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INFORMATION BANK
DOGR, Rajgurunagar
INSTITUTE PROFILE
CROP PROFILE
1
INSTITUTE PROFILE1. Name of the Institute/Bureau/Directorate/NRC 2. About the Institute (Year of establishment, Location, Brief History) 4-5
sentences3. Regional Stations – Name & Location 4. Krishi Vigyan Kendra –Location 5. Mandate 6. Thrust Areas of Research
i. Basic ii. Strategic iii. Anticipatory iv. Applied
7. Research achievementsa. Highlights b. Technology commercialized c. Detail research achievements (Annexure I)
8. Crop Profile (Annexure)9. CommitteesI. Research Advisory Committee (RAC)
a. Composition with periodb. First meeting recommendations (Annexure II ) c. Second meeting recommendations (Annexure III)d. Third meeting recommendations (Annexure) e. Due date for next RAC
II. QRTa. Composition and periodb. Monitoring (Date of constitution of committee and date of
submission of report, consultation of management committee, comments of the Council, preparation of agenda and approval of GB, communication to the institute for the approval of QRT and action taken report from the institute – in tabular form)
c. Recommendations i. Major recommendations (not more than two pages)ii. Detailed recommendations (Annexure IV)
d. Due date for next QRT
III. IRCa. Due date for IRCb. Total no. of projects (Annexure V) (Discipline wise)c. Research Project Files (Annexure VI )
IV. Institute Management Committeea. Composition b. Due date of meeting c. Major Decisions d. Decisions (Annexure VII)
10. Reportsa. Half yearly reports – Planning Commission b. Quaterly report – 16 points
2
c. Cabinet/QPR Monthly Report d. Reports on International Co-operations (Foreign Aided Project) e. Regional Committee – ATR
11. Manpower (Cadre strength) a. Scientific (Sanctioned – In-position)
(name of the scientists with discipline/specialization)b. Technical c. Administrative d. Supporting
12. Budget (in ICAR proforma) a. Plan Details (Annexure-VIII) b. Non-Plan details (Annexure-IX) c. Detailed budget/expenditure of Xth Plan d. EFC – Revised e. Detailed budget of externally funded projects (both AP cess fund, national and international) 13. Annual Accounts (Annexure-X)14. Revenue Generation (Annexure-XI)15. Outstanding Audit Paras
a. Not settled within two years b. Not settled within three yearsc. Not settled in more than three years
16.Outstanding Advances a. Personal advancesb. Advances to CPWD/Govt. agenciesc. Contingent advances
17.Asset register updates 18.Bank reconciliation updates (Annexure-XII)19.Digital Photo Library / Video Films 20.Publications
a. Annual Reports b. News Letters c. Technical Bulletins d. Books and Manuals e. Research papers – International and recognized national journals
21.Patentsa. Number b. Remarks
22. Projects (Title of the project, name of PI, brief objectives, duration, brief highlights, total outlay – tabular form)
a. Network Projectb. NAIP Projectsc. AP Cess Fund d. Strategic Fund Projectse. Externally Funded (Foreign)f. Externally Funded (National)
23. Meetings Trainings/Workshops/Conferences/Winter/Summer Courses/Meetings organised (Name of the course, Course Coordinator/Director, Duration with dates, total funds, total number of participants – in tabular form)
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a. National b. International
24. Quarterly report regarding details of posts, non-plan schemes, tenders/contracts, technical collaboration and expenditure to be submitted to Ministry of Finance
25. Trainings/Workshops/Conferences/Winter/Summer Courses/Meetings attended by scientists (Annexure-XIII)
a. National b. International
26. Performance appraisal of Scientist (six monthly)27. Honours/Awards/Recognitions (Sr.No. Name, Year )28. AICRP / AINP
a. Brief about AICRP/AINP, Year of establishment, mandateb. State wise list of centres, Budget, manpowerc. Research achievements - Hybrids, varieties realesed, technologies
developed – Yearwise29.Legal cases (status)30.DPC/Assessments (status)31. Others (Date of Reference & Date of Disposal )
a. VIP References b. AGM Reply of VIP Questions c. Review of Divisional Work / Instittue Progress d. AICRP Proceedings e. Conference Proceedings
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1. Name of the Institute
DIRECTORATE OF ONION AND GARLIC RESEARCH,
RAJGURUNAGAR. PUNE – 410 505, (MS).
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2. About the Institute
National Research Centre for Onion and Garlic was sanctioned in VIIIth Plan
and established in July 1994 at Nasik with meager staff. Due to some
administrative problems and working conditions, the centre was shifted to
Rajgurunagar in June 1998 at CPRI regional station. Rajgurunagar is situated
at 18.320 N latitude, 73.510 longitude and 553.8 meter above MSL. 43 km
away from Pune city on Pune-Nasik highway. The centre has two seed
production farms in isolation, one at Kalus 25 km and other at Manjri 68 km
away from Rajgurunagar, respectively. The centre has 39.5 hectares area at
above locations with perennial irrigation facilities. Horticulture, biotechnology,
plant protection, physiology, biochemistry and post harvest technology
laboratories have been set up in the newly constructed laboratory-cum-
administrative building. For prevention of post harvest losses various types of
storage structures are constructed. Library and ARIS Cell is well equipped
with modern facilities. After having worked sincerely for last 10 years with
remarkable achievements NRC is upgraded as Directorate of Onion and
Garlic Research in January 2009. 12 networking centers have been identified
under this Directorate for carrying out region specific research in different
states where onion and garlic are assuming prime importance. Well-trained
scientific manpower is in position and capable of taking up the mandate.
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3. Regional Stations Name & Location
12 All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic Centres and
Coordinating unit is DOGR. The list of Centres is as given under.
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1. Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana), India
2. Agricultural Research Station (RAU), Durgapura, Jaipur (Rajasthan)
3. C.S. Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kalyanpur, Kanpur
4. Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat)
5. Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.), India
6. University of Agricultural Sciences, Krishinagar, Dharwad, India
7. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
8. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Dist, Nadia (WB)
9. Rajendra Agricultural University, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar
10. Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Chiplima, Dist.
Sambalpur, Orissa
11. Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur
12. Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, J&K
<Back>4. Krishi Vigyan Kendra Name & Location Nil
<Back>5. Mandate (DOGR)
To collect, maintain and act as national repository for onion and garlic.
To develop varieties/hybrids suitable for domestic and export market
coupled with resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
To enhance and sustain productivity and production of quality seed as
well as bulb crop through agronomic innovations.
To develop integrated pest and disease management modules for high
bulb and seed yield.
To develop technologies for post harvest handling of onion and garlic.
To acts as a clearing-house for research and technical know how
related to onion and garlic.
To act as national trainers training centre for technology dissemination
of onion and garlic
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Mandate (AINRPOG) To collect, evaluate and conserve the Allium biodiversity existing in
different agro-climatic zones of the country
To do develop and validate technologies suitable for the region for
higher bulb production, seed production, plant protection and post-
harvest handling and storage
To provide scientific leadership in network research for solving location
specific problems of production and to monitor breeder seed production
of released/notified varieties
To provide training support to the onion and garlic farmers in respective
zones
Vision To become number one in production, productivity and export of onion
and garlic and add on value to the excess production.
Mission Harness the national resources to increase the production of onion and
garlic and identify the strategies for sustainable and eco-friendly
practices to enhance profitability and welfare of the farming community.
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6. Thrust Areas of Research
i. Basic
Identification of source of resistantance in onion and garlic
for Purple blotch, Stemphylium blight, thrips for their
improvement.
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ii. Strategic Nil
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iii. Anticipatory
Development of precision onion grader for quick and
efficient grading.
Development of precision onion seed drill and garlic
clove planter for farm mechanization.
<Back>iv. Applied
Development of onion (red and light red)
varieties/hybrids suitable for different seasons and
resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Development of onion (white and yellow)
varieties/hybrids for processing, export and resistant to
biotic and abiotic stresses.
Development of garlic varieties with big cloves suitable
for short winter season.
Enhancement of productivity of onion and garlic
varieties through integrated input management.
Hunger signs and nutrient uptake studies in onion and
garlic.
Reduction of post harvest losses in onion through
genetic improvement, cultural management and post
harvest handling and storage.
Sustenance of productivity through integrated pest and
disease management.
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8
7. Research achievements
a. Highlights
Crop Improvement
Recommended B-780 variety for kharif and late kharif while, N 2-4-1 for rabi season after evaluation of released varieties for five years. In case of garlic G-41 has been recommended for Maharashtra.
Elite lines NRCOG 780-5-3-1 and 780-5-2-2 in case of onion for kharif season and NRCOG 200 and 50 in case of garlic are being evaluated in All India Coordinated testing programme.
For rabi season NRC 595 and 597 have been identified as new superior lines to N-2-4-1 having high yield, market acceptance and good storage quality.
Four promising CMS based F1 hybrids in onion have identified for rabi season which are being evaluated in coordinated programme.
For processing white onion, elite lines W-148, W-398 and W-404 have been identified having high T.S.S. and suitability to rabi season.
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Mercedes a yellow onion hybrid is recommended for planting in Sept.-October for its high yield (60 t/ha) and suitability for export market in European union.
Biotechnology
Micropropagation via multiple shoot induction standardized for ten garlic genotypes using basal plate explant from mature cloves.
Callus induction and regeneration has been achieved in garlic var. G-41.
Micropropagation via multiple shoot induction as well as callus induction and regeneration has been achieved in onion var. B-780 and Phule Safed.
Polymorphic RAPD primers have been identified for onion and garlic.
Crop Production
Drip irrigation at 100% pan evaporation found most economical for onion and garlic planted on BBF on account of water saving (40%), yield increase (15.20%), higher fertilizer economy (20% saving) and convenience in irrigation.
In long-term experiment on onion based cropping system soybean in kharif followed by onion found most economical sequence with higher benefit cost ratio.
Intercropping of onion in paired row planted sugarcane with drip found most suitable intercrop than potato, garlic and cabbage. Onion as intercrop recovered total cost of production of sugar cane making it 100% profitable.
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Fertigation in onion with 50:50:80 kg NPK/ha as basal and 100 kg N through urea in seven slipts through drip found to be cheaper than soluble fertilizers without compromising yield and quality.
Fertigation in garlic with 50:50:50 kg NPK/ha as basal and 50 kg nitrogen through urea in seven splits through drip found most economical than soluble fertilizers without compromising yield and quality.
Kharif onion production technology has been standardized for enhancing productivity by way of augmenting summer nursery on drip under shade-net and planting seedlings on BBF with drip irrigation.
Application of poultry manure @ 5tha-1 along with fertilizers @ 75% RDF produced 17% more yield of onion over 100% RDF application. In garlic, significant yield increase of 11.4% over 100% RDF was produced with poultry manure @ 10t ha-1 along with 50% RDF.
By changing the source of potash from MOP to SOP @ 100Kg K ha-1
along with N &P recorded superior bulb yield of onion (48t ha-1), with minimum storage losses of 24% over a period of 6 months.
Biofertilizer Azotobacter @ 4kg ha-1 along with 50% Nitrogen in onion recorded minimum storage losses of 29% (over 8 month period). While, in garlic Azospirillum + 50% N showed 29.7 % storage losses.
Application of sulphur @45kg ha-1 + NPK produced superior yield of 38 tha-1 in onion. It also improved the pyruvic acid and TSS content of onion bulbs. Around 9% increase in garlic yield was noticed with NPK + 75 Kg S over only NPK. Minimum storage losses in garlic (19%) was recorded due to S @ 60 Kg ha-1.
Standardized direct seeding techniques in onion for reducing cost on transplanted onion.
Standardized weedicide and its concentration for control of weeds in nursery, transplanted fields as well as direct seed sown fields of onion.
Standardized size of clove in garlic as seed for enhancing yield (27%).
Assessed season wise storage losses in different storage structures. Minimum losses in rabi season were recorded in bottom and side ventilated structures which are accepted by Govt. of Maharashtra under subsidy component.
Developed low cost onion and garlic storage structure for the use of small and marginal farmers.
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Developed bottom and top ventilated structure with controlled humidity for better storage of onion in slightly high humid areas.
Standardized cold storage techniques for onion and garlic after irradiation for marketing in metro-cities and export.
Developed and popularised hand operated as well as motorised onion graders for efficient and economical grading of onion.
Crop Protection
Studied seasonal incidence of thrips and diseases for six years. Colletotrichum is more severe in kharif season, while purple blotch and stemphylium blight in late kharif and rabi seasons.
Incidence of thrips is although the year with peaks, in August (50 thrips/plant) and February (120 thrips/plant) that is much higher than ETL of 30-thrips/plant.
Yield losses due to pests and diseases recorded highest in kharif (80%), followed by rabi (50%) and minimum being in late kharif crop.
Thrips found to aggravate the diseases like purple blotch and stemphylium blight.
Two rows of maize as barrier around onion plots (250 sq. m) blocked thrips up to 80% and minimize sprays to 2 sprays.
Seedling root dip with 0.025% carbosulfan for 2h protect the crop up to 30days.
Bulbing stage (45-75) is cruicial for thrips management and needs chemical intervention.
Thrips and diseases can be effectively controlled by spraying carbosulfan (2ml/l) + carbendazim (2.5 g/l) + sticker (0.7 ml/l); Profenofos (1 ml/l) + Mancozeb (2.5 g/l) + sticker (0.7 ml/l); Cypermethrin (60 g ai/ha) + Chlorthalonil (2.5 g/l) + sticker (0.7 ml/l) in rotation.
No sources of resistance either to thrips and diseases were observed in Allium cepa. 42 garlic lines resistant to eriophyid mite were identified.
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12
b. Technology commercialized
Precision onion grader
Micro irrigation for onion and garlic
Efficient storage of onion and garlic under ambient as well as controlled conditions
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c. Detail research achievement Annexure–I
<Back>
8. Crop Profile <Back>
13
9. Committees
I. Research Advisory Committee (RAC)
a. Composition with period 28.09.2004 to 27.09.2007
1. Dr. M.R. Thakur, Ex-VC, Dr. YSPUH&F, Solan (HP) - Chairman2. Dr. V.S. Sheshadri, Ex-Head, IARI, New Delhi. - Member3. Dr. Nazir Ahmed, Prof & Head, SKUAS&T, Srinagar - Member4. Dr. S.J. Singh, Ex-Head, IARI RS, Pune. - Member5. Dr. R.B. Jain, MD, JIS Ltd., Jalgaon - Member6. Dr. S.H. Shinde, Assoc. Dean, College of Agr., Kolhapur - Member7. Sh. Suryakant Palande, Ex-MLA & Prog. Farmer, Shirur - Member8. Sh. C.B. Holkar, Progressive Farmer, Lasalgaon - Member9. Dr. K.E. Lawande, Director, NRCOG, Rajgurunagar - Member10. The ADG (VC), ICAR, New Delhi - Member11. Dr. V.S.R. Krishna Prasad, Pr. Sci., NRCOG - Member
Secy<Back> b. First meeting recommendations 6-7 May 2005 Annexure-II<Back> c. Second meeting recommendations 6-7 Mar 2006 Annexure-III<Back>
d. Third meeting recommendations 21-22 Mar 2007 Annexure-III <Back>
e. Composition of next RAC due date October 2007
<Back>II. QRT
a. Composition and period of 1st QRT 04.07.1994 to 31.03.2001
1. Dr. M.R. Thakur, Ex-VC, Dr. YSPUH&F, Solan (HP). - Chairman2. Dr. H.S. Gill, Ex-Head, Divn of VC, IARI, Delhi - Member3. Dr. Narendra Singh, Ex-Head, Divn of VC, IARI, Delhi - Member4. Dr. C.D. Mayee, Director, CICR, Nagpur - Member5. Dr. B.B. Lal Kaushal, Prof & Head, Dr.YSPUH&F, Solan. - Member6. Dr. U.B. Pandey, Director, NHRDF, Nashik - Member Secy.
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b. Monitoring (Date of nomination of committee and date of submission of report consultation of management committee, comments of the Council, preparation of agenda and approval of GB, communication to the institute for the approval of QRT and action taken report from the institute – in tabular form)
Date of nomination 17.10.2001 First meeting 28.11.2001 Second meeting 4/9.2.2002 Final meeting – Submission of report 21.5.2002 Approval of GB 13.7.2004 Action taken report as under:
Sl. No.
Technical Recommendations
Action Taken Time Frame
1. Development of F1
hybridsHeterosis breeding has already been initiated, good number of hybrids have been developed and presently being tested in AICVIP programme. However, it is a continuous process for the development of F1 hybrids in red, light red and white onions for higher yield, quality, uniformity and resistance to pests and diseases.
Some hybrids will be identified by the year 2007.
2. Development of high TSS white onion
This programme has already been initiated and identified 85 lines of high TSS with more than 15%. Efforts have been made to select best promising and stable yielders through genotype x environment interactions.
By 2008 we would able to identify stable lines with high TSS stable for dehydration purpose.
3. Basic physiological aspects of short day onion and adapta-tion of long
The post of scientist (Pl. Physiology) was proposed in IX plan and approved, however not allowed to
By 2010 we would able to identify big cloved varieties suitable for short
15
day bigger cloved garlic varieties under short day condition
create. Therefore, work could not be taken up. As and when, the post is filled the work on physiological aspects will be initiated. The work on identification of bigger cloved garlic short day varieties has already been initiated. The evaluation of varieties under long day conditions has already been in progress.
day conditions.
4. Resistance breeding for foliar diseases & insects in onion and garlic
Since, three years scientist (Pl. Pathology) position is in vacant and research on pathological studies were kept under abeyance. However, good progress has been achieved in screening of germplasm for thrips and eriophyid mite. Once the resistant lines identified, the breeding programme will be initiated.
By 2010 we may come out with resistance varieties / hybrids in both onion and garlic.
5. Integrated disease and pest manage-ment in onion and garlic
Same as mentioned in Sl.No.4. However, good progress has been made in integrated pest management.
By 2007 IPM modules will be ready for technology dissemination.
6. Hunger signs and nutrient uptake studies at critical stages of growth in onion and garlic.
Preliminary investigations have already been carried out; hunger signs have already been photographed and documented. However, refinement in this research work is essential. Nutrient uptake studies are being in progress.
By 2007 targets will be achieved.
7. Fertigation studies in onion and garlic
Fertigation studies have been started and work is completed.
By 2007 targets will be fulfilled.
8. Studies on onion and garlic seed production and storage
The work will be initiated with the creation of post and subsequent appointment of the scientist.
-
9. Studies on cold storage of onion and its post storage
The programme has already been initiated in collaboration with BARC (for
By 2008 results will be ready for technology
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behaviour irradiation). dissemination.10. Studies on
development of dehydrated products, paste and extraction of essential oils
No work has been initiated in the absence of scientist (Post Harvest Technology).
-
11. Standardization of mechanical method for grading and descaling of garlic
The Centre do not have on engineering faculty, therefore, work is not initiated.
-
<Back> c. Recommendations
i. Major recommendations
1. Development of F1 hybrids2. Development of high TSS white onion varieties suitable for
processing3. Basic physiological aspects of short day onion and adoption of long
day bigger cloved garlic varieties under short day conditions.4. Resistance breeding for foliar diseases and insects in onion and
garlic5. Integrated disease and pest management in onion and garlic6. Hunger signs and nutrient up take studies at critical sages of
growth in onion and garlic7. Fertigation studies in onion and garlic8. Studies on onion seed and garlic bulb production and their storage.9. Integrated approach to enhance productivity by managing
micronutrients and organics.10.Molecular lagging of important genes for biotic stresses11.Studies on bio molecules for analyzing medicinal value of onion
and garlic in collaboration with medical science group.12. Creation of facilities for multiplication of predators, antagonists and
bio-fertilizers<Back>
ii. Detailed Recommendations of 1st QRT Annexure-IV
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Composition and period of 2nd QRT 01.04.2001 to 31.03.2006
1. Dr. K.V. Peter, Ex-Vice Chancellor, ChairmanProf. of Horticulture, KAU, Trichur, Kerala
2. Dr. Brahma Singh, Officer on Special Duty (Hort.), MemberPresident Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan,New Delhi
3 Dr. A.K.Mishra, Ex-Dy.Commissioner, DAC, GOI, MemberKrishi Bhavan, New Delhi.
4. Dr. N.S. Rao, Pr. Scientist MemberProject Dte of Biological Control, Bangalore
5. Dr. Lalita Anand, Ex-Head, Dept. of Biotechnology, MemberIIHR, Bangalore
6. Dr. V.S.R. Krishna Prasad, Pr. Scientist, Member NRC for Onion and Garlic, Rajgurunagar Secy.
d. Meeting due date for QRT 29-30/12/06, 12-16/03/07 & April 2007
e. Next QRT Due April 2011
<Back>III. IRC
a. Due date for IRC October 2007<Back>
b. Total no. of projects 10 Annexure-V
<Back>
c. Research project files - II Annexure-VI
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IV. Institute Management Committee
a. Composition and period of IMC
Sr. No.
