Evaluation of Multiplier Onion Germplasm (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) for Growth, Yield and Quality

Multiplier onion (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) is mainly grown in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It is famous for its use in sambar preparation, an important South Indian dish and additionally with high export potential also.  It produces small size bulbs, many in number, to form an aggregated cluster. It is normally propagated by bulblets. A few varieties were developed by TNAU, Coimbatore and NHRDF, Nashik. Looking to the importance of this crop, ICAR-DOGR has collected thirty-eight different accessions of multiplier onion from different parts of the country and evaluated along with checks during 2013-14 and 2014-15. The observations in each line were recorded on five randomly selected plants and bulb yield on plot basis in each replication on growth, yield and quality parameters. Genotype 1523-Agg was the earliest in maturity (75 days) followed by 1544-Agg, 1546-Agg, 1549-Agg and 1550-Agg (76-79 days) during kharif whereas popular checks CO-4 and CO-5 matured in 81-82 days. During rabi, minimum days to maturity was recorded in genotype 1523-Agg and 1550-Agg (85 days) followed by 1544-Agg and 1549-Agg (87 days), whereas check CO-5 matured in 94 days. Highest bulb yield was recorded in 1523-Agg (228.08 q/ha) followed by in 1549-Agg (223.60 q/ha) and 1550-Agg (220.54 q/ha) during rabi whereas checks CO-4 and CO-5 had yield of 155.39 q/ha and 179.27 q/ha, respectively. During kharif, the highest bulb yield was recorded in 1549-Agg (191.62 q/ha) followed by 1523-Agg (189.48 q/ha) whereas check CO-5 yielded 145.53 q/ha.  Genotype 1549-Agg was found as unique early multiplier onion suitable both for kharif and rabi seasons. It has six uniform bulblets per bulb which were attractive pink and oval in shape tapering towards neck with high yield.