severity of 9-28% were recorded. Ten symptomatic leaves were collected in each region and small pieces of infected tissue were surface disinfected using 1% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed with sterile distilled water, air-dried, transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated for 7 days at 20°C under a 12-h light/dark cycle. Fungal cultures with uniform appearance forming multi-septated conidia typical of the genus Stemphylium (Simmons 1969) were consistently isolated. Monosporic colony of isolates SVCWLF24/3, SVSSA23/1 and SVCWLMC26/1 developed similar olivaceous green to light and dark grey mycelium with an average daily growth rate of 6.5 mm at 25°C in the dark. Conidiophores were straight, light brown with a distinct swollen apex on which olive brown to dark brown, oblong to ovoid, septate conidia formed with dimensions 16.2-44.7 × 8.0-22.9 μm (av. 29.5 x 14.7 μm; n = 50) typical of Stemphylium vesicarium (Wallr) E.G. Simmons 1969 (Woudenberg et al. 2017). Genomic DNA of the three isolates was extracted from fungal mycelium (Ranghoo and Hyde 2000).. The ITS, cmdA and gapdh genes of the isolates were amplified with primers ITS4/ITS5 (White et al. 1990), CALDF1/CALDR1 (Lawrence et al. 2013) and Gpd1/Gpd2 (Beerbee et al. 1999) and sequenced. Sequences were submitted to GenBank under accession numbers OR131271, ON620213, OR188702 (ITS), OR350623, OR350622, OR166368 (cmdA) and OR684516, OR684517, OR684518 (Gapdh). The BLAST search of the sequences showed 100% similarity with S. vesicarium strain CBS 155.24 under accession numbers KU850555 (ITS), KU850702 (Gapdh) and KU850845 (cmdA) (Woudenberg et al. 2017). Phylogenetic trees inferred from the ITS, cmdA and Gapdh concatenated datasets with the maximum-likelihood algorithm allowed clustering of the isolates within S. vesicarium clade, confirming the morphological identification. Pathogenicity tests were performed using all three isolates, cultured on PDA at 25°C in a 12-h dark/light cycle. Ten 60-day-old onion plants (cv. Francia) were spray inoculated each with 10 ml of conidial suspension (1 × 104/ml) of each isolate while 10 healthy plants sprayed with sterile distilled water served as control. They were incubated in a greenhouse at 25°C with a 12-h photoperiod and > 80% humidity. Necrotic circular lesions appeared on leaves after 7-10 days while control plants remained symptomless. Re-isolations made from symptomatic leaf tissues on PDA consistently yielded cultures with similar morphology as the original isolates, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. This is the first report of S. vesicarium as the causal agent of leaf blight of onion in Mauritius. It is a re-emerging fungal disease (Hay et al. 2021) with a wide host range threatening local onion production. This finding will contribute to early detection of leaf blight, implementation of surveillance and integrated disease management in affected regions.

Factors affecting onion production: An empirical study in the Raya Kobo district, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia.

Onion is a vital vegetable crop in Ethiopia, with significant economic and health benefits. However, its production trend is not consistent, with periods of increase and decrease; and its productivity in the country falls far below its potential. As a result, farmers are not yet fully benefited from onion production. Thus, this study was initiated to identify the factors influencing onion production in the Raya Kobo District of Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. Data was collected from 189 onion-producing farmers through household surveys, and both descriptive and econometric techniques were used for analysis. The study found significant variation in onion production among farmers, with lower levels compared to national and international averages. Factors such as gender, education level, experience, labor force, land size, access to extension services, irrigation water, land plough frequency, and fertilizer availability positively impact onion production. However, excessive fertilizer use was found to have a negative effect. The study also identified challenges faced by farmers, including input shortages, high costs, diseases, labor issues, soil infertility, and storage knowledge gaps. The study recommends policymakers and stakeholders to utilize these findings to develop effective policies and interventions that can enhance onion production, benefiting farmers and improving the overall onion production.

Optimizing plant growth, nutrient uptake, and yield of onion through the application of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and endophytic fungi.

The application of mineral fertilizers deteriorates soil properties and affects crop yield and nutritional properties. However, plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM- Serendipita indica, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB), and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM)) have great potential to reduce fertilizers and improve soil fertility, crop yield, and nutrient uptake and mitigate the environmental effect of mineral fertilizers. Hence, a field experiment was conducted involving nine treatments to evaluate the effects of PGPM along with 50% or 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizers on plant growth, soil fertility, nutrient uptake, and onion productivity. Results indicated that 100% RDF combined with S. indica or PSB led to improved plant growth, and higher nutrient concentrations in both leaves and bulbs of onions compared to RDF alone. Moreover, the application of 100% RDF with S. indica increased total dry matter yield by 11.5% and 7.6% in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons, respectively, compared to 100% RDF alone. This treatment also resulted in the highest nutrient uptake, with N uptake increasing by 6.9%-29.9%, P by 13.7%-21.7%, K by 20.0%-23.7%, and S by 18.1%-23.4%. Additionally, the combination of 100% RDF with S. indica inoculation led to a notable increase in bulb yield, with increments of 16.2% and 13.9% observed in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, respectively, compared to 100% RDF alone. Similarly, the application of 100% RDF along with PSB inoculation resulted in an increase in bulb yield by 7.2% and 9.4% in the respective years. However, VAM did not exhibit satisfactory performance or improvements in the onion crop. Overall, the study suggests that combining 100% RDF with S. indica or PSB can enhance onion productivity and nutrient use efficiency. The present study may open a new avenue of PGPM application in enhancing onion yield and improving the bulb quality as well as soil health. However, field trials across different regions and soil types are necessary to validate these findings for practical adoption by farmers.