Name & Designation Designation Period
1. Dr. K.E. Lawande Director, NRCOG, Rajgurunagar
Chairman
2. Mr. V.D. Patil, Director of Horticulture, Govt. of Mah, Pune
Member 06.06.04 –05.06.07
3. The Commissioner & Director of Hort., Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad
Member 06.06.04 – 05.06.07
4. Dr. S.S. KadamVice-Chancellor, MAU, Parbhani
Member 06.06.04 – 05.06.07
5. Shri Suryakant Palande Ex-MLA & Progressive Farmer, Ghodnadi, Tal. Shirur, Dist. Pune
Member 06.06.04 – 05.06.07
6. Shri C.B. Holkar, Chairman, VFCS, Lasalagaon, Dist. Nashik.
Member 06.06.04 – 05.06.07
7. Finance & Accounts OfficerCIAE, Mumbai
Member 06.06.04 – 05.06.07
8. Dr. V.S.R. Krishna PrasadPr. Scientist, NRCOG, Rajgurunagar
Member 06.10.05 – 05.10.08
9. Dr. P.C. TripathiSr. Scientist, NRCOG, Rajgurunagar
Member 06.10.05 – 05.10.08
10. Dr. Anuradha UpadhyayaSr. Scientist, NRC Grapes, Pune
Member 06.10.05 – 05.10.08
11. Dr. R. Vire GowdaSr. Scientist, IIHR, Bangalore
Member 06.10.05 – 05.10.08
12. The Asst Director General (VC),ICAR, KAB-II, New Delhi
Member 06.10.05 – 05.10.08
13. The Asst Administrative OfficerNRCOG, Rajgurunagar
Member Secretary
06.10.05 – 05.10.08
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d. Due date of meeting December 2007
<Back> c. Major Decisions
Prior approval of the Council/Centre wherever necessary may be obtained on the items involving financial/administrative aspects before implementation.
<Back> d. Decisions Annexure–VII <Back>
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10. Reports
a. Half yearly Report – Planning Commission(i) Research Achievements
Achievements Elite lines B-780, 5-3-1 and 5-2 in onion and NRCOG-50 and 200 of garlic are
found suitable for kharif and rabi respectively. For rabi season, NRCOG-597, 595, 592 lines found superior than existing rabi cultivars and are in on-farm trials.
NRCOG Hybrids –1, 2, 3 and 4 developed for rabi season are in on-farm trials. Mercedes an exotic hybrid of yellow onion grown during late kharif season is recommended for export to European union. The yield potential is up to 60 t/ha under improved agronomic practices. Three elite lines of white onion viz: w-009, w-302 and w-448 found suitable for high yield and processing attributes.
Induction of haploids through tissue culture has been achieved and plants were subjected to cytological analysis and ploidy assessment. Protocol is developed for somatic embryogeneses in garlic and obtained rooted plants from 2,4-D derived callus culture.
NPK doses of 50-50-80 +100 kg N (Seven splits) in onion and 50-50-80 + 50kg (seven splits) in garlic was recommended through drip irrigation for high yield and benefit: cost ratio. In cropping system research, soybean and garlic in kharif and rabi respectively is the best combination for high returns and benefit: cost ratio.
Application of 50% NPK in combination with 10t poultry manure and 30 kg S is the best for reducing storage losses in onion. Uptake of NPK is very high at 60-75DAT.Technical bulletin on diagnosis and management of nutrient disorders in onion has been published.
In integrated pest management silver mulch and black mulch with aluminium paint repelled thrips effectively and application methomyl was effectively controlled thrips in onion.
65 isolates from onion seed production sites revealed that isolates of Fusarium, Stemphyllium and Colletotrichum were found.
(ii) Infrastructure Facilities Created
Sr.No.
Equipments Amount (in Lakhs)
1 Computers (2 nos) 1.62 Deep Freezer 4.003 Microwave digestion 8.694 UPS (2 nos) 0.885 Shredder 0.486 NL gas cylinder 0.237 Fluorescence detector 5.56
Total 21.44
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<Back>
b. Quarterly report – 16 points Nil<Back>
c. Cabinet/QPR Monthly Report
PROFORMA – I
QUARTERLY TARGETSName of the Institute National Research Centre for Onion and Garlic,
Rajgurunagar – 410 505, Dist. Pune (M.S.)Annual Plan allocation (Rs. in lakhs) (2007-08)
200.00
Targets Report for the quarter April to June 2007FINANCIAL TARGETS (PLAN) 200.00Items of Expenditure (Rs. in lakhs)
Expenditure Target for the quarter
Equipment 10.00Works 20.00Other Items of Procurement 40.00Pay & Allowances 00.70Research and Technology Development
Targets for the quarter
1. Finalization of EFC document for XIth Plan.2. Printing of perspective plan document Vision-2025.3. Finalization proposals for purchase of equipments.4. Finalization proposals for works items for utilization
of 33% Plan budget.5. Planting of kharif trials.
Any other item -
(K.E. Lawande)Director
22
PROFORMA – II
QUARTERLY PROGRESSName of the Institute National Research Centre for Onion and Garlic,
Rajgurunagar – 410 505, Dist. Pune. Annual Plan allocation (Rs. in lakhs) (2006-07)
200.00
Progress Report for the quarter ending
January to March 2007
FINANCIAL TARGETS (PLAN) Rs. in lakhsItems of Expenditure Expenditure Target for
the quarterProgress report for the quarter
Equipment 76.70 82.81Works 28.31 28.31Other Items of Procurement 87.49 81.38Pay & Allowances 07.50 06.16Cumulative Plan Expenditure 200.00 198.66Cumulative %age utilisation of Annual Plan Allocation
99.33%
Research and Technology Development
Targets for the quarter Progress report for the quarter
1.Conduction of Brain storming session, IMC, IRC, RAC and 2nd QRT meeting.2. Recording observations on rabi trials.3.Arrangement of field day.4.Finalization of all purchase procedures for equipments.5.Finalization of works items.
1. Conducted brain storming on 16-17th January and finalization of research programmes on Path and Entomological work, and also conducted IMC, IRC, RAC and QRT 2nd & 3rd meetings dated 23rd Jan, 17-18th, 21-22nd
March and QRT 12-15th March & 16-17th April 2007. 2. Harvested rabi trials.3. Conducted field days for 2-days on 27-28th Feb.4. Purchase all essential equipments and utilized budget.5. Completed works items.
Any other item - -Report on Working Environment Good Good
<Back>d. Reports on International cooperations (foreign Aided Project) Nil<Back>e. Regional Committee – ATR Nil
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24
11. Manpower a. Scientific (Sanctioned In-position) (name of the
scientists with discipline/specialization) – March 2007
Sl. No.
Name & Designation Discipline Sanctioned Post
Filled Post
Vacant Post
1. Dr. K.E. LawandeDirector
RMP 01 01 Nil
2. Dr. C.R. RameshPrinicpal Scientist
Plant Pathology * 01 Nil
3. Dr. V.S.R. Krishna PrasadPrincipal Scientist
Horticulture 01 01 Nil
4. Dr. P.C. Tripathi Sr. Scientist
Horticulture02 02 Nil
5. Dr. Vijay MahajanSr. Scientist
Horticulture
6. Dr. R.P. Singh Sr. Scientist
Plant Pathology
01 01 Nil
7. Dr. Anil KharScientist (S.S.) Horticulture 02 02 Nil
8. Dr. V. Sankar Scientist (S.S.)
9. Dr. Md. A.Aziz QureshiSr. Scientist
Soil Science 01 01 Nil
10. Dr. Miss Asha Devi A.Scientist (S.S.)
Genetics 01 01 Nil
11. Dr. P.S. SrinivasScientist (S.S.)
Entomology 01 01 Nil
12. VACANT (Scientist)
Computer Application
01 Nil 01
Total 11 11 01* Transferred from IGFRI RS, Dharwad to NRCOG, Rajgurunagar.
<Back>
25
b. Technical (Sanctioned In-position) – March 2007Sl. No.
Name Designation Sanctioned Post
Filled Post
VacantPost
1. Sh. V.V. Patil T-5 (Tech.Officer) 01 (T-1) 01 Nil2. Sh. N.L. Gore T-4 (F/F Asstt) 01 (T-4 - Farm Supdt.) 01 Nil3. Sh. A.R. Wakhare T-3 (Field Asstt) 01 (T-II-3 - Field Asstt.) 01 Nil4. Sh. HSC Shaikh T-4 (Comp.Asstt) 01 (T-II-3, Computer) 01 Nil5. Sh. DM Panchal T-2 (Lab. Tech.) 01 (T-1, Lab. Tech.) 01 Nil6. Sh. R.B. Baria T-2 (Field Tech.) 01 (T-1, Field Tech) 01 Nil7. Sh. B.A. Dahale T-2 (Tractor Driver) 01 (T-1, Tractor Driver) 01 Nil8. Sh. S.P. Yeole T-2 (Jeep Driver) 01 (T-1 - Jeep Driver) 01 Nil9. Sh. P.S. Takale T-2 01 (T-1, Field/Farm) 01 Nil10. Sh. H.S. Gawali T-1 01 (T-1. F/F) 01 Nil
Total 10 10 00<Back>
c. Administrative (Sanctioned In-position) – March 2007Sl.No.
Name Designation SanctionedPost
FilledUp post
Vacant Post
1. Mrs. S.S. Joshi AAO 01 01 Nil2. Sh. D. B. Mundharikar PA to Director 01 01 Nil3. Sh. S.P. Kandwal Assistant 01 01 Nil4. Sh. P.S. Tanwar Senior Clerk
Senior Clerk*Senior Clerk
02 02
Nil5 Smt. M.S. Salve 6. Smt. N.R. Gaikwad7. Sh. R.K. Dedge Junior Clerk
Junior Clerk(Temp. for 11 months)
02 02 Nil8. Mrs. R.D. Tilekar
Total 07+1* 07+1* Nil* Transferred from DWMR, Patna
<Back>d. Supporting (Sanctioned In-position) – March 2007
Sl.No.
Name Designation Sanctioned Post
Filled up post
Vacant Post
1. Sh. S.K. Said, SSGr.III (Beldar)
01
2. Sh. P.R. Sonawane SSGr.II (Lab Attdt.)3. Sh. P.E. Tadge SSGr.II (Lab Attdt.)4. Sh. M.S. Kale SSGr.II (Messenger)5. Sh. R.S. Kulkarni SSGr.I (Lab Attdt.)6. Sh. S. D. Waghmare SSGr. I (W/Man)7. Sh. N.H. Shaikh SSGr.I (Messenger)8. Vacant SSGr.I (Beldar)9. Sh. P.K. Khanna SSGr.III (Messenger)10. Sh. Satish Tapkir SSGr.I (Lab Attdt.)11. Sh. A.D. Fulsundar SSGr.I (Lab Attdt.) Total 11 10 01
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12. Budget
a. Plan – Budget and Expenditure of 2006-07 (Figures in Rupees)
Sr.No. Head R.E.2006-07 Expenditure upto 31.03.20071. Estt. Charges 6,00,000.00 5,29,901.002. O.T.A. 0.00 0.003. T.A. 1,50,000.00 86,225.004. Other Charges
including equipment & HRD
1,64,19,000.00 1,64,19,000.00
5. Information Tech. 0.00 0.006. Works 28,31,000.00 28,31,000.00
Total 2,00,00,000.00 1,98,66,126.00
Detailed Plan – Budget and Expenditure of 2006-07 Annexure-VIII
<Back>
b. Non- Plan – Budget and Expenditure of 2006-07
(Figures in Rupees)Sr.No. Head R.E. 2006-2007 Expenditure upto 31.03.20071. Estt. Charges 77,00,000.00 75,77,268.002. O.T.A. 10,000.00 10,000.003. T.A. 1,00,000.00 91,839.003. Other Charges
including equipment11,60,000.00 11,60,000.00
5. Works 8,30,000.00 8,30,000.00Total 98,00,000.00 96,69,107.00
P- Loans and Advances Budget and Expenditure 0f 2006-07Sr.No. Head R.E. 2006-2007 Expenditure upto 31.03.20071. P-Loans and Advances 6,00,000.00 6,00,000.00
Total 6,00,000.00 6,00,000.00
Pension & Retirement benefits :Sr.No. Head R.E. 2006-2007 Expenditure upto 31.03.20071. Pension & retirement
Benefits7,10,000.00 7,09,166.00
Total 7,10,000.00 7,09,166.00
Detailed Non Plan – Budget and Expenditure of 2006-07 Annexure-IX
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27
c. Detailed Budget/Expenditure of Xth Plan
Rs. In Lakhs
Head 2002-2003Actual
2003-04Actual
2004-05Actual
2005-06 Proposed
2006-07Proposed
Total
A. RecurringPay & Allowances
2.74 5.00 9.26 15.00 16.00 48.00
TA 1.19 2.00 300 4.81 5.00 16.00HRD 0.00 6.00 2.00 1.00 1.00 10.00Contingencies 39.30 45.00 60.70 60.00 68.00 273.00Total (A) 43.23 58.00 74.96 80.81 90.00 347.00B. Non-RecurringEquipments 26.97 45.00 45.00 40.00 43.03 200.00Works - 40.00 60.00 - - 100.00Library 1.22 3.00 2.00 2.00 1.78 10.00Land - - - - - -Vehicle - 5.00 - - - -Livestock - - - - - -Others (Furniture & Fixture
1330 1.00 1.70 1.00 1.00 18.00
Total B 41.49 94.00 108.70 43.00 45.81 333.00Grand Total (A + B)
84.72 152.00 183.66 123.81 135.81 680.00
28
d. EFC – Revised
(Rs. In Lakhs)Head 2002-
2003Actual
2003-04Actual
2004-05Actual
2005-06 Proposed
2006-07Proposed
Total
A. RecurringPay & Allowances
2.74 5.00 9.26 15.00 5.30 37.30
TA 1.19 2.00 3.00 4.81 0.86 11.86HRD 0.00 6.00 2.00 1.00 0.25 9.25Contingencies* 39.30 45.00 60.70 60.50 81.38 * 286.88Total (A) 43.23 58.00 74.96 81.31 87.79 345.29B. Non-RecurringEquipments 26.97 45.00 45.00 50.30 76.70 243.97Works - 40.00 50.00 10.00 28.31 128.31Library 1.22 3.00 2.00 2.00 0.37 8.59Land - - - - - 0.00Vehicle - 5.00 - - - 5.00Livestock - - - - - -Others (Furniture & Fixture
13.30 1.00 1.70 1.00 5.74 22.74
Total B 41.49 94.00 98.70 63.30 111.12 408.61Grand Total (A + B)
84.72 152.00 173.66 144.61 198.91 753.90
* Including charges for hiring of vehicles.<Back>
29
e. Detailed Budget of externally funded projects
AP-CESS Funds (Rupees in lakhs)Head 2004-
20052005-2006
2006-2007
Total
A. RecurringPay & Allowances 2.02 2.02 2.26 6.30Recurring Contingencies including T.A. 1.8 1.80 1.80 5.40Grand 3.80 3.80 4.06 11.7010% Institutional Charges 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.54Non-Recurring contingencies 12.00 - - 12.00Grand Total 15.98 3.98 4.24 24.24
AP-Cess-Project – Expenditure up to March 2007Figures in Rupees
Sr.No. Head Allocation (2003-2007) Expenditure upto 31.03.20071. Estt. Charges 24,24,000.00 3,90,550.002. T.A. 19,037.003 Other Charges
including equipment 14,58,187.00
Total 24,24,000.00 18,67,774.00
National: Central Sector Scheme for Implementation of PVP Legislation (DUS)
(Rupees in lakhs) Head 2003-
20042004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
Total
1. Recurring Contingencies 20.00 Nil Nil Nil 20.002. Non-Recurring contingencies 3.15 6.30 6.30 6.30 22.05Total 23.15 6.30 6.30 6.30 42.05
DUS-Project – Expenditure up to March 2007Figures in Rupees
Sr.No. Head Allocation (2003-2007) Expenditure upto 31.03.20071. Contractual Services 42,05,000.00 5,25,718.002. T.A. 1,88,187.003 Other Charges
including equipment 21,00,308.00
4. Works 2,95,492.00Total 42,05,000.00 31,09,705.00
Seed-Project: Seed Production in Agricultural Crops and Fisheries (Figures in Rupees)Sr.No. Head Allocation (2006-2007) Expenditure upto 31.03.2007
1. Equipment 36,70,000.00 32,40,687.002. Works 25,00,000.00 29,29,313.003. RFS 10,00,000.00 7,22,364.00
Total 71,70,000.00 68,92,364.00
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30
13. Annual Accounts
Completed and tallied Annexure-X
<Back>
14. Revenue Generation 2006-2007
a. NRCOG Main - Rs. 13.24 Lakhs
b. RFS Scheme - Rs. 9.21 Lakhs
Total Rs. 22.45 Lakhs
Detailed of Revenue Generation Annexure-XI
<Back>
15. Outstanding Audit Paras
a. Not settled within two years Nil
b. Not settled within three years Nil
c. Not settled in more than three years Nil
<Back>
16. Outstanding Advances as on 31 March 2007
a. Personal Advances Rs. 0.74 Lakhs
b. Advances to CPWD/Govt. Agencies Rs. 12.56 Lakhs
c. Contingent Advances Rs. 58.59 Lakhs
<Back>17. Asset Register Updates Up to date
31
<Back>
18. Bank Reconciliation Updates
March 2007 – Completed and Tallied Annexure-XII
<Back>
19. Digital Photo Library/Video Films
Digital photo library with 636 photographs has been developed.
Prepared video film on “Post harvest losses in onion and garlic
production” under NATP.
Prepared video film on “A Profile on NRCOG” under main
project.
Prepared video film on “Kharif Production Technology on Onion”
under main project.
Prepared video film on “Integrated Pest & Disease Management”
under main project.
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32
20. Publications
a. Annual Reports 2005-06 circulated to all ICAR Institutes/SAUs<Back>
b. News Letters Vol.10 No.1 Jan-June 2006 circulated <Back>
c. Technical Bulletins
1. Kanda Lagwad (Marathi)2. Kanda Pikavaril Rog Va Kidiche Vyavasthapan (Marathi)3. Lasoon Utpadan (Marathi)4. Kanda Pratwari Yantra (Marathi)5. Kanda Lasoon Sathavan (Marathi)6. Pyaj Ki Kheti (Hindi)7. Lahsoon Utpadan (Hindi)8. Pyaj ka Bijotpadan (Hindi)9. Pyaj Evam Lahsoon Bhandaran (Hindi)10. Onion Graders (English)11. Kanda Bijotpadan (Marathi)12. Krishi Chayanika (Hindi)13. Top and Bottom Ventilated Onion Storage Structures14. Low Cost Bottom Ventilated Onion Storage Structures15. Onion Storage in India – A survey Report 16. National Test Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for
Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability of Onion (Allium cepa L.) and Garlic (Allium cepa L.)
17. Krishi Chayanika18. Diagnosis and management of nutrient deficiency in Red onion19. Integrated pest and disease management in onion and garlic20. Kharif onion production technology
<Back>d. Books and Manuals Nil
<Back>
33
e. Research Papers 7 (2006-07)
1. M.B. Shete, S.R. Patil, S.V. Damame and K.E. Lawande. 2006. Changes in
polyphenoloxidase, peroxidase and tannin content during development of black arils
at different maturity stages of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.): In Ad. Plant Sci.
19(II) 365-369, 2006.
2. V.S.R. Krishna Prasad, K.E. Lawande, V. Mahajan and Anil Khar. 2006. Assessing
and prediction of environmental response of short day onion genotypes grown in
three seasons of western India. In Indian J. Hort. 63(3), September 2006: 270-275.
3. A. Aziz Qureshi and K.E. Lawande. 2006. Response of onion (Allium cepa) to
sulphur application for yield, quality and its storability in S-deficient soils. In Indian
Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 76(9): 535-7, September 2006.
4. Khar A, Asha Devi A., Mahajan V, Lawande KE. 2006. Genetic diversity analysis in
elite lines of late kharif (rangda) onion. J. Maharashtra Agr. Univ. 31(1):49-52.
5. Khar A, Asha Devi A., Mahajan V, Lawande KE. 2006. Genetic divergence analysis
in elite lines of late kharif (rangda) onion. J. Maharashtra Agr. Univ. 31(1):52-55.
6. Jernej J., Telgmann A, Jung C., Khar A., Melgar S., Cheung F., Town C.D. and
Havey M.J. 2006. Comparative sequence and genetic analysis of asparagus BACs
reveal no microsynteny with onion or rice. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 114:31-
39.
7. Asha Devi A., Khar A, and Lawande KE. 2007. Genotypic response of short day
Indian garlaic (Allium sativum L.) accessions to shoot multiplication. J. Spices and
Aromatic Crops. Vol.16(1).
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34
21. Patents
a. Number Nil
b. Remarks Nil
<Back>
35
22. Projects
SI.No.
Title of the project Name of Principal Investigator
Duration Brief objective Brief highlights Total outlay
1.1.1
Development of onion (red and light red) varieties / hybrids suitable for different seasons and resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Dr.V.S.R. Krishna Prasad, Principal Scientist (Hort.)
Ten years
To develop varieties / hybrids for high yield suitable to different seasons and resistance to biotic and abotic stresses
1. Evaluation trial indicated that 11 lines (NRCOG-901, 939, 938, 905, 940, 925, 909, 914, 923, 888 and 1012) showed superior performance in terms of marketable yield. A wide gap between total yield, marketable yield is evident in 939, 901, 1012, 925, 950, 914 and 940.
2. Massing lines developed from Kh-985-03 showed superior performance in terms of marketable yield followed by Kh-930-03 and Kh-976-03. The desirable attributes like globe shape, deep red colour were achieved in massing lines Kh-993-03, Kh-931-03 and Kh-988-03. 3. NRCOG-927-04 showed superior performance in terms of marketable yield in bulb to row progenies followed by 927-5 and 904-3. Desirable quality and shape were achieved in bulb to row progenies 925-2, 925-5, 927-5, 927-3, & 924-1.
36
1.1.2. Development of white and yellow onion varieties / hybrids for processing and desirable horticulture traits for different seasons resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses
Dr.V.MahajanSenior Scientist (Hort.)
Fifteen years
1. Development of high TSS white onion varieties/hybrids for processing, yield, quality and suitability to all seasons.
2. Development of yellow onion varieties / hybrids for export.
3. Development of white and yellow onion varieties for biotic and abiotic stresses.
1 1. High TSS white onion lines were identified and being further purified.
