The present study was aimed to determine the effect of the number of seed bulb growing axis and the bulb size on the seed yield and seed quality in onion variety Bhima Kiran. Two independent experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design. For determining the effect of the number of growing axis medium sized bulbs (wt of 90±5 g) were divided in to three groups based on number of growing axis-single, two and three centers. For determining the effect of bulb size single centered bulbs with three different sizes of bulbs-small (60±5 g , 45±5 mm diameter), medium (90±5, diameter 55±5 mm), and large (120±5 g, diameter 65±5 mm) were used. The number of growing axis significantly enhanced the yield and yield contributing characters. The bulbs with three centers produced 63% more tillers plant-1 , 35 % more scapes plant-1 and 66% higher seed yield as compared to plants raised from single growing axis. The number of growing axis did not affect the seed quality characteristics. The bulb size significantly enhanced the seed yield and yield contributing characters. Large bulbs produced 58% more tillers plant-1 , 60% more scapes plant-1 , and 48% higher seed yield as compared to small bulbs. The seed quality characteristics like 1000-seed weight, germination %, seedling dry weight and vigour index-II were also higher in plants with large bulbs.
Onion is an important vegetable crop grown in almost all parts of the World as a flavouring agent in food preparation. It is propagated by seeds and the seed crop is affected by several fungal, viral and bacterial diseases which cause lodging and reduces the seed yield and quality. Onion seed crop was sprayed with different concentration of ethephon (0, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 ppm) for two duration at 45 or 45+60 days after planting during (DAP) during 2018-19 and 2019-20 rabi seasons. The effect of ethephon on seed yield and seed quality was studied. In comparison to control ethephon application significantly reduced scape length and % lodging by 38.73% and 42.52% respectively. There was 31.90% and 89% enhancement in scape diameter and yield respectively. Ethephon spray also enhanced seed quality, highest germination and seed vigour was recorded in plants sprayed with 600 ppm ethephon at 45 and 60 DAP which was 19% and 51.65% higher than control. Highest seedling dry weight was observed in plants sprayed with 100 ppm ethephon at 45 DAP. Among the treatments, 100 and 200 ppm ethephon applied at 45 DAP had lower lodging and higher seed yield and seed quality. Hence spraying of onion seed crop with 100 ppm ethephon at 45 DAP is beneficial for getting higher seed yield and quality.
The effect of treating aged onion seeds with 5-azacytidine (5-aza) on germination and vigour was evaluated. Seeds of two onion varieties, ‘Bhima Raj’ (BRJ) and ‘Bhima Red’ (BRD) were treated with 0, 10, 25 or 50 µg mL-1 5-azacytidine (a DNA demethylating agent). In comparison with the control treatment (0 µg mL-1 5-azacytidine), treatment with 5-azacytidine enhanced seed germination, seedling length, seedling dry weight and seed vigour indices. 5-azacytidine treatment also increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Seed treatment with 5-azacytidine has the potential to enhance the viability and vigour of aged onion seeds. This study provides phenotypic and biochemical data for further exploring the role of DNA methylation in understanding the process of seed ageing.
Onion (Allium cepa) seed crop is infected with several pest and diseases which reduce the seed yield and quality. The present study explores the feasibility of using polymer as an efficient delivery system for seed-protectant chemicals during onion seed production. Polymer coating prolonged the release of pesticides. After 30 DAP, 557% and 1087% higher retention of fungicide and insecticide was observed in polymer coated bulbs over traditional method of bulb treatment. Onion bulb coating with polymer and 0.15 % fipronil + 0.25 % (carbendazim + mancozeb) showed significantly higher values for seed yield attributes, viz. productive scapes/plant (5.56), lower percent lodged scapes (21.16), seed yield/ plant (21.15 g) and seed quality attributes in comparison to control and traditional method of bulb treatment. Lowest percent disease index (36.39) was recorded in treatment- polymer coating + 0.15 % fipronil + 0.25 % (carbendazim + mancozeb) and lowest number of thrips/plant (5.14) was recorded in bulbs coated with polymer + 0.15 % fipronil + 500 ppm streptocyclin. Treating of onion bulbs with polymer is beneficial in increasing the efficacy of the applied pesticides, reducing the incidence of pest and diseases and enhancing seed yield and quality.
Onion seeds have one of the lowest longevity among the cultivated crops as it loses viability within a year. The unmarketable seeds have no reported food value or feed value. Onion seeds contain considerable oil content which has potential industrial utility. The present study reports the changes in the quality of seed oil extracted from seeds stored for one year (2019-2020), after which the seeds were unmarketable due to low germination. The physico-chemical properties of seed oil were studied in four onion (Allium cepa L.) varieties (Bhima Safed, Bhima Super, Bhima Dark Red and Bhima Shakti) by standard analytical test. The per cent oil content varied from 12.94% - 16.02% and storage resulted in 0.64% loss in seed oil content. The mean seed germination in freshly harvested seeds was 80.50%, which declined to 52.33% after one year of ambient storage. The electrical conductivity, which measures the membrane integrity increased by 108.60% in one-year-old seeds. The physico-chemical properties of the seed oil deteriorated with the age of the seed. In comparison to the control, the acid values and peroxide values of the seed oil increased by 51.11% and 12.90% respectively, while saponification value decreased by 36.18%. Among the varieties, Bhima Dark Red had the highest degradation in the seed storability and vigour, which also had the highest deterioration in the lipid quality. The present study reports for the first time the degradation of seed lipids during ageing in onion which might be contributing to the poor storability of onion seeds.
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