Suppression of White Rot of Welsh Onion by a Preplant Transplant Drench Using Pyraziflumid

White rot, caused by Sclerotium cepivorum, poses a significant threat to the production of Welsh onions. This study aimed to quantitatively assess the effectiveness and persistence of pyraziflumid when applied via a preplant transplant drench. Six trials were conducted across five fields from 2020 to 2021. A day before planting, each paper pot tray was drenched with 500 ml of 2.2 g/liter of pyraziflumid. In the untreated Welsh onions, the disease was first observed in November in all trials. Subsequently, the disease incidence increased rapidly, and by January, nearly all plants were affected. Conversely, in the pyraziflumid-drenched trials, the disease was barely observed until January. The generalized linear mixed model analysis revealed that the estimated coefficient for the pyraziflumid drench was −5.37 compared with no drench, significantly reducing disease incidence. The odds ratio was 0.005, indicating that the pyraziflumid drench significantly reduced the disease incidence compared with no treatment. The linear mixed model analysis showed that the pyraziflumid drench significantly increased the yield of Welsh onion by 3.6 kg/10 A in plots infested with the disease. This, despite requiring only one drench before planting, demonstrated excellent disease-suppressive effects and proved to be extremely labor-saving and economical.

Justification of technological indicators of machines for the production of bulb onion in an annual crop

Onion is one of the main vegetable crops. Its consumption in Russia reaches 2.0 million tons. The gross harvest amounted to 1601.5 thousand tons in 2022 with a yield of 31.3 t/ha. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the technological performance of machines for the mechanized cultivation of onions in an annual crop, providing a yield of 70 - 80 t/ha, on alluvial meadow soils of the Non-Chernozem Zone of Russia. The research method is field experience. Issues considered: application of fertilizers, spring tillage, weed control in the previous field and during the growing season, pre-sowing treatment and sowing of seeds in the field, pest and disease control through foliar spraying, drip irrigation, harvesting work

Conventional and Advanced Packaging and Storage Technology of “Chives” (Allium tuberosum): A Review

The perennial Chives (Allium tuberosum), belonging to the Liliaceae family is typically used as a condiment, vegetable, or spice, salads and soups. It is suitable to tropical and temperate climate. Of all the species of Allium, chives contain the highest amount of betacarotene and vitamin C. The unique flavour and scent of chives are attributed to sulphur compounds, particularly diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide, which have also been investigated for potential anti-inflammatory, anticancer effects and antioxidant properties that serves to prevent oxidative stress and support general health. Even at refrigerated temperatures, these leaves have a very short shelf life. Chives can be successfully preserved for up to 14 days at 0–5 °C. Packing significantly affects how much weight is lost and how much water is retained during storage and the best packaging found as per latest studies is the plastics. This species has the potential to be commercialized in order to augment the production of onions and garlic in various regions of India, particularly given the current unstable climate. This is because of the species broader adaptability and multifunctional usage.

Enhancing bulb yield through nitrogen fertilization and the use of hybrid onion (Alluim cepa L.) varieties in northwest Ethiopia.

Onions are among the most important cash crops in developing countries, including Ethiopia. However, its production and productivity are very low, which is associated with inappropriate fertilization and the use of low-yielding varieties. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the nitrogen fertilizer rate on the growth, yield, and quality of hybrid onion varieties in northwest Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted at three locations (Koga, Woreta, and Woramit) during the 2021/2022 cropping season under irrigated conditions. The treatments consisted of three hybrid onion varieties (Russet, Jambar, Red Coach) and one open-pollinated onion variety (Bombay Red) and four nitrogen rates (0, 41, 82, and 123 kg ha-1), which were laid out in a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement of 4*4 in three replications. The results of the present study revealed that onion growth, yield and quality were influenced by the nitrogen fertilizer rate and onion variety across all locations. Compared with the open pollinated Bombay Red variety, the hybrid varieties (Russet and Jambar) performed well in terms of bulb diameter, bulb weight, total yield, marketable bulb yield, and pungency. Nitrogen fertilizer applied at a rate of 82 kg ha-1 resulted in the highest growth and yield parameters of onion. The Russet and Jambar varieties recorded the highest marketable bulb yields of 26.50 t ha-1 and 24.57 t ha-1, respectively. Onion varieties treated with the highest nitrogen fertilizer dosage of 123 kg ha-1, particularly the Bombay Red variety, exhibited the longest duration to reach maturity. Onion plants supplied with 82 kg ha-1 nitrogen presented the highest marketable bulb yields, with a value of 26.77 t ha-1. Too much nitrogen above 82 kg ha-1 leads to decreased yield; hence, excess nitrogen is lost to the environment. Furthermore, the Jambar and Russet hybrid varieties and the application of 82 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizers provided the highest net benefit. The hybrid varieties Jambar and Russet and the application of 82 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer can be recommended for onion production in the study area and areas with similar agroecosystems. Since this study is the first of its kind, considering other hybrid onion varieties and optimizing agronomic practices such as spacing and phosphorus fertilizer are also recommended in future research.