2.Promising lines of white onions for kharif, rabi seasons have been identified and being evaluated.
3. Promising yellow lines are being developed and evaluated.
4. Exotic yellow onion varieties/hybrids have been identified for production in the farmers’ field.
5. 350 white and 40 yellow onion germplasm is being maintained.
1.1.3. Onion improvement through biotechnolo- gical approaches
Dr. Asha Devi AScientist SS (Genet.)
Twenty years
1. Improvement of quantitative and qualitative traits in onion via in vitro techniques.
2. Haploid induction in onion for heterosis breeding.
1. Standardization of micro propagation protocol in onion via callus culture in cv. B-780 and Phule Safed has been achieved.
2. Micro propagation protocol through shoot multiplication was achieved in cv. B-780 and Phule Safed.
1. Success has been achieved in induction of a single plant from inside the ovary of onion (N-53) flower bud through immature flower bud culture.
37
1.1.4. Garlic improvement through conventional and biotechnological approaches
Dr. Anil KharScientist SS (Hort.)
Twenty years
3. In vitro salt tolerance studies in onion.
4. Molecular studies in onion.
5. Identification of CMS lines through molecular markers.
1.Improvement of garlic germplasm through conventional approaches.
2. Multiplication of the same has been achieved where 10-12 plants have been produced.
1. Preliminary screening of nine varieties has been done.
1. DNA fingerprinting of onion has been taken up through RAPD technique.
2. About 100 primers were screened and primers showing polymorphism identified.
1. Leaf samples of onion varieties as well as advanced lines have been collected and stored in –70oC. DNA isolation has been completed for 27 lines. Work on the identification of CMS lines in these varieties has been initiated.
1.About 700 lines (white and coloured) evaluated in garlic germplasm.
2. Ten elite lines identified for plant stand and higher yield.
3. Improvement in garlic through bulb to row progeny initiated and some lines yielding superior than local check variety identified.
38
1.2.5. Onion and garlic production technology
V. SankarScientist (Hort.)
Ten Years
2. Garlic improvement through biotechnological approaches.
3.Molecular studies in garlic.
1.To study and evaluate the different micro irrigation systems on growth, yield and quality of onion and garlic and to decide the optimum scheduling of drip
4. Two lines viz., AC-50 and AC-200 are in AVT-II under AICRP-Vegetable Crops programme.
1. Callus culture and regeneration from root tip of garlic cv. G-41 standardized.
2. Standardization of callus regeneration protocol of 9 varieties was taken up, of which only two responded well.3. Micro propagation protocol through shoot multiplication was achieved in ten genotypes.
1. DNA fingerprinting of garlic has been taken up through RAPD technique. About 100 primers were screened and primers showing polymorphism identified.
2. Primers linked to eriophyid mite resistance in garlic identified.
1.The highest marketable bulb yield of onion and garlic was recorded in drip irrigation at 100% PE compared to other systems of irrigation. As far as water saving is concerned, there is 20-30 per cent water saving in drip irrigation method compared to conventional method of irrigation.
39
and sprinkler irrigation.
2. To increase the fertilizer and water use efficiency by fertigation technique in onion and garlic.
3. To standardize the suitable mother clove size for garlic planting.
4. To find out optimum planting date and varieties for late kharif season to get higher yield.
5.To develop economically viable, environmentally feasible and socially acceptable onion and garlic based cropping systems for Western
2.The fertigation studies revealed that water-soluble fertilizers through drip irrigation improved the yield and yield contributing characters of both the crops. The highest marketable bulb yield of onion and garlic was noticed in the treatment of 100 per cent water-soluble fertilizers.
3. The reduction in fertilizer dose significantly reduced the marketable bulb yield of onion and garlic. Hence, the results is concluded that NPK 150:50:80 kg/ha as basal +50 kg N in seven splits through drip irrigation adjusted the best treatment in terms of yield and cost-benefit ratio.
4. In garlic, the mother clove experiment revealed that mother clove of 1.4-1.5 g showed better performance in terms growth, yield and storage life.
5. During late kharif season, among the different date of planting, seed sowing in first week of September and subsequent transplanting in second week of October recorded the highest yield in B-780.
6. Among the cropping sequences evaluated in onion, the soybean in kharif season followed by onion in rabi season adjusted the best onion based cropping
40
1.2.6. Integrated Nutrient Management and uptake studies in onion and garlic.
Dr.A.Aziz QureshiScientist SS (Soil Science)
Fifteen years
Maharashtra condition.
1. To develop INM modules for sustained production, quality and storability of onion and garlic.
2. To identify the nutrient hunger signs in onion and garlic.
system under western Maharashtra condition in terms of yield, soil health and cost-benefit ratio.
7. There was a tremendous improvement in physical and chemical properties of soil was noticed in legume based cropping sequences. In garlic, this experiment is in progress.
1.Application of poultry manure & FYM @10t/ha along with 50% RDF improved yield and shelf life of bulbs.
2.Biofertilizers Azosprillium along with 50% N improved yield bulb while Azotobacter improved storability.
3. Application of sulphur @45 kg ha–1
improved yield, quality and shelf life of bulbs.
4. Response in garlic was recorded with sulphur @60 kg ha-1.
5. The nutrient hunger signs for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn were recorded under stress conditions in culture studies.
41
1.2.7. Post harvest studies in onion and garlic.
P.C. TripathiSr. Scientist (Hort.)
Ten Years
1.To study factors associated with storage losses in onion.
2. To study the effects of pre and post harvest treatment in enhancing shelf life.
3.To standardize grading, packing and storage environment of better shelf life.
4. To develop package of practices for post harvest handling of onion.
1. The storage losses in kharif onion are higher (65.52%) as compared to rabi (27.49%) and late kharif onion (27.3%) after 90 days of storage. The early sprouting (23.96% in 3 months) is main loss in kharif onion while sprouting rapidly increases from 2% to 19% between 4 and 5 months of storage in late kharif onions, which coincides with onset of monsoon.
2. The storage losses in garlic are comparative lesser (15-20%) than onion. The weight loss is in less in garlic but the infection of diseases such as soft rot, black mould, gray rots were found major challenge in garlic storage.
3. The field curing for 2 to 3 days and shade curing for 2-3 weeks reduces the incidence of rotting and black mould infection in onion. In garlic, the field curing for 1-2 days with shade curing for 20-30 days along with leaves was found effective in reduction of losses in garlic.
4. The survey of onion storage structures in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka revealed that majority of onion are stored in traditional, non-ventilated temporary storage structures, which results in very limited. Only the Maharashtra has
42
around 8-10% of recommended type of storage structures.
5. Different types of onion storage structures were designed and evaluated at the Centre. Among them top cum bottom ventilated onion storage structure and low cost bottom ventilated thatched roof storage structure were found to be most effective. The storage losses can be reduced by storing onion in top cum bottom ventilated onion storage structure or low cost bottom ventilated onion storage structure than traditional (without ventilated) onion storages structures and net profit of storage of onion can be doubled.
6. The storage of garlic in circular heaps along with leaves can reduce the losses by 5 to 10%.
7. The low temperature storage (0-2oC, 65-70% RH) of gamma-irradiated garlic minimized the storage losses up to 4-5% but the cost of storage is very high.
8. A manually operated onion grader with a capacity of 0.5 tons/hr/person and 90 to 95% precision and a motorized grader with 2 tons/hr capacity 90 to 95% precision were designed evaluated.
43
1.2.8.
1.3.9.
1.3.10.
Onion seed production and storage technology.
Integrated pest management in onion and garlic.
Integrated disease management in onion and garlic
P.C. TripathiSr. Scientist (Hort.)
P.S. SrinivasScientist SS(Entomology)
Dr. C.R. Ramesh
Ten Years
Ten Years
Ten Years
1. To standardize the techniques for seed, grading and packing.
2. To increase the viability and vigour of seed.
3. To standardize the seed pallety and colouring techniques in onion.
1. To develop integrated pest management modules against thrips in onion and garlic.
2. To identify source of resistance against thrips and eriophyid mite.
1. To develop integrated disease management in onion and garlic
These machines are useful for precision grading.
Project yet to be started.
1. Economic thresh hold level for thrips infestation have been worked out.
2. Barrier cropping with maize has proved promising.
No work since last three years. At present the pathologist has been joined and work will be initiated.
44
a. Network Project : Nil
b. NAIP Projects : Nil
c. AP Cess Fund (Rupees in lakhs)Title of the project Name of Principal
InvestigatorDuration
Brief objective Research highlights
Total Outlay
Evaluation of selenium status of Indian type onion and garlic and studies on nutritional behavior of selenium with sulphur.
Dr.A.Aziz Qureshi,Scientist SS (Soil Science)
Three years
1. To identify the levels of selenium in onion and garlic bulbs of Indian types. 2. To study the behaviours selenium on sulphate assimilation and on pungency in onion and garlic
Project has been initiated
24.24
d. Strategic Fund Projects Nil
e. Externally Funded (foreign) Nil
f. Externally Funded (National) DUS project under CSS (Rupees in Lakhs)Title of the project Name of Principal
InvestigatorDuration Brief objective Research highlights Total
OutlayDus Testing for Implementation of PVP & FR legislation under Central Sector Scheme for onion and garlic
Dr.V.S.R. Krishna Prasad Principal Scientist (Hort.)
Three years
To develop descriptors for released varieties, land races, farmers’ varieties and local varieties as per the National Test Guidelines.
12 varieties of kharif and 19 varieties of rabi have been evaluated in three agro-climatic regions to generate date as per NationalTest Guidelines.
37.00
45
<Back>
46
23. MeetingsTrainings/Workshops/Conferences/Winter/Summer Courses/Meetings organized (Name of the course, Course Coordinator/Director, Duration with dates, total funds, total number ofparticipants in tabuar form)
a. National Sr. No.
Name of Course Co-ordinator / Director
Date Total Funds Rs. In Lakhs
Total Participant
1. ‘Improved production technology on onion and garlic’
Dr. K.E. Lawande 13-15 Nov. 2006
0.80 20
2 Brain storming on ‘Onion pests and diseases: Status and future thrust’
Dr. K.E. Lawande 16-17 Jan. 2007
0.35 32
3 ‘Kisan Mela on Onion and Garlic Production Technology’
Dr. K.E. Lawande 27-28 Feb. 2007
01.80 2000
b. International Nil
<Back>
48
24. Quarterly report regarding details of posts, non-plan schemes, tenders/contracts, technical collaborations & Expenditure to be submitted to Ministry of Finance
Regular Submission to Ministry of Finance through SMD<Back>25. Trainings/Workshops/Conferences/ Annexure XIII
Winter/Summer Courses/Courses/ Meetings attended by scientists
<Back>
26. Performance appraisal of Scientist (six monthly) Up to date
<Back>
27. Honours/Awards/Recognitions
Sl. No. Name Year
1. Dr. Alapatti Prasada Rao award for Best Research Paper (Poster) 2005was received by Drs. Khar A, Asha Devi A and Lawande KE forthe poster entitled ‘Preliminary screening of garlic varieties through RAPD technique’ presented SYMSAC-II: Current trendsin onion, garlic, chillies and spices – production, marketing andutilization’ at NRCOG, Rajgurunagar duirng 25-27 Nov. 2005
<Back>
28. AICRP/AINP
a. Brief about AICRP/AINP
Since establishment of the centre at Rajgurunagar during June 1998, the centre has concentrated research on development of varieties suitable for different seasons and different purpose. Technologies for enhancement of productivity of existing varieties have been developed. Further, the technologies for post harvest handling and storage also have been developed. The centre has developed three varieties in onion, two varieties in garlic and recommended a yellow onion hybrid to be grown for European market.
49
Although, the centre’s mandate spells out catering the need of onion and garlic farmers and other stakeholders scattered all over the country, it has been experienced that the centre’s activities are mostly confined to State of Maharashtra and hardly reaching to other important onion and garlic growing states. The varieties and technologies developed at this centre need to be tested and verified across the nation in strategic growing areas then only the purpose of NRC will be served. The present arrangement of verification of varieties and technologies is through All India Coordinated Vegetable Improvement Project attached with IIVR, Varanasi. The project has mandate of handling nearly dozens of vegetables and the work of onion and garlic gets limited priority. In order to have a focused programme and attention to solve location specific programmes, the out reach programmes is highly essential and hence contemplated.
There are two types of onion and garlic grown in the country such as long day and short day types. Long day types are confined to the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and North-East States, where as short day varieties are grown in the plains. Introgression of genes from long day varieties to short day varieties for enhancing bulbs size is not possible under short day conditions because of flowering limitations of long day types. One or two centres in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh would help in this endeavour.
These programmes will help evaluate locally available germplasm and also advanced lines developed at Rajgurunagar under different agroclimatic zones for yield and disease tolerance. Evaluation of long day types would be envisaged taking advantage of the climatic parameters of those locations which otherwise cannot be taken up with the present arrangement.
The centres for networking are identified on the basis of concentrated onion and garlic growing areas having linkages with local SAUs and ICAR centres so that the facilities in terms of infrastructure like land, building and redeployment of manpower can be done easily. Accordingly, the provisions for bare minimum scientific, technical and supporting staff along with basic physical facilities have been proposed for the plan period.
b. State wise list of centres, Budget, manpower
12 All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic Centres and
Coordinating unit is DOGR. The list of Centres is as given under.
1. Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana), India
2. Agricultural Research Station (RAU), Durgapura, Jaipur (Rajasthan)
3. C.S. Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kalyanpur, Kanpur
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4. Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat)
5. Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.), India
6. University of Agricultural Sciences, Krishinagar, Dharwad, India
7. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
8. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Dist, Nadia (WB)
9. Rajendra Agricultural University, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar
10.Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Chiplima, Dist.
Sambalpur, Orissa
11.Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur
12.Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, J&K
Over all XIth Plan EFC budget was approved by PIM for Rs.678.20 lakhs for 2007-12 along with 4 SRFs for 13 Centres.
c. Research achievements – Hybrids, varieties, technologies developed
The project was initiated recently and trials are in progress.
<Back>
29. Legal cases (status) Nil<Back>
30. DPC/Assessment (status)
Six administrative personnels were promoted to next higher grade in 2010..<Back>
31. Others (Date of Reference & Date of Disposal )
a. VIP References Nil
b. AGM Reply of VIP Questions Nil
c. Review of Divisional Work / Instittue Progress Nil
d. AICRP Proceedings Nil
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e. Conference Proceedings Nil<Back>
52
CROP PROFILE
<Back>
A. General aspects1. Basic information about crop
a. Nameb. Botanical name, evolution, geographical distribution, wild species, cytogenetical
studies, reproduction, pollination control mechanism/fertilization, natural cross-pollination (in 1-2 pages)
2. International status (area, production, productivity)3. National status (area, production, productivity - growth pattern) 4. Expected output and outcome in time-frame 5. Constraint analysis6. Projection of increase in productivity7. Research thrust areas8. Export/Import – during last three years
B. Technological aspects9. Plant Genetic Resources
a. Utilization (No. in MTS, No. utilized, Remarks)b. Evaluation (No. of active collections, No. evaluated, Remarks)c. Collection and Conservation [only LTS] (No. collected, Remarks) (No.
conserved, Remarks)d. Molecular characterization (No., Remarks)
10. Registration of germplasm (No., Remarks, Specific traits)11. Genetic studies : Descriptive12. Biotechnology : Descriptive 13. Varieties (Name of variety, Year of release, Production (Q/ha), Maturity, Specific
traits (quality, resistance), Area of adaptation)14. Hybrids (Name of hybrid, Year of release, Production (Q/ha), Maturity, Specific traits
(quality, resistance), Area of adaptation)15. Production Technology
a Integrated Nutrient Management b Integrated Water Management c Integrated Weed Management d Resource Conservation Technologye Cropping system f Farming systemg Crop diversificationh Organic farming i Other components of Production Technology (in Annexure)
16. Protection technology a. Key pests, diseases – geographic distribution and their economic importance, epidemiological/epizootic studies etc. b. Patho-types, Bio-types of key pestsc. Cultural controlsd. Chemical controlse. Biological control/Bio-control agents f. Forecasting of diseases and pestsg. Integrated pest management (disease, insects, weeds, nematodes, others)
17. Breeder Seed production (as per format of DSR)18. Mechanization
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19. Value addition/Product Diversification/Byproduct utilization 20. Transfer of technology (Training, FLD, Field days, Kisan Melas, etc.) (Number, No. of
Patents, Remarks)21. Impact analysis/Socio-Economic studies
a. Production functionc. Employment functionc. Economic Surplusd. Total Factor Productivity
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I. GENERAL ASPECTS
1.0 BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT CROP
The onion and garlic are important components of daily diet. Although, India ranks second by area and production, next to China its productivity much low and is a matter of great concern. There are number of factors involved in low productivity viz, lack of good quality seed, lack of stable varieties / hybrids and technological know how. Ever since, the establishment of NRCOG, there is an improvement in terms supplying of quality seed, technical know how for obtaining high yield and better economic returns. In sprite of the fact that, there are 600 species of Allium distributed over temperate parts of northern hemisphere, only seven domesticated forms are grown for food. There are a number of minor edible species, which are used by tribals and many more are grown as ornamentals.
Alliums have been under domestication for many centuries and they exhibit a wide diversity of forms, which reflect numerous generations of selection in different climates and cultural conditions. Only chives (A. schoenoprasum) and Chinese chive (A. tuberosum) resemble their wild forms. De Candolle (1885) reported that Alliums have been collected by several botanists in widely different localities in Western Asia. Allium cepa has been domesticated independently in several places. Vavilov cited that Iran, Pakistan and Mountaineous countries of north as centre of origin. Egypt and India could be secondary centres of origin.
1.1 CYTOGENETICS
Alliums have large chromosomes and that their complements display a high degree of symmetry and uniformity. Most of the chromosomes have median or sub medium centromeres and there is a gradation in size from the longest down to the shortest member of the complement. Four of the seven species are polyploids, or have a polyploid series (Table 1), and there is much of interest to say about their chromosome behavior at meiosis and about the use of species hybrids to mediate gene transfer for the purpose of crop improvement. The species and cultivars are dealt with individually, according to the order of listing in Table 1.
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Table 1: Species List and Chromosome Number of Cultivated Forms of Allium
Species Common Name Chromosome number
Diploids
A. cepa Common onion 2n = 2x = 16A. cepa var. ascalonicum Shallot 2n = 2x = 16A. cepa var. aggregatum Potato or multiplier onion 2n = 2x = 16A. fistulosum Japanese bunching onion 2n = 2x = 16A. sativum Garlic 2n = 2x = 16
Polyploid
A. tuberosum Chinese chive 2n = 4x = 32A. ampeloprasum Leek 2n = 4x = 32 = BsA. ampeloprasum Kurrat 2n = 4x = 32A. ampeloprasum Great-headed garlic 2n = 4x, 6x = 32, 48A. chinense Rakkyo 2n= 2X, 3x, 4x = 16, 24, 32A. schoenoprasum Chives 2n=2x, 3x, 4x=16, 24, 32+Bs
A. ALLIUM CEPA (2N = 2X = 16), THE BULB ONION
The bulb onion is the most widely known edible Allium. It has been in use for at least 5000 years and there is an enormous reservoir of genetic diversity present in locally adapted forms grown in different parts of the world. The species is an outbreeder and current improvement programs utilize hybrid varieties as well as open pollinated selections. In terms of the conservation of genetic resources there is now concern at the way in which are replacing many of the locally adapted forms. A. cepa is diploid and has a complement of eight pair of metacentric or submetacentric chromosomes. As far as is known, all existing varieties and cultivars are diploid and it has evidently not yet been possible to exploit polyploid in onion breeding. An early attempt at chromosome doubling with cochicine has been reported by Toole, but it seems that chromosomes pairing in the autotetraploids was highly irregular and the seed set poor.
Only recently, through the development and use of Giemsa c-banding techniques, has it become possible to distinguish and name the eight chromosomes of the basic set individually. One of the interesting observations on the mitotic complements of A. cepa is the extensive polymorphism relates to any phenotypic characters that are of agronomic importance.
In terms of genome organization A. cepa has a 2C nuclear DNA value of 33.5 pg per 2C nucleus.8,9 The quality of the DNA is such that the G + C base pairs comprise about 32% of the total and up to 50% is in the form of repetitive sequences. There is no satellite DNA. 10
Meiosis is regular with eight bivalents. Chaismata are formed mainly in the distal and interstitial region of the chromosome arms.
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B. ALLIUM CEPA VAR. ASCALONICUM (2n = 2x = 16), SHALLOT
The shallot is a form of A. cepa that is propagated vegetatively by bulb multiplication, although some genotypes produce fertile flowers and set seed. In some parts of the world the shallot is still given the status of a separate species, but its flowers are typically those of A. cepa and hybrids between the shallot and bulb onion have a regular meiosis and are fully fertile. Furthermore there is no reason to accord the shallot anything more than varietal status.
C. ALLIUM CEPA VAR. AGGREGATUM (2n = 2x = 16), POTATO OR MULTIPLIER ONION
This variety of A. cepa is also known as the Egyptian ground onion, and it is noted for its hardiness and early maturity. The potato onion grows underground as perennial clumps of bulbs and rarely produces any seed. The chromosomes are identical to those of A. cepa.
D. ALLIUM FISTULOSUM (2n = 2x = 16), JAPANESE BUNCHINING OR WELSH ONION
A. fistulosum is a perennial diploid outbreeder. It is economically important and there are breeding programmes being undertaken in several countries, especially in Japan where male sterile genotypes have been found. The species has high levels of resistance to several important pests and diseases and attempts are being made to incorporate the appropriate resistance genes into A. cepa through interspecific hybridization followed by backcrossing. A. fistulosum is a member of the sect. CEPA of the genus Allium. It is thought to have originated from the wild species A. alraicum. The mitotic chromosome complement resembles that of A. cepa although the homoeologues are considerably smaller in both size and DNA amount.
E. ALLIUM SATIVUM (2n = 2x = 6), GARLIC
Garlic is an ancient crop. The presumed wild ancestor is A. longicupis and like the present cultivated form this species is also seedless. Despite being vegetatively propagated A. sativum is highly variable with clones adapted to a wide variety of climatic regions in the countries in which it is grown. In terms of crop improvement the scope at present is limited to maintaining and multiplying superior genotypes by vegetative means; although there is also some possibility for the use of somaclonal variation with regenerants produced from callus culture of leaf and apical meristems. Flowering does occur in some clones of garlic but the developmental sequences breaks down at various stages during or after meiosis and the flowers fall off. Bulbils are then formed in place of the flowers and these bulbils then serve as the reproductive propagules.
A recent report by Etoh, however, describes a number of clones collected in Soviet Central Asia which were found to be fertile and which have yielded several thousands seeds. Useful breeding material can now be expected to come from these collections and there is a real prospect of garlic growing by seed in the near future.
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F. ALLIUM TUBEROSUM (2n = 4x = 32), CHINESE CHIVE
A. tuberosum is an autotetraploid with a mitotic complement of 32 chromosomes that are mainly metacentric. The species has a rhizome and is usually propagated by vegetative means, although it does produce an abundance of seed after flowering.
Meiotic studies have revealed a difference in behavior between the male and female side. On the male side there is multivalent formation with quadrivalents and trivalents, as well as bivalents and univalent; and in some cells (ca. 5%) all of the chromosomes remain as univalent. Male meiosis is therefore somewhat irregular. In megaspore mother cells there are 32 bivalents in the majority of cases and these apparently arises as a result of premeiotic chromosome doubling. These bivalents separate into two groups of 32 chromosomes at anaphase one and then produce egg cells without undergoing any further division. The zygotes thus contain the unreduced tetraploid number and there is no fertilization. The species is perfectly parthenogentic.
G. ALLIUM AMPELOPRASUM (2n = 4x = 32 + Bs), LEEK
A. ampeloprasum is available species with a polyploid series of 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, and 6x. Wild plants are found distributed over southern Europe, northern Africa, and into the Middle East. The cultivated forms have been classified unto three groups: (1) Leek, (2) Kurrat, and (3) Great-headed Garlic by Jones and Mann.
The leek is an outbreeding biennial that has been selected for its edible leaf bases and green leaves. It is generally considered that the leek is an autotetraploid, although this is disputed by Koul and Gohil on the basis of studies on tetraploid. A. ampeloprasum growing in Kashmir.
H. ALLIUM AMPELOPRASUM (2n = 4x = 32), KURRAT
Kurrat is grown for its edible green leaves. It is a tetraploid outbreeder with a chromosome complement similar to that of the leek. Kurrat and leek are interfertile and attempts are being made to use Kurrat as source of resistance to yellow stripe virus for gene transfer into leeks.
I. ALLIUM AMPELOPRASUM (2n = 4x, 6x = 32, 48), GREAT-HEADED GARLIC
This form of A. ampeloprasum resembles the leek, but produces mild-flavored, garlic-like cloves, which are used for propagation as well as for eating.
J. ALLIUN CHINENSE (2n = 2x, 4x = 16, 24, 32), RAKKYO
Rakkyo belongs to the sect. CEPA. It is propagated vegetatively by bulb multiplication and used as a pickling vegetable. Gohil and Koul studied meiosis in an Indian clone and found it to be tetraploid with a complex meiosis having a mixture of paring associations at metaphase 1 from hexavalents through to univalent. Chromosome distribution was highly irregular and pollen stainability low with a variety of chromosome numbers and
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chromosome forms at pollen grain mitosis. From the photographs of Gohil and Koul, it seems that chiasmata are formed mainly in interstitial and distal regions of the chromosome arms.
K. ALLIUM SCHOENOPRASUM (2n = 2x, 3x, 4x = 16, 24, 32 + Bs), CHIVES
Chives have undergone repeated domestication from the wild forms that grow all over the Northern Hemisphere. Cultivated forms are variable and hybridize easily with the wild material. Propagation is by vegetative means (root division in culture) or by seeds, and there are several chromosome races in existence.
1.2 CHROMOSOME MANIPULATION
Breeding work in some of the Alliums is taking place using the standard procedures of hybrid variety construction, mass selection, and clonal selection. Attempts are also being made to improve the quality of some commercial strains by the use of chromosome manipulation techniques. The main objective of this work is to transfer genes for disease resistance from other cultivated forms, or wild relative, into A. cepa. The method, which is being tried, is that of interspecific hybridization followed by repeated backcrossing to the A. cepa parent. In this way it is hoped that recombination between the different chromosomes sets in the F1 or backcross generations, combined with selection for resistant individuals, will affect the transfer of the genes into the A. cepa genome. Sterility of the F1 hybrids is the chief obstacle to progress in this work.
A. ALLIUM CEPA X A. FISTULOSUM HYBRIDS
A. fistulosum carries resistance or immunity to a number of important diseases and pests of onions, including pink root, smut, downy mildew, yellow dwarf virus, and thrips. It has long been an objective of onion breeders to transfer these sources of resistance into A. cepa through crossing the two related species.
A. cepa and A. fistulosum can be readily hybridized by emasculation and the transfer of pollen from the one parent to the other. There is no practical limit to the number of hybrids that can be secured, and the success rate can be enhanced if the immature embryos are removed and grown in culture. The barrier to further progress is sterility of the F1s. Emsweller and Jones obtained backcrosses to both the A. cepa (cv. Yellow Globe Danvers) and the A. fistulosum (Nebuka-type) parent using the hybrids as the pollen source. Not withstanding these early achievements, however there have still not been any successful gene transfer at the diploid level between A. fistulosum and A. cepa.
B. ALLIUM CEPA VAR. ASCALONICUM X A. FISTULOSUM HYBRIDS
In 1953, Cochran reported on the use of inbred lines of the Nebuka cultivar of A. fistulosum, and of A. ascalonicum, to make reciprocal F1 hybrids and also backcrosses of the hybrids to both parental types. The objectives were to study the possibility of transferring disease resistance of A. fistulosum into A. ascalonicum, and also in studying the cytology of the hybrids at mitosis and meiosis. Cochran gave detailed information on chromosome
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pairing and segregation, and noted some interesting differences between the F1 reciprocals. The most significant effect was that on pollen grain formation, where the ascalonicum-fistulosum F1 produced unreduced pollen grains, whereas the fistulosum-ascalonicum hybrid did not. In both kinds of hybrids, however, the fertility was found to be extremely low, but some backcrosses were obtained by using the hybrid as the pollen parent.
C. OTHER INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS
A number of other species have been considered from time to time as possible sources of disease resistance genes for transfer into A. cepa. In most of these cases wild diploids have been used, such as A. galanthum, A. pskemense, A. oschaninii, and A. vavilovii.61 In all these cases however, as is also true for the cross of A. fistulosum x A. roylei, hybrid sterility has proved to be an insurmountable barrier to progress.
1.3 CONCLUSIONIONS
The genus Allium offers excellent material for cytogenetical studies and for the applications of cytogenetics to crop improvement. Among the cultivated edible forms all have large chromosomes which are few in number and which can be readily and easily observed. There are diploid and polyploid forms, there is variation in the reproductive and breeding systems, there are many possibilities for interspecific hybridization, and a great diversity of genetic variation in both the cultivated and wild form. On the face of it there seems every reason to believe that cytogenetics could contribute greatly to our understanding of the genetics systems of the Alliums and to their improvement as cultivated forms. There has indeed been a wealth of knowledge contributed at the fundamental level, and much progress in the breeding of the higher value crops, but there are areas of seemingly little progress as well. Polyploid appears not to have been exploited and hybridization between A. cepa and A. fistulosum are still held up at the sterility barrier after 50 years of work. Instinctively one sense that cytogenetics has yet to make its real impact on the onions and their allies, and that probably it will do this in conjunction with some of the newer technologies of tissue culture and other genetic manipulation techniques.
1.4 POLLINATION
In onion, pollen shed begins at anthesis and continues at irregular intervals for the next 24 to 36 h and may last up to 2 d. In each flower, the anthers of the inner whorl dehisce first. High temperatures and air humidities below 70% accelerate the process. All anthers of a given flower shed their pollen before the style reaches its final length. Thus, although at anthesis, or 1 d later, the embryo sac is mature and the stigma is receptive, self-pollination within an individual flowers is prevented. However, pollinating insects may visit flowers before leaving for another plant, thus self-pollination between flowers of a single genotypes may be quite high. Up to 20 and 30% self-pollination has been recorded in leek and onion field plots, respectively. Self-pollinated leek plants yielded approximately 70% less seeds than the cross-pollinated ones. Since both onions and leeks suffer strongly from inbreeding depression, seeds obtained from self-pollinated flowers of these Allium species have a lower mean weight, a slower emergence rate, and a smaller percentage of seedling survival than
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those developed from cross pollination. Great efforts are therefore made to reduce the chances of self-pollination to a minimum.
1.5 FERTILIZATION
Twelve to twenty four hours after pollination, the first pollen tubes with two sperm-nuclei, enter the micropyle. At 35/180C(day night), fertilization of 50% of the ovules occurs within the next 12 h, as compared with 17 and 9% at 24/18 and 43/180C, during the same period of time, respectively. The percentage of fertilized ovules, however, reaches its maximum only 3 to 4 d later. <Back>
2. INTERNATIONAL STATUS
COUNTRY WISE PRODUCTION OF ONION IN WORLD (2004)Area
(Lakh Ha)Production(Lakh Ton)
ProductivityT/ha
China 8.50 180.35 21.20 India 5.30 55.00 10.38 Russian Fed. 1.27 16.73 13.18 Pakistan 1.06 16.57 15.60 Turkey 0.82 17.50 21.34 Indonesia 0.82 7.79 9.44 Viet Nam 0.76 2.25 2.96 Brazil 0.57 11.20 19.65 U.S.A. 0.67 36.69 54.41 Myanmar 0.58 7.38 12.72 Iran 0.45 14.50 32.22Source: FAO - Website
COUNTRY WISE PRODUCTION OF GARLIC IN WORLD (2004)Area
(Lakh Ha)Production(Lakh Ton)
ProductivityT/ha
China 6.37 105.78 16.60 India 1.20 5.00 4.17 Korea, Rep. 0.33 3.78 11.43 Russian Fed. 0.31 2.36 7.72 Spain 0.24 1.68 7.04 Thailand 0.22 1.00 4.65 Ukraine 0.20 1.10 5.50 Myanmar 0.20 1.00 5.13 Turkey 0.15 1.25 8.33 Brazil 0.11 0.90 8.57 Bangladesh 0.15 0.43 2.87Source: FAO – Website<Back>
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3. NATIONAL STATUS
STATEWISE AREA AND PRODUCTION OF ONION (2005-06)State Area
('000 ha)Production(in '000 MT)
Yield(Ton/ha)
2005-2006Andhra Pradesh 22.05 197.00 8.93Bihar 24.05 265.65 11.05Gujarat 49.23 984.75 20.00Haryana 13.05 257.00 19.69Karnataka 41.64 306.60 7.36Madhya Pradesh 25.50 303.80 11.91Maharastra 93.90 1,850.00 19.70Orissa 55.50 473.00 8.52Others 33.10 391.75 11.84Rajasthan 28.35 380.60 13.43Tamil Nadu 24.00 251.10 10.46Uttar Pradesh 53.65 562.00 10.48
Total : 464.02 6,223.25
Data Source: NHRDF, NASHIK
STATEWISE AREA AND PRODUCTION DATA FOR GARLIC (04-05)State Area
('000 ha)Production(in '000 MT)
Yield(Ton/ha)
2005-2006Andhra Pradesh 0.65 1.25 1.92Bihar 3.25 5.45 1.68Gujarat 21.00 95.00 4.52Haryana 0.75 9.90 13.20Himachal Pradesh 0.78 10.25 13.14Jammu & Kashmir 0.57 4.65 8.16Karnataka 3.65 3.85 1.05Madhya Pradesh 29.00 125.00 4.31Maharastra 7.60 57.50 7.57Orissa 16.50 61.25 3.71Others 0.75 11.25 15.00Punjab 1.50 25.00 16.67Rajasthan 14.25 76.00 5.33Tamil Nadu 2.50 15.25 6.10Uttar Pradesh 11.25 61.07 5.43
Total : 114.00 562.67
Data Source: NHRDF, NASHIK
YEAR WISE AREA, PRODUCTION & PRODUCTIVITY OF ONION IN INDIA
Area ('000 Ha) Prod. ('000 MT) Productivity (t/a)1990-91 296.9 3148.6 10.6 1991-92 308.4 3343.8 10.8
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1992-93 321.5 3590.4 11.1 1993-94 367.5 4006.4 10.9 1994-95 378.6 4036.1 10.7 1995-96 395.5 4080.0 10.3 1996-97 409.7 4428.7 10.8 1997-98 355.0 3200.7 9.2 1998-99 468.1 5331.9 11.41999-00 442.8 5571.8 12.62000-01 408.2 5232.6 12.8 2001-02 426.5 5585.5 13.12002-03 410.2 5451.4 13.32003-04 420.7 5721.5 13.62004-05 435.2 5942.5 13.72005-06 464.0 6223.3 13.4
Source: NHRDF
YEAR WISE AREA, PRODUCTION & PRODUCTIVITY OF GARLIC IN INDIA Area ('000 ha) Prod ('000 MT) Productivity (t/ha)
1990-91 89.7 350.9 3.91991-92 92.8 364.0 3.91992-93 85.5 355.8 4.11993-94 76.2 306.0 4.01994-95 98.9 403.2 4.0
1995-96 114.8 490.0 4.31996-97 96.6 451.5 4.61997-98 108.8 484.4 4.41998-99 123.2 570.8 4.61999-00 116.9 536.05 4.62000-01 103.0 487.8 4.72001-02 115.7 530.8 4.62002-03 119.2 565.0 4.72003-04 122.7 590.1 4.82004-05 129.4 618.9 4.82005-06 114.0 562.7 4.9
Source: NHRDF
<Back>
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4. EXPECTED OUTPUT AND OUTCOMEIN TIME FRAME
TRANSLATING OUTLAY INTO OUTPUT AND OUTCOME TOGETHERWITH TIMEFRAMES FOR ANNUAL PLAN 2005-06
Sr.No.
Programme Area
mentioned
Outlay (Lakhs)Precise
Targets / Indicator activities
Output Outcome Institutes / NRCs / PDs /
AICRPs schemes involved
RemarksObservatio
nsPlan
Non-Plan
TotalPhysical Process
Time frame
Physical processTime frame
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1.Conserving plant genetic resources
34.0 2.49 36.49
To conduct exploration for onion and garlic germplasm in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, H.P.; NEH region
The tentative programme have been worked out in consultation with NBPGR, Ranchi
1 year 1.The programme have been chalked out to collect maximum number of germplasm from the said area. (3 months)2. 500 accessions of red, white and yellow onions and 620 lines of garlic are being maintained through regular seed production and garlic bulb production
NRCNBPGR
Very good progress
2.
Varietal improvement in yield in view of biotic and abiotic stresses
42.5 3.11 45.61
1. To develop high yielding pest and disease resistant varieties from onion and garlic 2. To develop white onion varieties with high TSS, yield and suitable for processing industry.
1.To develop high yielding onion varieties suitable for kharif, late kharif and rabi seasons.2. To identify high yielding garlic varieties for rabi cultivation
2 years
2 years
High yielding lines have been identified and evaluation of these improved lines are in progress.
2 years
NRC
Takes some time for
identification
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3.
Production technology and protection technology for crops, fruits and vegetables
42.5 3.11 45.61
1. To develop integrated nutrient modules for onion and garlic (rabi)
2. To develop cropping systems, micro irrigation, fertigation requirement for rabi onion and garlic production
3. To develop organic production technology for onion and garlic using different biofertilizers and PGPR4. To study the selenium content of Indian onion and garlic
INM modules have been developed and confirmation of INM modules are in progress1. Soyabean followed onion (rabi) is the best cropping systems for higher returns.2.100% PE through drip irrigation gave high yield and profitable cost benefit ratio.3. supplementary 80% recommended doses of water soluble fertilizers gave better yield in onion and garlic in rabiInitiated the organic production trials
Initiated the experimentation samples of soil, onion and garlic bulbs have been collected from all the parts of country.
Process
Results are ready for on-farm experimentation
6 Months old
6 Months old
1 year
3 years
3 years
NRC, AICRP
NRC
APCESS
Results are ready for desimination
Results are ready for
desimination
4
Production of quality breeder seeds, seeds and planting material
34.0 2.49 36.49
200 kgs of truthful seed production and 3 kg of breeder seed of B-780 and 150 kg of N-2-4-1 seed have been produced
Reduction in deed production targets have observed due to severe viral infection in the seed production plots.
All the truthful seed have been sold to the farmers for kharif productionRabi seed will be dispersed during the month of October
6 months NRC
NRCNil
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5 Diversification 17.0 1.24 18.24
1. Four on-farm demonstrations have been taken up with improved varieties of onion and garlic.2. Five acre on-farm demonstrations of drip and fertigation requirements of onion have been taken up in otur village
Nil
Nil
1. Excellent response from the farming community about the adoption new improved varieties of onion and garlic2. A very good response in adoption of technology of fertigation for onion and garlic have been observed from the farmers.3. The response for taking up of this technology is very high and to the tune of 30-50 acres for coming season
1 year
NRC
NRC
NRC
More on-farm trials have to be taken up
<Back>
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5. CONTRAINT ANALYSIS
Strength
Moderately diverse climate permits onion production almost all over the country barring few coastal pockets.
Year round production is possible in Western India and Indo-Gangetic plains due to development of diverse genotypes.
Good scope for expanding area in non-traditional tracts.
Wide variability of germplasm is available for breeders for crop improvement.
Marginal and small farmers share maximum percent of peasantry in India, onion and garlic cultivation is more suitable to them as they have higher cost benefit ratio than cereals.
Availability of cheap labour.
Being short duration crops in nature, these crops can fit in any cropping system and juvenile orchards.
Onion and garlic have got strong processing traits and attract good agro-based industries.
Onion and garlic have got old and strong export tradition.
Availability of trained scientific manpower and good inter-institutional collaboration.
Weaknesses
Very poor seed multiplication programme of released varieties.
Inferior local genotypes still dominate 70 percent onion and garlic production.
Most of the available genotypes have low productivity and are highly susceptible to pests and diseases.
Lack of F1 hybrids in short day onion.
Lack of availability of yellow onion varieties with mild pungency having consumer acceptance for export to European countries.
Lack of varieties for processing.
High degeneration in garlic due to viruses.68
Lack of bigger cloved garlic varieties for export.
Inadequate extension services.
Very high fluctuations in market prices, which affect cropping production plan.
Inconsistant regulation of export policy.
Poor infrastructure for storage and transport of perishable export commodities.
Inadequate database for area, production, export, diseases incidence etc.
Opportunities
Extension of onion cultivation in non-traditional areas.
Promotion of export of onion and garlic to European countries.
Expansion of processing industries will demand production of more onion and garlic.
Promotion of export of onion seed.
Threats Genetic erosion of local genotypes due to released varieties.
Vagaries of monsoon like untimely rains/drought lead to outbreak of diseases/pests.
International competition for export of onion and garlic from neighbouring countries.
Introduction of F1 hybrids by multinationals under OGL without proper testing is likely to introduce new diseases and pests.
Increasing soil and water salinity will limit the productivity.
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6. PROJECTION OF INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY
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The current annual production of onion and garlic in India is 55 and 5 lakh tons, respectively which is augmented from 5.30 and 1.20 lakh hectares. The productivity per hectare is 11 tons in onion and 4.16 tons in case of garlic. Considering present population growth rate, India’s population in 2020 AD is estimated to be 1.5 billion. Present export of onion is 7 to 8 lakh tons which can be enhanced to 20 lakh tons. Garlic export although negligible, could be enhanced to 0.5 lakh tons. Processing industries are emerging at a faster rate and would demand more raw materials in future. Considering these requirements and post-harvest losses, the production level of onion and garlic in the 2020 year can be extrapolated to the tune of 100 and 10 lakh tons, respectively.
The targets of production can be met out by expanding area under onion and garlic in non traditional but potential tracts. The horizontal growth of any agricultural commodity always faces problem of shrinking land and water resources due to alternate and competitive crops. Vertical growth by way of increasing productivity is the only way to meet the challenging demands of commodities in future. The present level of productivity of onion and garlic of the country is very low as compared to major producers like USA, China and Netherlands and Korea Republic. There is vast scope for increasing the productivity by enhancing genetic potential of varieties through resistance breeding, manipulation of agro-techniques, sustenance of productivity through better management of diseases and pests and improving post-harvest life.
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7. RESEARCH THRUST AREAS
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I. Development of early maturing varieties/hybrids in dark red colour for kharif season coupled with resistance to Colletotrichum and purple blotch.
II. Development of varieties/hybrids suitable for rangda season having bolting resistance single centered bulbs with crimson red colour and moderate keeping quality.
III. Development of light red coloured varieties/hybrids for rabi season having globose shape, bolting resistance and very good keeping quality. The varieties should have combined resistance to Stemphyllium blight and purple blotch.
IV. Development of high T.S.S. (>18%) white onion varieties for processing suitable for kharif and rabi season.
V. Development of varieties of multiplier onion with bright red colour and bigger bulblets.
VI. Development yellow onion varieties/hybrids with high pungency and keeping quality for export to European countries.
VII. Development of big cloved garlic varieties suitable for short growing season of north and western India.
VIII. Standardization of protocol for meristem culture for production of virus free garlic material.
IX. Fertilizer recommendations based on soil test crop response.
X. Studies on micro-irrigation and fertigation.
XI. Cropping system research.
XII. Development of IPM and IDM models.
XIII. Studies on organic production of onion and garlic.
XIV. Comparative studies on various models of natural ventilated storage structures.
XV. Studies on cold storage of onion.
XVI. Adoption of policy of frontline demonstrations for quicker transfer of technologies.
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8. EXPORT / IMPORT – DURING LAST FIVE YEARSTable 5: Export of onion from India
Years Qty. (MT) Value (Rs. Lakhs) PUV (Rs./Ton)2001-02 506924 41140 81152002-03 545211 39452 72362003-04 840717 82122 97682004-05 941408 81327 86382005-06 778134 71597 9201
Table 6: Export of garlic from IndiaYears Qty. (MT) Value (Rs. Lakhs) PUV (Rs./Ton)
2001-02 657 159 243432002-03 578 325 563892003-04 1567 166 105972004-05 1156 144 211042005-06 32495 3742 11514
Year wise total import of garlic in India
Year Quantity (MT)Value
(Rs. Lakhs)2001-2002 2984.00 514.192002-2003 36187.00 7373.482003-2004 40576.00 6006.152004-2005 18039.00 2255.80
EXPORT OF ONION AND GARLIC PRODUCTSOnion:
Commodity (tones)Year
1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03Onion Dried 4124.5 4941.0 4248.5 7920.3 7224.5 7064.5 13245.2Onion Prpd/Prsvd by vinegar acetic acid
183.4 241.3 126.3 697.9 1293.3 403.6 264.9
Onion Provisionally preserved 9095.2 4073.8 2876.2 2810.6 4925.2 3274.0 4805.8Total 13403.2 9256.2 7251.1 11428.8 13443.1 10742.1 18315.9
Onion Fresh or chilled427011.
8333349.
0215693.
6260475.
3343253.
7441849.
6588711.
8
Total440414.
9342605.
2222944.
7271904.
1356696.
8452591.
7607027.
7Garlic:
Commodity (tones)Year
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03 2003-04
Dehydrated Garlic Power
1038.1 247.2 205.3 252.4 347.2 788.9 1384.2
Dehydrated Garlic Flakes
233.9 416.1 113.5 235.3 345.9 56.0 144.6 521.1
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Dried Garlic 260.6 83.6 24.8 224.7 50.6 23.1 28.8 218.0Garlic Oil 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 1.9Garlic Oleoresin 1.7 2.40 0.7 18.8 0.9 13.6 5.9
Total 496.21540.4
3386.42 684.2 649.9 440.2 968.5 2125.1
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B. TECHNOLOGY ASPECTS
9. PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES
Onion
a. Utilization
The gene pool maintained at NRCOG has successfully been utilized in development and identification high yielding lines / hybrids. As first step, 11 high yielding elite lines have been developed suitable for late kharif and rabi cultivation, 44 high yielding red and light red lines have been identified for year round onion production, 4 massing lines suitable for kharif cultivation, 2 massing lines have been developed for rabi cultivation and 2 pure lines for late kharif and rabi have been developed and presently being testing in longer plots. The gene pool has been successfully utilized for identifying diverse parents of 18 for successful hybridization.
In case of white onion, 30 high TSS lines were identified and are being in testing. 23 elite lines of white have been developed and suitable for all the three seasons. Utilizing the gene pool developed 15 massing lines of high yield and TSS. 6 elite lines of yellow onion have been identified, further selection is under progress.
Molecular characterization in onion
In the genus Allium, close relations of A. cepa have already been successfully analysed with Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. While RAPDs have been used successfully for genetic studies in Allium, the size of the genome may cause many problems, such as rather poor reproducibility and high backgrounds. Apart from RAPDs, Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR), also called microsatellite markers, which are codominantly inherited and which reveals high levels of polymorphism, have been used for molecular characterisation. A set of informative STMS (Sequence Tagged Microsatellite Sites) markers for onion have been developed, which can be used to distinguish onion accessions and also for studying interspecific taxonomic analysis using close relatives of Allium cepa. Using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLPs) in an interspecific cross of A. roylei and A. cepa one of the allinase genes (a key enzyme in the sulphur metabolism) and a Sequence Characterised Amplified Region (SCAR) marker linked to the disease resistance gene to downy mildew was reported. Also the male sterility (Ms) gene flanking the Ms locus was identified using RFLP.<Back>
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b. Evaluation All the germplasm of red, light red, white and yellow onion were
evaluated in replicated trials in all the growing seasons and suitability of the lines according to the seasons have been identified. <Back>
c. Collection and conservation A total of 1165 red and light red germplasm accessions were
collected, since inception of NRCOG. A good number of exotic germplasm wild (75) and cultivated (115) species have been collected from Institute of botanical garden, Hungary, Asian Vegetable Research Development Centre, Taiwan, Research Development, Govt. of Israel, Egypt and CGN, Netherlands. Intensive surveys have been conducted in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and collected huge genetic stock. Many of the exotic genetic stock could not be maintained due to non-formation of bulb and as well as flower stack. Huge genetic stock of white onion (400) were collected from the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and are being maintained through regular seed production.<Back>
Garlic
a. Collection and Conservation
Germplasm collection forms a basis for successful improvement of any crop. National Research Centre has been identified as the National Active Germplasm Site (NAGS) for garlic germplasm conservation and maintenance. NRCO&G has conducted number of collecting missions and germplasm has been collected from different garlic growing states i.e., Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and some accessions from Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, J&K, Rajasthan etc have also been collected. At present our center is maintaining 350 accessions collected from different locations. In addition to this, about 700 accessions from NBPGR, New Delhi and 110 accessions of temperate garlic from NBPGR, Bhowali have been handed over to our center for maintenance. The main method for conservation till now is in situ management.
b. Evaluation
In order to identify lines with bigger bulb size, less number of cloves and higher yield potential, some 500 lines have been evaluated till date. In addition to this some temperate lines have also been evaluated to study their suitability under our conditions. To increase the diversity in
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garlic, a vegetatively propagated crop, mutation treatments using various mutagens viz., Colchicine, EMS and sodium azide have also been tried in the popular commercial cultivar G-41. The main aim is to identify lines with good yield potential. Maximum number of lines have also been screened for thrips and eriophyid mite resistance. As a result, some lines having resistance to eriophyid mite have been identified.
c. Utilisation
In garlic, main focus is on the development of big bulb with less number of cloves and higher yielding genotypes under the subtropical conditions. In this area, two lines AC-50 (purple coloured) and AC-200 (white coloured) lines were identified and are under the AICVIP evaluation. Both the lines are performing well and are in the Advanced varietal evaluation – II phase. In addition to this, some lines exhibiting higher yield than the local check variety i.e., G-41 have been developed through clonal selection.
d. Molecular Characterisation in garlic
Characterisation of garlic germplasm based on different methods has been carried out by various researchers. Characterisation on the basis of isozyme analysis, molecular markers viz., RAPD and AFLP for infraspecific classification, differentiation, phylogenetic studies and linkage of markers to various characters viz., pollen fertility, soft rot resistance has been achieved.
In order to characterize the germplasm at the molecular level and to study the genetic diversity present in our germplasm, DNA fingerprinting through RAPD markers has been initiated. Some primers showing polymorphism in garlic germplasm have been identified and these markers will be used for assessing genetic diversity of our germplasm, to prevent duplicates and to form a core collection of our garlic germplasm. Also, RAPD markers linked to eriophyid mite resistance have been identified which will aid in molecular screening of our germplasm in an efficient way. Work on ISSR fingerprinting has been initiated and DNA fingerprinting through SSR markers through the use of SSR’s developed in onion will be used for comparative analysis.<Back>
Other Allium Species
a. Collection and Conservation
The genus Allium comprises of more than 600 species whch are a rich reservoir of important genes for resistance and other desirable traits. In this direction, our center collected about 67 lines (comprising 12
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species, one interspecific hybrid and temperate onion germplasm) from CGN, Netherlands and six lines of A. fistulosum from AVRDC, Taiwan. Also A. hookeri, A. odorum (from Manipur) and Pran (from Kashmir) have been collected. Allium species viz., A. fistulosum, A. tuberosum, A. senescens, Pran and A. odorum are being maintained through vegetative propagation under field conditions.
b. Evaluation
Material obtained from different sources was evaluated at our center for studying their adaptability performance. Of the 67 lines obtained from CGN, Netherlands maximum number of wild species did not germinate or did not form bulbs except A. cepa (4 accessions), which flowered. All the six lines of A. fistulosum, obtained from Taiwan, flowered well and produced seeds under our conditions. A. odorum produced flowers but no seed formation was visible.
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c. Utilization
Interspecific hybrids between commercial cultivars B-780 and N-2-4-1 and A. fistulosum lines, in both directions, were attempted and some F1 hybrids were obtained. But the F1 hybrid so developed was sterile and non-bulbing.
List of germplasm holdings at major gene banks worldwide
Centre Accessions
Crop
Centre for Genetic Resources, Netherlands
325 Onion, Leek, Allium spp.
AVRDC, Taiwan441 Onion503 Garlic84 Allium spp.
Warwick HRI, Genetic Resources Unit
7832 5 major Allium crops and wild taxa
WPRIS, USDA-ARS, Washington State Univ., Pullman, USA
940 Allium spp.
Northeast Regional Plant Introduction Station PGRU, USDA-ARS, Cornell University
1273 Allium spp.
Volcani Centre, Bet Dagan, Israel 578 Allium spp.Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, Israel 150 A. cepa
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10. REGISTRATION OF GERMPLASM
Registration of germplasm with NBPGR is in progress.
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11. GENETIC STUDIES
Very few genetic studies have been made in onion however; its large and easily stainable chromosomes have always made it a favourite for cytological studies, both in the classroom and in the research laboratory. Chromosome counts on many species of Allium indicate that the common basic number (n) for the genus is 7 or 8, with a few species having 9 chromosomes. The species that are cultivated for food all have the basic number n=8: A.cepa, A. sativum and A. fistulosum, are known only as diploid (2n=16); A. schoenoprasum is known as 2n, 3n and 4n, A. ampeloprasum as 4n and 6n; A. Chinese as 2n and 4n; and A. tuberosum as 4n. Genetic studies on male-sterility in the onion had a stimulating effect on onion breeding. Inheritance studies on onion bulb colour have provided information that is useful in the development of new cultivars, and have shown growers how to arrange their seed fields to minimize colour contamination. The few studies that have been made on species hybrids and polyploids indicate that this is a tremendously fertile field for investigation. Vegetatively propagated species, such as A. sativum, need to be made fertile to facilitate cultivar improvement. No doubt many of the wild species have genes for hardness, disease resistance, etc., that could be incorporated into cultivars by the use of genetic procedures which are now available.
Male sterility
The history of practically all of the hybrid onion seed produced in the United States today can be traced back to a single male-sterile (female) onion plant, which was found in the vegetable breeding plots of the University of California at Davis in 1925. Because of its impact on plant breeding in general and on onion breeding in particular, this plant is of special interest. A cytological study of sterility was made by Monosmith (1928). Whereas she found the normal chromosome complement, and whereas meiosis proceeded regularly, the microspores degenerated so that no viable-appearing pollen was produced. The first indication of abnormality was the hypertrophy of a few of the centrally located tapetal cells. These degenerated abnormally and, following this, many or all of the microspores in a locule died. At the time of dehiscence, the contents of the pollen sac were cemented together and remained within the anther. Male sterility in 13—53 is interpreted as a conditions resulting from an interaction between a recessive nuclear gene (chromogene) and a cytoplasmic factor (cytogene). It is assumed that there are two types of cytoplasm: normal (N) and sterile (S). All plants with N cytoplasm produce functional pollen; all male-sterility plants have S-cytoplasm. A recessive gene for male-sterility (ms) also influences pollen development when carried in plants with S cytoplasm, but has no effect when carried by plants with N cytoplasm. Consequently, the 13-53 male-sterile plants belongs to the genotypes S ms ms. Plants with N type cytoplasm are always male –sterile, and may be either N Ms Ms, N Ms ms or N ms ms. When plants having these different genotypes are crossed with the male-sterile S ms ms, the following results are obtained.
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Female Male(male-sterile) (male-fertile) F1 Ratio
S-ms ms x N Ms Ms S Ms ms All fertileS-ms ms x N Ms Ms S Ms ms+S ms ms I fertile: I sterileS-ms ms x N ms ms S-ms ms All sterile
Plants with the genetic constitution S Ms Ms and S Ms ms will always be fertile, because they carry the dominant gene Ms. The sterility factor S is inherited only thorough the female plant, and not through the male parent.
Polyploidy
The production of amphidiploids is of considerable interest because of its importance in the origin of new fertile types. By a process of chromosome doubling, a sterile species-hybrid may sometimes be made fertile. In the A.cepa x A. fistulosum cross, the amphidiploid maintains all of the desirable attributes of the F1 and in addition has some degree of fertility. At the first division of the pollen mother cells of the amphidiploid, there were usually sixteen pairs of chromosomes, and pairing was quite regular when compared with that of the diploid hybrid. Generally, fistulosum chromosomes paired with fistulosum chromosomes and cepa with cepa, but occasionally pairing occurred between fistulosum and cepa chromosomes.
Colour Inheritance
The attractiveness of cultivar depends to a large extent upon the bulb colour. Among commercial onions there are four colour classes: white, yellow, red and brown. Inheritance of white, yellow and red colours is well known, but studies of brown have never been reported. Clarke et al. (1944) showed that a dominant basic color-factor C is necessary for either red or yellow. All plants with cc have white bulbs, regardless of the presence of other colour-factor. Dominant R in the presence of C gives a red bulb colour. The recessive allele r, with C, produces a yellow bulb. The bulb colour-inhibiting factor I is incompletely dominant over i. Cultivars having the constitution II have white bulbs, regardless of the presence or absence of the C and R factors.
Genotype Phenotype
Ii CC rr Cream of buffII CC rr Whiteii CC RR Redii CC rr Yellowii cc rr, ii cc Rr or ii cc rr Recessive white
A number of abnormal chlorophyll types have been studied by H.A.Jones et al. (1944). Inbred lines, especially, segregate seedlings with chlorophyll deficiencies. A very common one is albino (a), a monogenic recessive, which soon dies. Another chlorophyll deficiency that is perpetuated n heterozygous plants is a light yellow lethal inherited as a monogenic recessive. A seedling carrying this gene resembles the albino seedlings closely except that it is light yellow instead of white. There is strong evidence that at least two
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different pairs of genes operate, either of which may produce the yellow lethal condition. The pair, which assorts independently as y2. A third type of lethal, designated as pale green (pg), is also a monogenic recessive.
The difference in foliage colour among cultivars is mainly due to the amount of wax secreted on the exterior surface of the leaf. Crosses show that non-glossy (GI) is incompletely dominant over glossy (gl). Glossiness is inherited as a monogenic recessive. Crosses between the ‘White Persian’ glossy and the ‘Australian Brown’ glossy give non-glossy in the F1 indicating that different genes govern their inheritance. In the cross between virescent and glossy, the F1 plants are also non-glossy.
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12. BIOTECHNOLOGY
Biotechnological Approaches In Onion and Garlic
Biotechnological approaches towards improvement of onion and garlic gains importance as both these crops are not very amenable to conventional breeding. Onion being a highly cross pollinated crop with severe inbreeding depression, the major breeding issues like hybrid development is very time consuming. In garlic, the drawback is the sterile nature of the crop. Given these constraints, biotechnological approaches tend to pave a way for faster improvement of these crops.
Tissue culture
One main area of biotechnology is in vitro culture, otherwise also called micropropagation. Here, a large number of plantlets are induced from a small part of the plant viz., explant. Different organogenic responses have been studied in several onions in vitro culture systems. In general, two different tissues have been used for induction of shoot cultures: inoculation of scale bases excised from the basal parts of bulbs or onion sets and induction from flower parts such as receptacles or immature flower buds. Callus tissue have been induced on a wider range of explant tissues, including bulb, set or seedling radicle, radicle tissue, shoot tip, seeds and root tip, seedling leaf sheaths, immature sexual embryo, immature unfertilized ovules and mature basal plates. Onion direct shoot organogenesis has been achieved from shoot tips, root tips, cut stem bases, shoot apex, immature flower buds, mature flower buds, shoot meristem, onion scales, meristem tip, capitulum.
In garlic, micropropagation through regeneration of axillary buds from basal plates, development of somatic embryos from basal plate, roots derived from anther, meristematic root tubercles (MRT’s) have been reported. A novel tissue culture method, stem disc culture, wherein the restricted part of the underdeveloped stem of the garlic clove, called the “ stem disc”, which is just under the basement of the immature foliage leaves, was used for the differentiation of twenty to thirty shoots consistently from a single clove within one month of culture. A micropropagation method, which combined initial shoot tip culture, shoot multiplication and in vitro bulblet formation is also practised.
Callus formation and regeneration from different explants have been reported from root tips, shoot tips, apical meristem with one leaf primordium, young leaves, meristems incubated in water for 24 hours, protoplasts, shoot meristem and through embryogenesis via culture of sprout leaf. Regeneration in garlic involves both organogenesis as well as embryogenesis. Evaluation of regeneration capacity of long term callus cultures using one clone showed that organogenetic potential decreased and genetic instability increased greatly in cultures that were maintained on medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for longer than 120 days.
Somatic Embryogenesis
Somatic embryogenesis has been observed in callus cultures of A. cepa; A. fistulosum and in F1 hybrids between A. cepa and A. fistulosum. Somatic embryogenesis to get true to
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type and more number of plants has also been reported from mature zygotic embryos in A. cepa, A. fistulosum, their interspecific hybrids and Allium porrum from mature seeds, flower buds, immature zygotic embryos and mature flower buds or ovaries.
Protoplast Culture
There are very few publications dealing with protoplast culture of Alliums. Isolation of pollen protoplast from nine species and fusion experiments between nucleoplasts and cytoplasts of onion have been reported in literature but their culture response was not reported. Establishment of a regenerable suspension culture of onion and colony formation by protoplasts isolated from suspension cultures of Allium cepa is also reported. Production of somatic hybrid plants between Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.) and bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) via electrofusion is also reported.
Suspension Culture
Few reports on the suspension culture of garlic callus is available. Rapidly growing regenerable suspension cultures were obtained from meristem derived callus cultures of garlic in liquid culture medium consisting of MS salts, B5 vitamins, 3% sucrose, 1mg NAA/litre and 2 mg 6-benzyladenine/litre. Morphogenic clumps upon transfer to an agar-solidified medium produced numerous meristems with green leaf primordial.
In Vitro Mutation Studies
The effect of concentration and treatment period of colchicine on polyploid formation in suspension culture of callus derived from shoot apex of garlic (Allium sativum L.) was studied. It is reported that the optimum concentration and the period of colchicine treatment for inducing polyploidy was 1.0 mM for 6-10 days. A study on the production of garlic (Allium sativum L.) tetraploids in shoot tip in vitro culture using dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) resulted in 22.9% tetraploids and 15% diploid-tetraploid chimeras.
Somaclonal variation
Any variation resulting from callus cultures is termed as somaclonal variation. These variations can be used as a source for creation of variability, especially in a sterile crop like garlic, where natural variability is less. Reports on variation in a range of phenotypic characters for garlic including plant height, leaf number, bulb weight and shape and number of cloves within a bulb are available in literature. A somaclone possessing consistently higher bulb yield than the parental clone is reported. Detection of somaclonal variation through RAPD and cytological analysis was attempted and it was concluded that no association existed between the rate of variation for molecular and cytological characters either by comparing cultivars or examining individual regenerants and also suggested that the frequency of variation is cultivar dependent.
Garlic Flowering
Garlic being sterile, tissue culture techniques was applied for induction of artificial flowering. It was found that gibberelic acid with adenine or biotin stimulated normal
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development of some flowers on pieces of garlic flower stalk grown in vitro, while inhibiting the formation of aerial bulbils on the inflorescence. However, no seeds were produced. In vitro garlic flowering was achieved by in a liquid medium consisting of 100 ppm GA3 and 100 ppm tetracycline. Here, flowers developed readily and pollen reached the binucleate stage. In another experiment it was observed that high concentration of IAA and Kinetin (2X10-5M) favored flower formation. GA inhibited flower formation, but transfer of cultures in which flower formation had occurred from media without GA to media with GA resulted in a stimulation of flower development.
Virus free garlic
Garlic owing to its sterile nature is propagated vegetatively through planting of cloves. This, over a period of time has resulted in the accumulation a wide array of viruses. Production of virus free garlic plants achieves importance in this regard. This has been attained through meristem tip culture and by thermotherapy in combination with meristem tip culture. Onion yellow dwarf virus could be removed by 90-100% through thermotherapy and meristem culture of garlic. A protocol for the effective multiplication of virus free garlic clones through continuous bulblet formation was developed through root tip culture. Scape tip culture for regeneration of virus free garlic plantlets was also studied. This was found to be an effective method for elimination of garlic mosaic carlavirus and could be used for eliminating viruses from other vegetatively propagated species.
Haploid Production
Onion being a highly cross-pollinated crop with severe inbreeding depression, development of inbred lines (for heterosis breeding) is very tedious and time consuming. However, tissue culture approaches can be exploited for induction of haploids in onion via androgenesis or gynogenesis within a very short time span. The inbred thus developed can be used for breeding of F1 hybrids.
However, attempts to produce haploid plants via androgenesis have failed. Only one report is available in literature where anthers were obtained containing microspores with 1-3 nuclei. But later, the tapetum degenerated and the microspores died.
The first report on successful haploid induction via gynogenesis was given by using unpollinated ovaries. Several attempts to improve the haploid induction procedure using different culture condition or altering media components were tested later. Effect of media additives for increased haploid induction was studied. The effect of flower part, cultivar, megaspore development stage on plant and haploid regeneration frequencies from in vitro culture were also investigated and some researchers reported unpollinated flower buds and ovaries to be better explants for haploid induction while others opined that ovary or flower culture showed similar induction frequencies.
Variation in gynogenic response among long days onion accessions was studied and the report indicated that the genotype of donor plants has a crucial influence on haploid induction ability. Moreover, this is a lesser labour intensive single step flower induction procedure, which is an efficient method for obtaining a high frequency homozygous embryo induction rate. Similarly, genotypic differences exist for in vitro gynogenesis and evidence of
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an inhibitory effect of cold on haploid formation in onion is reported. Haploid plants regenerated via gynogenesis also revealed their homozygosity based on morphological, isozyme and molecular studies.
Male Sterility
Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is widespread among the plant kingdom and provides a convenient and proprietary means to produce hybrid seeds. The mitochondrial (mt) DNA of the male fertile and the CMS onions have been reported to give distinctive restriction profiles. This allows the cytoplasm to be identified quickly and if the male sterile/maintainer lines are identified and developed, they could be directly used as seed parent in breeding programme.
In onion, two types of cytoplasmic male sterility have been described. Cytoplasmic male sterility type T was discovered in the onion cultivar Jaune Paille des Vertus and is controlled by a cytoplasmic determinant (T) and three independently segregating restorer loci. Cytoplasmic male sterility type S was discovered in the onion cultivar Italian Red and is conditioned by the interaction of the cytoplasm (sterile, [S]) with a single recessive male fertility non-restoring allele (ms). Hybrid onion production primary relies on CMS type S because of the simpler inheritance of fertility restoration.
Although the biochemical and genetic basis underlying the CMS are not well understood, this trait has been associated with changes in the genomes of the mitochondria and chloroplast. In onion, restriction patterns of chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA have permitted distinction between S, N and T cytoplasms. Since the onion plasmon shows maternal inheritance, polymorphisms observed in the chloroplast genome can be used to identify S and N cytoplasm. Use of platome specific DNA amplification to distinguish between S and N cytoplasm and to aid in the identification of maintainer lines from open pollinated populations has been proposed. It was demonstrated that plants with N cytoplasm show a 100 bp insertion in the cp DNA. The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the chloroplast specific primers have allowed rapid and accurate cytoplasmic distinction. Some workers have already demonstrated the utility of cytoplasm determination in onion breeding. Further work supported the use of chloroplast specific markers to assist in the selection of specific cytoplasmic types and suggested the potential to facilitate genotype determination, and demonstrated the presence of additional variation within cytoplasm type which gives insight into plastome evolution and may facilitate more accurate genotyping and selection. PCR detectable polymorphism based on the differences in the mitochondrial DNA sequences that distinguish between sterile and fertile cytoplasm was developed to allow faster screening.
Genetic transformation
Foreign gene transfer to plants is becoming a routine technique for many important crop species. The presence of efficient methods of genetic transformation viz., Agrobacterium mediated transformation or direct gene transfer by particle bombardment, are of considerable importance for the improvement of modern crops. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is routinely used in gene transfer to dicotyledonous plants. However, monocots were thought to be recalcitrant to this technology as they were outside the host range of the
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bacterium. But recently, transgenic plants have been obtained in monocots using specific Agrobacterium strains. Therefore, the monocotyledonous nature of species no longer prevents the application of Agrobacterium mediated techniques to the transfer of genes to these species as soon as the methodological parameters are optimized.
As monocotyledons, the Allium species were predisposed to be recalcitrant to transformation. It has, therefore, been relatively understudied with respect to the application of biotechnology. In 1987, a high velocity micro-projectile method was developed which demonstrated that epidermal tissue of onion could be transformed. Later, it was demonstrated that onion was host for Agrobacterium as evidenced by tumourigenic responses and production of opines by these tumors. Phenolic compounds influenced Agrobacterium vir gene induction and subsequent genetic transfer in onion. Both particle bombardment and Agrobacterium mediated DNA delivery systems to transform in vitro onion cultures with the uid A (-glucuronidase) reporter gene are reported. In 1999, studies on the transient expression of GFP (green fluorescence protein) using onion epidermal cells were done. A successful transformation of one onion cultivar mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens was reported using immature embryos as inoculated explant. Recently, a reproducible Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation system for both onion and shallot with young callus derived from mature embryos with two different Agrobacterium strains was developed. In India, too a report on onion callus as the best explant source for genetic transformation followed by shoot tip and root tips was done. Recently an enzyme, which catalyzes specifically the lachrymatory factor named as Lachrymatory factor synthase (LFS) was discovered. This finding can lead to the development of genetically modified onions that don’t make us cry as we chop them and hence have been aptly named as “tearless onions”.
Genetic transformation in garlic is of utmost importance because of its sexual sterility. Due to difficulties of inducing flowering, breeding programmes have been limited to clonal selection and production of virus free stocks via meristem culture. Although, tissue culture is a useful technique for producing virus free garlic, the propagation rate of virus free plantlets is very low. And the process is laborious and time consuming. Since no other methods of gene transfer exist, genetic transformation may be a promising tool. Transformation also holds the key for improvement of garlic towards biotic and abiotic stresses. It is possible to use genetic transformation for the production of transgenic garlic with the desired characteristics. Unfortunately both onion and garlic have proved to be recalcitrant to genetic transformation and plant regeneration till recently.
A characteristic that interferes with the expression of foreign DNA introduced in plant cells is nuclease activity of the target tissues. However, this characteristic is usually not taken into account and has only been considered as an important factor in the transformation of specific cell types like pollen or microspores. Successful transformation requires a DNA delivery system, a plant regeneration system to select transgenic cells and an efficient regeneration system. For garlic, the characterization of these three aspects of transformation is still incomplete and is being optimized. Till 1998, no report on garlic transformation was published. In 1998, a report on the transfer of uidA gene into different garlic tissues, including regenerable calli through biolistic particle delivery was made. This report opined that garlic tissues show a high endogenous nuclease activity preventing exogenous DNA expression and also reported the specificity of plasmids to produce the best results. In 2000, a stable transformation system in garlic through indirect transformation using highly
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regenerative calli was developed. It was reported that temperature and number of days of co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens were important factors in transient expression of the uid A gene. In 2002, it was demonstrated that biolistic transformation can lead to the transfer, expression and stable integration of DNA fragment into the garlic chromosomal DNA. More research in this aspect needs to be done to develop an efficient and reproducible protocol for a wider range of garlic genotypes.
Molecular Studies
Markers in the Study of Interspecific Hybridisation in Alliums
Molecular markers now play an important role in identification of interspecific hybrids. Interspecific hybrids are useful as gene(s) of interest can be introgressed from wide sources. Earlier work started on reports of chromosomal gene loci related to chromosomal regions, followed by 12 isozyme loci and then validity of introgression of disease resistance germplasm from A. fistulosum into A. cepa through molecular markers was reported. A study on introgression of A. fistulosum genes into A. cepa background is reported using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.
Mapping
Mapping studies in onion have thus far been scarce. A low-density genetic map of onion based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLPs) from an interspecific cross shows that the genomic organization of onion is complex and involves duplicated loci. More recently, a genetic map based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLPs) in an interspecific cross of A. roylei and A. cepa was reported. From this study, one of the allinase gene (a key enzyme in the sulphur metabolism) and a Sequence Characterised Amplified Region (SCAR) marker linked to the disease resistance gene to downy mildew was mapped. RFLP studies have helped in tagging the Male sterility (Ms) gene of the Ms locus in onion.
QTL analysis of Solid content, pungency and anti-platelet activity of onion has been studied. Solid content is an important characteristic related to onion flavor, texture and storability and has practical importance for the dehydration industry. Among the salutary effects of Allium vegetables on the cardiovascular system is the inhibition of platelet activity. Platelets play a key role in thrombosis and acute coronary syndromes because they facilitate blood coagulation. Pungency is also an important commercial trait. A 138-point genetic map is being used to identify and estimate the magnitude of quantitative trait loci controlling these traits of onion. QTL for the said traits were estimated using 54 F3 families, derived from the cross between two partially inbred lines, Brigham Yellow Globe 15-23 (BYG15-23) and Ailsa Craig (AC43). This study confirmed the existence of strong phenotypic correlations among the traits under study. QTL data available also suggest the existence of significant correlations between markers and the traits under study. Most of the markers that are significant for pungency and antiplatelet activity are also significant for solids, suggesting that the same chromosome regions may control these characteristics.
A low-density genetic map of garlic has also been developed very recently in 2005. the mapping population consisted of MP1 and MP2 populations generated by self-pollination
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(of fertile garlic clones) of unrelated plants, consisting of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and gene-specific markers. A total of 360 markers segregated in MP1 (12.8 AFLP markers per primer combination) and 321 markers segregated in MP2 (13.9 per primer combination) to indicate a fairly high level of genetic heterozygosity in the garlic nuclear genome. The map suggests extensive levels of duplication in the garlic genome similar to that in onion. Gene-specific markers for alliinase, chitinase, sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase (SST-1), and chalcone synthase (CHS) were mapped, demonstrating the immediate utility of the garlic genetic map.
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13. VARIEITES (PRODUCTION, QUALITY, RESISTANCE)
Onion varieties developed in India
Onion is the commodity of mass consumption. It is used as salad and cooking in various ways in curries, fried, boiled, baked, used in soup making, pickles etc. Onion is used as fresh and also in dehydrated forms. A number of varieties have been evolved in India by different research organizations. Since adoption and acclimatization onion has undergone continuous selection by farmers to suit as per climate and market demand a number of ecotypes have been evaluated, cultivated and subjected to continuous selection. Being cross-pollinated crop, it always provides scope for selection as natural variability available in population. Systematic breeding programme was started as early 1960 at Niphad in Nashik district of Maharashtra and later on at IARI, New Delhi. The early varieties developed through selection viz., N-53, N-2-4-1, Pusa Red are still much in demand. The programme was further strengthened under coordinated project through SAUs and ICAR institutes. As a result, 37 varieties of onion including 2 F1 hybrids and 5 varieties of multiplier onion have been developed and released (Table.1)
Table 1: List of onion varieties released so far.
S.No. Organization Varieties Colour1. Agril. Dept., M.S. N-2-4-1 R
N-53 RN-257-9-1 W
2. M.P.K.V., Rahuri Baswant-780 RPhule Safed WPhule Swarna Y
3. IARI, N. Delhi Pusa Red RPusa White Flat WPusa White Round WPusa Ratnar RPusa Madhavi REarly Grano YBrown Spanish (Long day) B
4. IIHR, Bangalore Arka Niketan RArka Kalyan RArka Bindu RArka Pragati RArka Pitambar YArka Lalima (F1 hybrid) RArka Kirtiman (F1 hybrid) R
5. HAU, Hissar Hissar 2 R6. NHRDF, Nashik Agrifound Dark Red RR
Agrifounf Light Red RAgrifound White WAgrifound Rose R
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Agrifound Red (Multiplier) R7. VPKAS, Almora VL-1 R
VL-3 R8. RAU, Rajesthan Udaipur 101 R
Udaipur 102 WUdaipur 103 W
9. CSAUAT, Kanpur Kalyanpur Red Round R10. PAU, Ludhiana Punjab Selection R
Punjab Red Round RPunjab Naroya RPunjab-48 WPunjab White W
11. TNAU, Coimbatore CO-1, (Multiplier) RCO-2 RCO-3 RCO-4 RMDU-1 R
R= Red. W= White & Y= Yellow
In India, the varieties developed by various organizations have been tested at different locations under All India Coordinated Vegetable Improvement Project and on their performance these varieties have been recommended for different zones. So far 14 varieties have been recommended for cultivation under specific agro-climatic zones (Table 2).
Table 2: Onion varieties recommended through AICRP.
S.No.
Varieties Organization Recommended Zones
Year of Identification
1 Punjab Selection PAU, Ludhiana IV, VII & VIII 19752 Pusa Red IARI, N. Delhi IV, VII, VIII 19753Pusa Ratnar IARI, N. Delhi IV & VI 19754 S-131 IARI, N. Delhi - 19775 N-257-9-1 Agrl. Dept., MS - 19856 N-2-4-1 Agrl. Dept., MS - 19857 Line-102 IARI, N. Delhi I, IV, VI, VII 19878 Arka Kalyan IIHR, Bangalore IV, VI, VII, VIII 19879 Arka Niketan IIHR, Bangalore IV, VII, VIII 198710 Agrifound Dark Red NHRDF, Nashik IV 198711 VL-3 VPKAS, Almora I 199012 Agrifound Light Red NHRDF, Nashik VI, VIII 199313 Punjab Red Round PAU, Ludhiana IV 199314 PBR-5 PAU, Ludhiana VI 1997
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Details of the Zones under AICRP Vegetables.
Zone I = Himachal Pradesh & U.P. HillsZone II = West Bengal & AssamZone III = Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura,
Arunachal Pradesh and Andaman & Nicobar IslandsZone IV = Punjab, Tarai region of U.P. & BiharZone V = Chhattisgarh, Orissa & Andhra PradeshZone VI = Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana & DelhiZone VII = Madhya Pradesh & MaharashtraZone VIII = Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala
Table 3: Common Onion Varieties with brief description.
S.No.
Variety Organization Characters
1. Pusa Red IARI, New Delhi
It is short to intermediate day length variety identified during 1975 for zones IV, VII & VIII. Plant height is 30 cm. Bulb medium in size, average weight 70 – 90 g, bronze red in colour, flat to globular in shape, less pungent. Good in storage. Plants mature in 140-145 days after transplanting. TSS is about 12-13%. Average yield is 250-quintal/ hectare. Suitable for late kharif & rabi seasons in Maharashtra.
2. Pusa Ratnar IARI, New Delhi
Developed in 1975 for the Zones IV & VII. Plant 30 cm, leaves dark green with waxy bloom. Bulbs are more exposed above ground at maturity, are of dark red colour, obvate to flat, globular, less pungent. Having character of neck fall at maturity. Average in storage. Plant mature in 125 days after transplanting. TSS about 11-12%. Average yield is 300 quintal/hectare. Recommended for rabi season
3. Pusa Madhavi IARI, New Delhi
It was selected form local collection of Muzaffarnagar in 1987 and identified for Indo-Gangetic plains. Bulbs mediun to large in size, light red in colour and flatish round in shape. Good for storage. Plants mature in 130-145 days after transplanting. The average yield potential is 300-quintal/ hectare. Recommended for rabi season.
4. Pusa White Round
IARI, New Delhi
It was developed from line 106 and identified in 1975 for zone IV, VI and VII. Bulbs are white in colour and roundish flat in shape. TSS is 12-13% with drying ratio 8:1. Good in storage. Maturity in 130-135 days after transplanting. Suitable for dehydration and green onion. Average yield is 300-325 quintal/ hectares.
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5. Pusa White Flat
IARI, New Delhi
It was identified in 1975 for zone IV, VI & VII. Bulbs are attractive white, flattish round. TSS is 11-12% with drying ratio 9:1. Maturity in 130-135 days after transplanting. Good in storage. It is also suitable for dehydration and green onion. Average yield is 325-350 quintals/ hectares.
6. Spanish Brown
IARI, New Delhi
This variety was developed at regional station Katrain, Kullu. The bulbs are attractive brown in colour with mild pungency. TSS is 13 –14%. Crop matures in 160-180 days and ready for harvesting during August-September. Good in storage at hills. It is long day type variety. Average yield is 280-300 quintals/ hectares.
7. Early Grano IARI, New Delhi
It was introduced by IARI from USA. Bulbs are globular in shape, yellow in colour; very mild in pungency with TSS 6-7%, diameter 7-8 cm. Crop matures in 95 to 110 days after transplanting. Poor in storage. Average yield is 500- 600-quintal/ hectare. Suitable for cultivation in plains during kharif and rabi seasons for salad purpose.
8. Arka Kalyan IIHR, Bangalore
It was selected form local collection of Kalwan taluka of Maharashtra, identified for IV, VI, VII and VIII zones during 1987. Bulbs globose shaped, 4-6- cm size with dark red coloured outer scales. TSS 11-12%. Average in storage. Matures in 100-110 days after transplanting. Average yield is 335 quintals / hectare. Suitable for kharif season
9. Arka Niketan IIHR, Bangalore
It was identified in 1987 for zones IV, VII & VIII. Bulbs globular with thin neck, attractive light red colour, 4-6 cm diameter. TSS 12-14%, pungent. Good for storage. Matures in 145 days after transplanting. Average yield is 340 quintal /hectare. Recommended for rabi season.
10. Arka Pragati IIHR, Bangalore
It is an improvement over local collection IIHR-149 from Nashik. The colour of the bulb is attractive pink, globular in shape, uniform in size with thin neck, highly pungent. Early in maturity 95 to 100 days after transplanting. Average yield is 200-quintal/ hectare.
11. Arka Bindu IIHR, Bangalore
It was developed from local collection for Chickballapur area of Karnataka particularly for export. Bulbs are deep pink in colour, small in size with 2.5 to 3.5 cm diameter, bulbs flattish globe in shape, free from bolters and doubles. Highly pungent with 14-16% TSS. Maturity in 100 days after sowing. Average yield 250-quintals/ hectares.
12. Agrifound NHRDF, It was selected from local collection of kharif onion
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Dark Red Nashik grown at Nashik and recommended in 1987 for the plains of Sutlej-Ganga. Bulbs are dark red in colour, globular in shape, 4-6 cm in diameter with tight skin, moderately pungent. TSS 12 –13%. Maturity in 95 – 110 days after transplanting. Yield 300-400 quintal/ hectares. Average in storage. Recommended for kharif season all over the country.
13. Agrifound Light Red
NHRDF, NAshik
It was selected through mass selection from local collection of Dindhori area of Nashik in 1993. The bulbs are globular in shape with tight skin, light red colour and 4-6 cm in diameter. TSS 13%. Good for storage. Maturity in 115-120 days after transplanting. Average yield 300-325 quintals/ hectares. Recommended for growing in rabi season all over the country. It can be grown in late kharif season also in Nashik districts of Maharashtra.
14 Agrifound Rose
NHRDF, Nashik
It was developed at Chickabalapur. It is pickling type variety grown in Kolar and Bangalore districts of Karnataka and Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh exclusively for export. Bulbs are flattish round in shape, deep scarlet red in colour, and 2.3-3.3 cm in diameter. Maturity in 95-110 days after sowing. TSS is 15-16%. Average yield is 190 – 200 quintal/ hectare. Suitable for growing in kharif season in Cuddapah district and all the three seasons in Karnataka.
15. Agrifound White
NHRDF, Nashik
It was selected from local germplasm of white onion grown during rabi season in Nimad area of Madhya Pradesh. The bulbs are globular in shape with tight skin, silvery attractive white colour having 4-6 cm diameter. TSS is 14-15%, good in storage. Maturity in 115-120 days after planting. Average yield is 200-250 quintal/hectares. Good for dehydration and suitable for kharif and rabi season.
16. N-2-4-1 Agrl. Dept.,MaharashtraState
It was identified in 1985 for zones IV, VI & VII. Average bulb diameter is 4-6n cm, globular in shape, pungent in taste. Good for storage. Plant mature in 140-145 days after transplanting. TSS is 12-13%. Average yield 250-300 quintals/hectare. Recommended mainly for rabi season but can be grown in late kharif and rabi seasons in Maharashtra.
17. N-53 Agril. Dept.,Maharashtra State
It is popular variety suitable for kharif season all over country. Bulbs are globular in shape, scarlet red, medium to large in size, mild in pungency. TSS 11-12%. Poor in storage. Maturity in 100 – 110 days after transplanting. Average yield is 150-200 q/ha.
18. N-257-9-1 Agrl. Dept., It was identified in 1985 for zone VI. Bulbs are
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Maharashtra State
globose in shape and white in colour. High yielding with good in storage. Suitable for rabi season in onion growing regions of Maharashtra.
19. Baswant -780 MPKV, Rahuri
Bulbs attractive red in colour, globular in shape, mild in pungency, less bolting with doubles. TSS 11-12%. Average in storage. Maturity in 100-110 days after transplanting. Average yield 200-250 quintals per hectare. Suitable for kharif season in Maharashtra.
20. Phule Safed MPKV, Rahuri
It is white coloured variety, selected from local material from Kagal and released in 1994. Bulbs are globular in shape with TSS 13%. Suitable for dehydration. Average yield is 250-300 quintal/ hectare. Storage life is 2-3 months. Recommended for late kharif and rabi season.
21. Phule Swarna MPKV, Rahuri
Bulbs are yellow in colour suitable for export to Europe, Australia and America. Bulb size is medium to big. Less pungent, TSS 11.5%, with good in storage ($-6 months), Suitable for late kharif and rabi season. Average yield is 240-quintals/ hectare.
22. Punjab Selection
PAU, Ludhiana
This has been identified for zone IV, VII & VIII during 1975. Plant height 55-65 cm, 6-9 leaves per clump, bulbs red in colour, globular in shape with 5-6 cm diameter, average weight 50-70 g. Bulbs are quite firm with good in storage. TSS about 14%. Average yield is 200-quintal/ hectare. Recommended for rabi season.
23. Punjab Red Round
PAU, Ludhiana
Plants are medium tall with green leaves. Bulbs are shining red in colour, medium to large in size and round in shape with thin neck. Average yield is 300-quintals/hectare. Early in maturity.
24. Punjab-48 PAU, Ludhiana
It was identified in 1975 for sub humid plains of Sutlej-Ganga. Bulbs are flattish round and white in colour. It is suitable for dehydration having good texture and flavour. Good in storage. Average yield is 300-quintal/ hectare.
25. Hissar -2 HAU, Hissar Bulbs are bronze red in colour, globular in shape with tight skin, sweet to pungent in taste. TSS 11.5 – 13.5%. Maturity in 120 days after transplanting. Average yield is 250-quintal/ hectare. Suitable for cultivation during rabi in Haryana & Punjab.
26. Udaipur - 101 RAU, Udaipur
It was developed at Bikaner Campus in rajesthan. Bulbs are dark red in colour, flattish globular and sweet with less pungency. TSS 12-14%. Maturity in 105 – 115 days after transplanting. Average yield is 200-300 quintal/hectare. Recommended for Rajesthan and adjoining states during rabi season.
27. Udaipur-102 RAU, This variety was developed at Bikaner Campus. The
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Udaipur bulbs are white in colour, round to flat in shape with low percentage of small bulbs. Diameter of the bulb is 4.5-6.5 cm. Maturity is in 120 days after transplanting. TSS is 12%. Average yield is 300-350 quintal/hectare.
28. Udaipur – 103 RAU, Udaipur
It was also developed at Bikaner campus. Bulbs are red in colour, oblate globular bulb shape, and sweet but slightly more pungent. TSS 10.5 – 13%. Maturity in 105 to 120 days after transplanting. Average yield is 250-300 quintal/hectare. It is also recommended for Rajesthan and adjoining states during rabi season.
29. Kalyanpur Red Round
CSAUAT, Kanpur
Bulbs are bronze red in colour, globular in shape, moderately sweet and moderately pungent. TSS 13-14%. Maturity in 105-115 days after transplanting. Good in storage. Average yield is 250-300 q/ha.
Multiplier onion varieties
30. CO-1 TNAU, Coimbatore
This is multiplier onion variety. Medium plant height with green leaves. Medium sized bulblets of red colour. 7-8 bulblets per plant. Average weight of bulblets is 55-60 b per clump. Average yield is 100-quintal/hectare. Adapted through Tamil Nadu. Maturity in 90 days after planting. Fairly pungent with medium TSS.
31. CO-2 TNAU,Coimbatore
Plant height is medium with light green cylindrical foliage. Moderately bigger size bulblets of crimpson colour. 7-9 bulblets per clump. Shorter duration than CO-1 matures in 65 days after planting. Average yield is 120-quintals/hectare. Pungent with high TSS. Adaptability through out Tamil Nadu. Good in storage, moderately resistant to thrips and Alternaria blight.
32. CO-3 TNAU,Coimbatore
Plants are taller than CO-1 & CO-2. Foliage light green in colour with erect cylindrical leaves. Bulblets are pink in colour and bigger than CO-2 with good consumer appeal. 8-10 bulblets per plant, weighing 75 g per clump. Maturity in 65 days after planting. Moderately resistant to trhips. Average yield is 160-quintal/hectare. TSS 13%. Good in storage, with no sprouting up to 120 days.
33. CO-4 TNAU,Coimbatore
Plants are taller with cylindrical green leaves. 8-10 bulblets per plant with light brown colour bulbs weighing 90 g per clump. Maturity in 60-65 days after planting. Average yield 180-q/ha. Moderately resistant to thrips.
34. MDU-1 TNAU, This was developed at Madurai campus. Plant with
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Coimbatore medium height and leaves cylindrical light to dark green in colour. Bulbs are uniform, bigger in size with bright red in colour. Adapted in Southern districts of Tamil Nadu. Weighing 75 g per clump. 10-11 bulblets per plant. Average yield is 150-quintal/ hectare. Maturity in 60-75 days after planting. Good in storage. Tolerant to lodging due to thick erect leaves.
35. Agrifound Red
NHRDF, Nashik
It was developed at Dindigul. The colour of bulb is light red. Average size of cluster is 7.15 cm and weight is 65-67 g. Number of bulblets per cluster 5.79 (average). Size of the bulblet is 3.64 cm and weight of single bulblet is 8.85 g. Maturity is 65-67 days after planting. Average yield is 180-200 quintal/hectare.
Garlic varieties developed in India
Not much work had been done on garlic improvement. Earlier work on garlic varieties was taken up at National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, Nashik, HAU Hisar, MPKV Rahuri, and PAU Ludhiana. . The detailed characteristics of the varieties are given below:
Sr.No.
Organisation Varieties
1. MPKV, Rahuri Godawari (P), Sweta (W)
2. IARI, New Delhi Pusa Sel – 103. HAU, Hisar HG 1 (W), HG 6 (W)4. NHRDF, Nasik Agrifound White (W), Yamuna Safed (W), Yamuna
Safed-2 (W), Yamuna Safed-3, Yamuna Safed-4 (W), Agrifound Parvati
5. VPKAS, Almora VL-6 (W), VL-7 (W)6. ARU, Almora ARU 52 (W)7. PAU, Ludhiana Punjab Garlic –1, Garlic T-56-48. GAU, Gujarat GG-1, GG-2, GG-109. TNAU, Coimbatore Ooty-1
Agrifound White (G-41) (NHRDF, Nashik)
Govt. of India notified the variety in 1989. The variety was developed by mass selection from a local collection obtained from Bihar Kharif area in Bihar. The bulbs are compact, silvery white with creamy fleshwith bigger elongated cloves with 20-25 in number. The variety is susceptible to purple blotch and Stemphyllium blight, which are common in the Northern parts. TSS is 41% and dry matter is 42.78% with good storability with an average yield of 130 q/ha. It is recommended for cultivation in the areas where there is not much problem of purple blotch or Stemphylium blight in rabi season.Yamuna Safed (G-1) (NHRDF, Nashik)
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Government of India notified this variety in the year 1991. It was developed by mass selection from a local collection obtained from Delhi (Azadpur) market. The bulbs are compact, silvery white skin with creamy flesh, sickle shaped cloves. The variety is tolerant to insect pests and diseases like purple blotch, Stemphylium blight and onion thrips. TSS 38%, dry matter 39.5% and good storer. Yield 150-175 q/ha. It is recommended for cultivation all over the country.
Yamuna Safed-2 (G-50) (NHRDF, Nashik)
The variety was notified by the Government of India in the year 1996. It was developed by mass selection from a local collection obtained from Karnal area in Haryana. The bulbs are compact, attractive white creamy flesh, TSS 38-40 %, and dry matter 40-41%. Average yield 150-200 q/ha. The variety is recommended for Northern parts.Yamuna Safed (G-282) (NHRDF, Nashik)
The variety has done very well in Northern parts and also in Central parts of India. It was developed by mass selection techniques from a local collection obtained from Dindigul (TN) in 1990. The leaves are wider than other varieties. Bulbs are creamy white and bigger sized, 15-16 numbers of cloves per bulb. TSS 38.42%, dry matter, 39-43%, medium storer. Average yield 175-200 q/ha. The variety is suitable for export.
Agrifound Parvati (G-313) (NHRDF, Nashik)
This variety was developed in 1992 by selection from an exotic collection obtained from Hongkong market. The variety is long day type and as such is suitable for cultivation in mid and high hills of Northern states. Bulbs are bigger size (5-6.5 cm), creamy white colour with pinkish tinge. 10-16 cloves in number tolerant to common diseases. Average yield 175-225 q/ha, medium storer, suitable for export.
Yamuna Safed-4 (G –323) (NHRDF, Nashik)
This variety was developed by mass selection techniques from a local collection obtained from Badlapur, Jaunpur district of U.P. in 1990. The plants are vigorous with wider, green leaves. The bulbs are silvery white and bigger sized, no. of cloves around 30 to 35, TSS 40-42% and dry matter 41-42%. Average yield 175-200 q/ha. The variety is recommended for growing in North India.
Godavari (MPKV, Rahuri)
This variety has been developed by MPKV, Rahuri in the year 1987. Medium size and pinkish white colour having 22-25 cloves per bulb. Maturity 140-145 days after planting, yield 100-105 q/ha.
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Shweta (MPKV, Rahuri)
This variety has also been developed by MPKV, Rahuri (MS). The bulbs are bigger in size and silvery white colour having 25-26 cloves per bulb. Maturity 130-135 days and yield 100-105 q/ha.
T-56-4 (PAU, Ludhiana)
This variety has been developed by selection method by PAU, Ludhiana. The bulbs are smaller in size and white in colour having 25-35 cloves per bulb. Yield 80-100 q/ha.
Ooty –1 (TNAU, Coimbatore)
This variety has been developed at Horticultural Research Station, Ooty of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, and Coimbatore. The bulbs are bigger in size with dull white colour. Each bulb on an average possesses 20 –25 cloves. It has a potential yield of 17 tonnes/ha in crop duration of 120 – 130 days.
Exotic varieties/hybrids assessed and recommended
Number of exotic varieties and hybrids are developed in abroad. But most of them are of long day type, some of them are intermediate type and few are of short day type. Majority of them are of yellow skin colour. Long day type does not form bulbs in Indian plains, but some of intermediate or short day type forms very good bulb in our situations. The trials were conducted at NRCOG and evaluated nearly 65 exotic varieties and hybrids. Among them Cyclone, Caddilac, Couger, Mercedes, Hy-3404, DPS-1029, Hy-3667 are some of the exotic onion cultivars/hybrids performed well during late kharif and rabi seasons and yielded 20 to 60% more yield than the local cultivar, but their storage life is very short and dose not form seeds under plains. Total soluble solids are very less about 6-8% as compared with indigenous varieties (11-13%). These varieties/hybrids are suitable for table purpose and market in India can be developed. <Back>
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14. HYBRIDS IN ONION
Productivity of onion in India is quite less i.e. 12-14 t/ha, whereas in USA it is about 47 t/ha. The target is to increase production and productivity of onion in India with the use of F1 hybrids, which are high yielder, uniform in size and maturity along with good storage life, as hybrid has contributed a lot for increasing the yield in many crops in India and also in onion in USA and other developed countries. The onion umbel contains perfect flowers with mature pollen and receptive stigma as present at the same time. Emasculation for hybrid seed production particularly in onion is quite difficult and not practical. The breeding of onion hybrids was started in early thirties based on the male sterility found in onion in California during 1925 by Jones and Emsweller from cultivar Italian Red 13-53. Later the hybrid onion seed is produced commercially using cytoplasmic genetic male sterility (CMS) in USA, which is the outcome of identification and exploitation of CMS system in onion by Jones and Clark, 1943. In onion, male sterile line (Smsms) is seed propagated by crossing with a isogenic maintainer line possessing normal (N) male fertile cytoplasm and homozygous recessive genotype at the restorer locus (Nmsms).
At present hybrid onion is predominant in USA, Canada, U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, Israel and Japan and their popularity is increasing in France, Italy, Hungary, Spain, Australia and New Zealand due to higher yield, uniformity, better storage life, availability and exploitation of stable male sterile lines and long term vision of variety protection. In 1959 onion hybrids in New York surpassed open pollinated varieties by 30% in yields and increase in storage life up to 40%, which stimulated the growing of F1 onion hybrids in the northern United States and Canada. Variety protection was a second strong stimulus. 30 to 100% heterosis was observed for yield in Russia in 1972 and 109% in 1979. In Bulgaria it was 27 to 42% in 1976. Heterosis for yield was recorded up to 28.8% in 1988 and 84.52% for yield and 31.42% for storage in 1999 in India while; it was 130% for marketable yield in Italy in 1995. But in Southern USA, Grano’s open pollinated varieties were dominated till 1988 later the Texas Grano 1015Y was introduced which out yielded all other local varieties including the short day local hybrid Granex. In Israel hybrid Arad was better in storage than hybrid Granex and open pollinated Grano 502 but there was slight difference in yield. In Thailand Granex gave higher yield than Arad but has less storage life. About more than two decades Granex was the only popular hybrid in the tropics. In Brazil some of the local hybrids were superior to some open pollinated varieties. But surprisingly in the Southern USA, The Netherlands there was hardly any results demonstrated superiority of hybrid in uniformity may be due to limited inbreeding level of the parents used for the development of hybrids in eighties. However, no local hybrids are grown in South America, many parts of Africa, Asia, Poland, Spain, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Greece. Less exploitation of onion hybrids in these countries may be due to non availability and exploitation of the diverse inbreed lines and less efforts given towards identification of the stable male sterile line with the maintainer.
Commercially available F1 hybrids suitable for tropical regions are mainly of the yellow skin type, and these have generally poor storage life. In USA almost 100 per cent area in onion is under hybrid. Some of the male sterile lines have been developed in India but in most of the cases the sterility is not stable and secondly the inbred lines developed are not pure, particularly in onion due to inbreeding depression, long breeding cycle, less storage life
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of seed and difficult seed production process of the inbreds and male sterile lines. Very few seeds are obtained in manual crossing which is commercially not possible. First attempt for the development of hybrid in India in onion was made as early in 1948 using exotic male sterile lines. But these exotic male sterile lines were found unsuitable in the short day conditions of our country. Despite reports on high % of heterosis, the hybrids in onion has not made headway in India due to non availability of stable male sterile lines along with maintainers in short day onion. Very little work was done in India in the field of the onion Hybrids may be due to low priority set by earlier workers. The work got momentum in eighties at IIHR (Bangalore), IARI (New Delhi) and MPKV (Rahuri). At IARI the male sterility was found in a commercial variety Pusa Red. Only two-onion hybrids Arka Kirtiman and Arka Lalima have been released from IIHR. Some new hybrids are developed in the country, which are under evaluation. Some of the Exotci hybrids are performing well during late kharif in Indian conditions and yields are almost double than the Indian varieties at NRCOG, but they have very less TSS, less storage life and are of yellow colour, which has no consumer preference in India. It can be exploited to trap the European and Japanese market where there is great demand, but it can be possible only export through cool chain. Consumer preference towards adaptation of these high yielding hybrids can be developed in our country also besides the export. Many companies had introduced exotic hybrids in India but only few are performing well, therefore yield trials at different locations should be conducted before its commercialization and plant quarantine rules should be strictly followed to check the entry of new diseases.
F1 hybrid ensures uniformity in size, shape, colour and maturity besides high yield,
which ensures major portion of marketable yield. There would be good control on seed production process that newly can spread developed hybrids to farmers field at faster rate. But there is need to develop inbred lines in India, besides the development of stable male sterile lines along with maintainer which is very much time consuming due to its biannual nature to exploit the F1 hybrids. There are reports of use of gamatocides. 2% spray of GA3 before opening of flowers induces male sterility, but in onion due to its continuous flowering nature practically it is difficult. Secondly, Gametocidal effect was accompanied by considerable reduction in seed yield and high cost of GA3 remained main constraints in
adoption of this method.
In number of countries like India, Egypt, Czechoslovakia and other onion growing countries the genotype Nmsms is very rare or even lacking in the local strains, which was an absolute barrier for hybrid breeding. Numbers of male sterile lines are unstable at higher temperature (more than 23oC) and decreases at lower temperature (less than 14oC). CMS system has been well exploited in USA for hybrid seed production with wide range of diverse parental lines. Because onion is biennial crop, it takes four to eight years to determine if maintainer line (Nmsms) can be extracted from a population or segregating family as reported by Havey 1995 and “S” cytoplasm is the most common source of CMS used to produce hybrid onion. But conventional method of identifying maintainer line is labour intensive and time consuming. The chloroplast markers have been identified and most useful in establishing the cytoplasm of individual plants to avoid wasting resources attempting to develop maintainer lines from plants in “S” cytoplasm. The polymerase chain reaction would allow a quick and confident identification of the cytoplasm of individual plants, which has been developed by Havey and co-workers at University of Wisconsin, Madison.
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Isolating pooled DNA from seedlings through PCR from open pollinated populations can identify the cytoplasm (s) present. This technique helps to avoid 2 years required to score the fertility of test crosses to a sterile line. Given the presence of ms allele and N-cytoplasm, the frequency of maintaining genotypes can be calculated and the decision can be made whether or not to attempt for extraction of maintainers. Although molecular identification of cytoplasm does not shortens the onion breeding cycle but the technique represents a more judicious use of resources. Thus it can be concluded that there is need to develop stable male sterile line along with the inbreed lines and standardization of cultivation package after the development of hybrids to exploit the hybrids in onion and to increase the productivity as high as in USA and other countries.<Back>
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15. PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Onion
Climate
Onion can be grown under 'a wide range of climatic conditions. However, it grows well under mild climate without extreme heat or cold or excessive rainfall. The plant is hardy and in the young stage can withstand freezing temperatures. It does not thrive well in places where the average rainfall exceeds 75 to 100 cm in the monsoon period. In such places, it can be grown only as a summer crop~ It requires about 70% relative humidity for good growth. Before bulbing, 12.8 to 23°C and for bulb development 15.5°C to 21°C temperatures are required. Very low temperatures in the beginning favour bolting. Sudden rise in temperature favours early maturity of the crop in rabi and results in small size of bulbs. The requirement of day length of different varieties may differ. Almost all cultivars grown in the plains in India are short day cultivars. It has been observed that long day varieties, if planted under short day conditions,' do not develop bulbs but short day varieties develop bulbs under long day.
Soil selection and land preparation
The best soils for successful onion production are the deep friable loam and alluvial where a free drainage, absence of persistent weeds and presence of organic matter favour the production of good crops. High yields are obtained on heavy soils like clay provided adequate quantity of humus is supplied to lighten the soil. In the light sandy soils, the maturity is earlier but the yield is low. The most desirable soil is the one that retains enough moisture and at the same time be favourable enough to be easily cultivated and to allow proper development of bulbs.
Seed selection
Selection of seed is absolutely critical. The Seeds should potential to produce vigourous seedlings; poor seed selection will cause loss of vigour in a seedling. Seeds should be clean from weeds. Seeds should not be a carrier of disease. Seed should have been tested in the area planned for planting to ensure that it is suitable for the location The information regarding Variety name, percentage of pure seed, percent germination Seed count, and seed size should be obtained from a seed seller so that full traceability is available on the seed and to enable calculation of correct planting rates. Onion seed looses its viability very quickly. Seed should be used with in 9 months after harvest. Planting Methods
Onion crop can be grown in the field in four methods:
(i) By raising seedlings in a nursery and then transplanting them in the field(ii) By planting bulbs directly in the field for green top onion(iii) By broadcasting or drilling seeds directly in the field (green onions)(iv) By planting of sets
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i) Transplanting method
In transplanting method, transplanting of seedlings is more commonly practiced for an irrigated crop and this results in a high yield of large sized bulbs.
a) Transplant production
Onion seeds are generally sown on raised beds in the nursery. The topsoil should be well prepared to ensure good germination. The top surface up to 2-3 cm should be enriched with fine, sieved, well decomposed FYM or compost or vermicompost before sowing. Seeds can also be sown on flat beds under proper drainage. Line sowing at 10 cm distance should be done to facilitate intercultural operation. The width of bed should be about 0.6 to 1 m, the length may vary according to level of soil. Raised bed of 10-15 and 3 to 6 m length and 1 m width are prepared. About 40- 50 cm distance is kept between two beds for irrigation and interculture operation. If drip or sprinkler system is available for irrigation, the raised beds of 1 to 1.2 m width and 50 to 60m lengths can be made and seed should be sown in 10 cm apart lines. Seeds should be sown at 2-3 cm depth in the soil. After sowing, the seed is covered with a fine layer of sieved compost of farmyard manure. The mulching of seedbeds or shading of nursery beds by hessian cloth or shade net is beneficial for seedling production during hot and dry weather conditions. Seedling production in adverse condition is an importance aspect of kharif season onion cultivation. Generally 10-12 kg seed is required to raise seedlings for planting in one hectare. However, the seed rate may be reduced to even 5 to 6 kg per hectare if viability and vigour of seed in high and nursery is raised under good management conditions with drip or sprinkler irrigation.
The seedlings are ready for transplanting in about 6 to 7 weeks time for kharif planting and in 8 weeks for rabi planting. Seedlings of 0.8 - 0.9 cm in diameter and about 20-35 cm in height are optimum for transplanting. Over-aged seedlings result in bolting and take longer time to start new growth, whereas under-aged seedlings do not establish well after transplanting and more prone to adverse weather conditions. It has been reported that large seedlings give higher yields but they should be topped to facilitate transplanting but there are reports that yield and bulb weight declines when tops of seedlings were removed 25, 50 or 70% before planting as compared to whole seedlings. Simulated damage of up to 75% at the early stage of crop growth (15 DAT) had no adverse effect on onion bulb size and weight. Artificial defoliation resulted in a slight delay in the maturity of bulbs except when simulated damage was done at the early stage of crop growth. The studies showed that the onion plant has the capacity to compensate for damage caused by early season defoliators.
b) Season of planting
Onion is primarily grown in rabi season crop. But due to diverse climate of our country it is grown in two to three season in various parts of the country... In Tamil nadu and Andhra Pradesh, two crops are ordinarily taken, while in some places three crops, namely; the monsoon crop (June to October), the winter crop (October to January) and the summer crop (January to June) are also raised. In Maharashtra tree crops of onion ie. July to October, Sept to Jan and November to April are grown. Gujarat produces two crops i.e. kharif (August
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to November) in Bhavnagar and rabi (October to March) in Rajkot, Junagarh and Jamnagar. In Northern, Eastern and Central India, rabi onion (November-Jan to April –May) is commonly cultivated. In the hills, the crop is raised during the summer months and the seed is sown from the end of February to the end of May, but where there is light or no snowfall, the winter crop from October to June is taken. All the seasons can be broadly classified in three seasons i.e. Kharif (rainy season), Late Kharif season and Rabi (winter) season. The rainy season onion is grown in those areas where the rainfall during monsoon season is less than 50 cm. Generally the rain shadow areas of Maharashtra, and parts of Karnataka are the major traditional kharif onion producing belts. In last couple of decades, the kharif onion is gaining popularity in Rajasthan and others drier parts. The nursery of kharif onion is generally sown in the months of May and June and crop is transplanted in month of July. The kharif season crop is harvested in the months of October and November.
The late kharif onion (rangda season) is restricted to some parts of Maharastra. The nursery is sown in the month of August and crop is transplanted in September and October. This crop becomes ready for harvesting in the months of January and February.
Rabi is main season for onion cultivation. and most of onion of the country produced in this season. The nursery for rabi season planting is sown in the month of October and November and onion is transplanted in the months of November to January.Besides common onion, multiplier onion is grown in Tamilnadu and Orissa Small pickling onion is produced in Cuddapah district in kharif and Chickballapur and Bangalore (Karnataka) in all the three seasons.
c) Method of planting
Onion is usually transplanted on flat beds of varying sizes. The raised bed and ridges and furrow methods are also followed. It was reported that planting of onion on raised beds gave higher yield as compared to flat beds during kharif season under foothill conditions of Himachal Pradesh. The higher yield in ridges and furrow methods has also been reported during kharif season. The bulb size on raised beds was bigger than flat beds. The percentage of rotten bulbs was also less in raised beds. But trends have been found reverse and higher yield of onion is reported in flat beds than raised beds and ridges and furrow method and bigger bulbs were harvested from flat beds while number of small bulbs were higher in ridges and furrows. The planting of onion on broad based furrow has been found better than raised beds, flat beds and ridges and furrow methods during kharif season. Irrigation should be given immediately after transplanting. In some parts of the country, beds are first irrigated and then the seedlings are transplanted. The optimum plant density for onion is 65 to 70 plants per sqm.The higher plant density may leads to smaller bulbs size while less plant density may results in more number of double bulbs. The spacing of 15 cm between rows and 8 to 10 cm between plants has been found to be most conducive to high yield in most part of the country. But in case of ridges and furrow method of planting the plant-to-plant distance is reduced to 6-7cm to accommodate optimum number of plants. Care should be taken to see that the transplants are .not set deeper than 2 to 3 cm.
ii) Planting by Bulbs Method
To meet the demand of green onion for salad in early winter, planting of bulbs are practiced. Small size bulbs are dibbled 15 cm distance in flat beds. There is also the practice
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of dibbling bulbs in furrows and the field irrigated after forming beds and channels. Around 750 kg of medium sized bulbs are required to plant one-hectare area. Large sized bulbs should be avoided, as they tend to flower early and result in low yields
iii) Direct Sowing
Onion can also be grown by direct seedling. In fact direct seeding of onion is preferred all over the world. A thoroughly prepared, pulverized and made free of clods land is required for direct sowing to ensure better seed germination. Around 12 to 15 kg/ha seed is sown by broadcasting in band 30 cm apart .The experiments conducted at NRC onion and Garlic, Rajgurnagar revealed that sowing seed in lines manually or with seed drill produced higher yield than broadcasting of seeds and transplanting.
iv) Set Planting
Sets are small size onions produced by allowing the seedlings to mature in the nursery bed as such instead of transplanting them. These small bulbs are used as sets and planted in next season to ensure early crop. In some parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, onion is grown in kharif by sets to get early crop. Seed sowing is done by end of January or February and small bulbs are harvested in the month of April –May. These plants form small sets due to close spacing. It has been reported that seed sowing in January with 50 g seed per m2 gave maximum quality of sets. The topped and graded sets are stored in hessian cloth bags or in shallow baskets or in racks in layer not more than 8 cm deep. Ten quintals of sets of 1.5 to 2.0 cm diameter are enough for one hectare planting. But higher yield and net returns were obtained with 2.0-2.5 cm size of sets. For good yield, sets are planted 10 cm apart in rows on both sides of ridges .The distance between two ridges should be 30-45 cm. A light irrigation is given immediately after sowing. The subsequent watering should be done after every 10 days.
Garlic
Climate
Garlic grows under wide range of climatic conditions. However, it cannot stand too hot or too cold weather. It prefers moderate temperature in summer as well winter. Extremely hot or long dry period is not favourable for the formation of bulbs. It is a frost hardy plant requiring cool and moist period during growth and relatively dry period during maturity of bulbs. Bulbing takes place during longer days and at high temperatures. The average temperature of 25 to 30°C is most conducive for bulb initiation. The long days and high temperatures favoured bulb development in the garlic plant. While maturity of bulbs takes place in dry period with more than 30°C temperature. As soon as bulbing commenced, leaf initiation ceased and therefore early planting was found to be essential for the production of high yields, so that a large vegetative plant would develop. The exposure temperature to cloves or young plants also influences bulbing in garlic. Bolting in garlic does not seem to be influenced by temperature. Some clones in fact never have bolting. In general cool growing period gives more yield than warm. It has also been reported that short days of 8 hours or so suppresses growth with poor bulb development. The yield potential depends upon the extent
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of vegetative growth made before bulbing commences. Late planting affects vegetative growth adversely and thereby results in lower yield. The critical day length for bulbing is 12 hours. The exposure 0 and 10°C temperature for 1 or 2 months was found to hasten subsequent bulbing. Plants, which were never subjected to temperatures below 20°C, were unlikely to form bulbs, even under long day lengths. Plants that are not exposed to such conditions may fail to form bulbs. Since climatic condition in an area varies from year to year the performance of a variety in a particular area is not alike every year. Too much exposure to low temperature however can be harmful. There may be initiation of cloves in the axils of leaves near the bulb surface. During growing season these cloves develop green tops, which appear as lateral shoots to the false stem, as the plants mature, the loss of a few outer sheaths exposes the outermost cloves so that the bulbs appear rough.
Soil selection and land preparation
Garlic can be grown on variety of soils but thrives better on fertile. Well-drained loamy soils. Heavy clay soils may result in misshapen bulbs and make harvesting difficult. The cutting and pulling out of the bulbs results in badly splitted and bruised bulbs which do not keep well in storage. In badly drained soils the bulbs get discoloured. The crop raised on sandy or loose soil also does not keep well for long and the bulbs too are lighter in weight. Sandy soils lack sufficient moisture holding capacity to mature the crop without irrigation. Such soils accordingly tend to produce large discoloured bulbs, which also do not keep well. The pH of soil between 6 to 7 is suitable for good crop. Highly alkaline and saline soils are not suitable for garlic cultivation.
In preparing the land the field is ploughed to fine tilth by giving one or two ploughing followed by two or three tillerings. The soil up to 10 –12 cm should be fine with out clods to insure better germination and growth. The planking should be done for proper leveling of the soil. The plot size may vary as per the slope of land, method of irrigation, intercultural operations. Generally flat beds of 2-3 width and 4 to 5 meters length are prepared but for drip and sprinkler irrigation 1 to1.5 m wide and 50 to 60 m long raised beds can be prepared.
Seed selection and seed rate
Since, true seeds are not produced by the garlic plant, cloves of the bulb are used for propagation. Garlic seed cloves can be purchased as bulbs from research centers well in advance. Established growers usually save about 15 percent to 20 percent of their crop for planting the subsequent year. Planting cloves from garlic purchased at the grocery store is not recommended. The cloves should be carefully detached from composite bulb. Cloves of 8 to 10 mm gave increased yield of better quality bulbs. Bigger healthy calves should be selected for planting. It is recommended that 300 to 500 kg cloves are sufficient for one-hectare area. However, seed rate may vary according to size of the cloves. Remarkable increases in garlic yield were realized when high seed rates were tried. But higher seed rates resulted in an increased percentage by weight of small bulbs and decrease in the percentage by weight of large bulbs, bulb weight, and number of cloves per bulb.
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Season of planting
The time of planting differs from region to region. It is planted from September to October in M.P. and Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and from September to November in Northern parts of India. In Gujarat planting is done during October-November. In the mid hills of northern India it is planted in month of September –October while in the high hills, it should be planted in March-April. In West Bengal and Orissa also October-November is the best time of planting of garlic. In Southern hills particularly Nilgiri hills garlic is cultivated in two seasons i.e. March-April to July-August and also in October to March-April.
Planting methods
The garlic clove are planted in flat bed, ridges& furrows at 15 cm x 10 cm distance The garlic clove should be graded for both size and quality. Diseased, small, soft, damaged, or discolored cloves should be discarded. The cloves should be planted basal plate-side down. Where winters are mild, plant cloves may be planted 2-3cm deep but wherever winters are severe, cloves should be planted 5-7cm deep.
a) Dibbling
This is one of the planting methods and practiced for small to medium areas. Cloves are dibbled 2.5 to 5 cm deep keeping their spouting ends upwards. Cloves are placed 7-10 cm distance in rows of 15 cm and then they are covered with loose soil. A light irrigation is given immediately after sowing. Among the various planting methods i.e. dibbling on the flat, sowing in furrows, and sowing flat beds revealed that the highest yield was recorded when garlic was planted by dibbling in flat beds. The cloves should be dibbled at a spacing of 15 x 10 cm for getting good yield.
b) Furrow planting
In furrow planting, furrows are made 15 cm apart with the hand hoe or drill. In these furrows, cloves are dropped by hand 7.5 to 10 cm apart. Then, they are covered lightly with loose soil and light irrigation given to the field. Lower yield in ridges was reported. The reason described for higher yield under flat method was higher plant population than ridge method.
c) Broadcasting
In broadcasting method cloves are scattered evenly over a leveled field by hand. They are mixed in soil by harrowing. Then ridges and furrows are opened for irrigation. Some times flat beds are also prepared. This method give uneven germination and results in poor plant stand and seldom practiced.
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d) Line sowing on flat bed or BBF
In garlic clove are manually sown on flat beds of varying size in 2.5 to 5 cm deep row at 15 cm x10 cm distance. These cloves are covered lightly with loose soil and light irrigation given to the field. The broad based furrow can also be used in instead of flat beds and drip and sprinkler system may be used for irrigation. Better germination, plant stand and higher yield have been reported in broad based furrows with drip irrigation.
Intercrops suitability
In general, the intercropping of densely planted crops with onion and garlic is not economically viable. The intercropping of bean, chickpea, capsicum, tomato etc. With onion and garlic reduced the yield of both the crops But introduction of crops of sugar beet, maize or spring wheat between onion crops resulted in an increase in marketable onion yield attributable to a decrease in basal rot. Fewer isolates of the pathogen were obtained from onion stem plates in rotated plots than from those in continuous onion plots. Mixed cropping carrots with onions also founds reducing attacks by Psila on carrots and Thrips on onions, compared with those on carrots and onions in monoculture.
The concept of intercropping in wide spaced and long duration crops such as sugarcane and fruit crops with onion and other vegetable is not new. But the emphasis on paired row planting of sugarcane for better cane thickness and sugar recovery has increased the possibility of a better in onion crop in sugarcane fields. Further the use of micro irrigation particularly drip irrigation is now becoming essential to save water has widen the avenue. Onion and garlic are very much suited to intercropping in winter season (Nov.-Dec planting) sugarcane. Since these crops are shallow rooted bulbs crops having low canopy, thus they do not compete with deep-rooted long duration crop like sugarcane.
It has been found that cane weight, cane girth, yield, and sugar recovery of sugarcane plots intercropped with onion and garlic were not significantly different from those of sole-cropped sugarcane. Intercropping significantly reduced potato and garlic yields. All yield attributes of onion and garlic crop planted in sugarcane filed were equal sole-crops of onion and garlic. The yield of onion and garlic was found higher with sprinkler and drip irrigation methods. However, the yield of intercrops as well as main crop was less when planted in ridges and furrow method. It has been reported that intercropping favoured growth of both aerial and underground parts of sugarcane. The onion and garlic with sugarcane are among the most profitable intercrops. The profit increases if drip or sprinkler method of irrigation is used with additional benefit of water saving.
Integrated Nutrient Management
Nutrient requirement of onion and garlic
The nutrient requirement of onion and garlic crop varies with nutrient amounts present in the soil, its removal from soil and the variety grown. The requirement may be low in alluvial, clay loam and fertile soils compared to sandy and low fertile soils. The nutrient removal by onion and garlic also varies with the nutrient doses applied to it, soil type and the
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genetic characteristics of crop. Hence, there is dynamic relation between the soil-plant continuum and this has to be considered for nutrient management of any crop. Onion crop with a bulb yield of 30 t ha-1 removes about 80 Kg nitrogen, 40 Kg P2O5 and 120 Kg K2O from the soil. While, garlic removes 30-40 Kg N, 20 Kg P2O5 and 50 Kg K2O with a bulb yield of 10 t ha-1. The nutrient use efficiency of nitrogen is low 20-35%, rest of the applied nitrogen is not available to crop as is subjected to various losses. Hence, nitrogen requirement may be always higher than its removal. In our country, nitrogen applied varies between 120-180 Kg ha-1. The requirement of phosphorus varies between 40-60 Kg ha-1 and potash between 50-80 Kg ha-1. The P and K are not easily lost from the soil however they become less available to crops in due course of time. The removal of P is not greater as that of K and therefore the K requirement should be more than P. However, most of our soils are rich in K and medium in P. Hence, the nutrient requirement of these nutrients remains somewhat same. The dose of NPK applied to onion and garlic varies in different onion growing states.
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Nutrient requirement of onion and garlic crops in different states
State Season
Onion
(N: P2O5: K2O) Kg ha-1
Garlic
(N: P2O5: K2O) Kg ha-1
Andhra Pradesh Rabi 50:35-50:50 60:35:60
Arunachal Pradesh Rabi 125:60:100 125:60:100
Assam Rabi 60:50:50 --
Bihar Rabi 105:55:75 --
Gujarat Rabi 75:25:75 --
Haryana Kharif 125:40:0 --
Rabi 125:50-80:25 80:50:25
Himachal Pradesh Rabi 125:75:60 75:40:40
Karnataka Rabi 125:50:125 --
Madhya Pradesh Rabi 100:50:100 --
Maharashtra Kharif 100:50:50 --
Late Kharif 100:50:50 --
Rabi 150:50:50 100:50:50
Orissa Rabi 125:60:90 --
Punjab Rabi 100:50:50 125:62:0
Rajasthan Rabi 100:50:100 120:50:100
Tamil Nadu Rabi
(Small onion)
(Bellary onion)
40:50:30
150:150:75
--
Uttar Pradesh Kharif 75:60:125
Rabi 100:50:80 100:50:50
West Bengal Rabi 100:50:100 60:90:120
In the initial years of cropping system, the soil tries to replenish the labile pool from the reserve pool. Later on due to continuous cropping i.e. intensive agriculture, the soils show deficiency symptoms to various plant nutrients and drastically reduce the production and quality of produce. In the present farming system, supplementation of nutrients to crops is mainly through chemical fertilizers only. Application of nitrogen through urea is mainly considered in our country, and the quantity of P and K are applied to the crop is paid less attention. Onion and garlic crops also remove secondary and micronutrients from soil apart from N, P and K. Hence; a system should be developed for application of all the nutrients required for the best growth of crop onion and garlic.
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INM and its components
The INM conceptually integrates all sources of plant nutrients and also all improved crop production technologies into a productive agricultural system. The basic concept of INM is the maintenance and possibly to increase soil fertility for sustaining increased crop productivity through optimizing all possible sources of plant nutrients required for crop growth and quality in an integrated manner appropriate to each cropping system and farming situation in its ecological possibilities. There are four components of INM.
1. The soil as nutrient reserve2. The mineral fertilizers3. Organic sources4. Bio-fertilizers
Scope of INM
For balanced supplementation of plant nutrients through INM, the above four components are to be properly assessed. Through INM the crop production is sustained, the soil fertility and productivity is improved or/maintained and the balance in the existing ecosystem can be maintained.
In the present nutrient management scenario, much attention is paid towards chemical fertilizers as a ready reckoned inorganic source for plant nutrients. No doubt chemical fertilizers are very important input source for higher production but its non-judicious use and long use has disturbed the soil conditions, invited many pest and diseases and therefore there a disturbance in the ecosystem. Rectifications of this will take a long time again. Proper application of organic manures, crop residues, green manuring, proper crop rotation, balanced application of fertilizers based on soil testing is the need of hour in present farming. This can be achieved through integrated nutrient management.
Nutrient management in Onion and garlic crop and lacunae
Nutrient management for onion and garlic production in present situation is still mainly concerned with application of inorganic fertilizers for N, P and K. Very few farmers apply total nutrient package based on soil tests for onion and garlic crops which is still lacking.
Application of nitrogen encourages the vegetative growth imparting healthy green colour to the plants. Application of nitrogenous fertilizers is especially important in India, as a majority of the Indian soils are deficient in nitrogen and such soil very favourably respond to its application. Phosphorus encourages formation of new cells. It promotes root growth and offsets the harmful effects of nitrogen, while potassium enhances the plant ability to resist the disease and insect attack and other adverse conditions. They also influence the storage properties of onion and garlic. It has been reported that high nitrate application resulted in an excellent growth of onion and garlic bulbs. It was noted that nitrogen as the major limiting factor and its application resulted in significant increase in growth of leaves and bulbs. Combined application of N, P, K and irrigation had increased the bulb size without affecting the flavour. Higher doses of N and P improved the bulb size, number of
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leaves and plant height but potash had no effect on plant height and leaf umber. However, split application of potash along with N increased the bulb weight. Many workers, showed that if nitrogen doses are increased there is risk of increasing the doubling of onion and bending of tops. It has been reported that bolting was minimum in onion when FYN and biofertilizers were applied with the reduced doses of chemical fertilizers. Application of potassium and zinc showed to reduce bolting and neck thickness in onion and rubberization in garlic. Nitrogen increases bulb yield but it has little influence on percent dry matter. However, increase in TSS and dry mater was recorded due to increase in phosphorus and potash application in onion and garlic. Balanced application of N, P and K along with organic manures increased the bulb dry matter, sugar and ascorbic acid. Application of FYM @ 25 t ha-1 along with 60 Kg N and P produced maximum yield. Bulb diameter and percentage A grade bulbs increased with raising the FYM application. Azospirillum and Azotobacter are useful for improving the production of onion and garlic crops. These microbes are chief types of non-symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria. Considering the importance, recently, the use of these biofertilizers in vegetable crops is made. Some workers in onion and garlic crops have reported the beneficial effect of bio-fertilizers. Azotobacter treatment to the onion seedling before transplanting with or without nitrogen application increased the yield to the extent of 18 to 22 per cent. Significant improvement in the bulb and green leaf yield of onion and increase in nitrogen uptake in plants was recorded due to azotobacter. The results of azotobacterization showed to improve the bulb size over control. In a study, the growth of plant was increased by the treatment combination of organic + inorganic with biofertilizer. Bolting was minimum in the treatment combination of organic and bio-fertilizers. The neck fall percentage was maximum in the treatment of organic manures+ inorganic+ biofertilizers. A maximum yield of onion bulbs with good storage quality could be obtained by the use of 40 tonnes FYM+ 75:37.5:37.5 Kg NPK ha -1 + biofertilizers.
Prospects of INM in onion and garlic and findings of balanced nutrition
The nutrient management practice in onion and garlic can be improved through INM and can be implemented successfully by adopting.
1. Identifying the major, secondary and minor nutrients that influence yield, quality and storability.
2. First hand information about the status of plant nutrients in soil before forming a schedule plan for its application
3. Listing the sources of various organics and biofertilizers available for substitution of a portion of plant nutrient in INM.
Hence, Judicious application of organic and inorganic sources of plant nutrient in a onion or garlic cropping system through INM will have a great impact on bulb production, its quality and also improve or maintain soil fertility, soil productivity and the existing ecology in the farming system.
Some of the finding on balanced nutrition application in the INM system practiced in onion and garlic are discussed.
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Secondary plant nutrients calcium, magnesium and sulphur and micronutrients namely; zinc, iron and copper influence the metabolic activity of these crops and affects the quality of bulbs by way of improving the bulb size, bulb colour, sulphur compounds and pungency of both onion and garlic. Application of sulphur along with NPK nutrients in sulphur deficient soils helps in increasing the yield and quality of onion and garlic bulbs. Additional bulb yield of 3 and 1 tonnes in onion and garlic respectively, was produced due to application of 45 kg S ha-1 along with NPK. About 10 % reduction in storage losses in both onion garlic was noticed due to balanced application of NPK & S, further significant increase in the pyruvic acid content was recorded. Application of FYM and poultry manure @ 10t ha-1 separately with reduced doses of NPK (75:25:25 Kg ha-1) produced bulb yield equivalent to that of full dose of NPK (150:50:50 Kg ha-1) application in onion and garlic Application of Azospirillum @4 Kg ha-1 to the soil mixed with fine FYM and later application of 75:50:50 Kg NPK ha-1 produced the yield at par with the treatment receiving 150:50:50 Kg NPK ha -1. Apart from saving 50 per cent nitrogen fertilizer, reduction in storage losses was considerable in onion. However, the better storage in garlic was recorded due to Azotobacter. Conclusively, following components of INM can be recommended for higher productivity of onion and garlic.
A dose of 150 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 + 80 kg K2O + 45 kg Sulphur for rabi onion and
100 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 + 50 kg K2O + 45 kg Sulphur per hectare is recommended of garlic along with integration of 10 tons FYM + 10 tons of poultry manure and use of azotobacter @ 4 kg/ha.<Back>
Water Management Practices in Onion and Garlic Critical stages of growth
Onion and garlic are the important bulb crops grown all over India. Onion is grown in kharif as well as rabi season, while garlic in rabi season only. An active root zone of these vegetables is between 20-30 cm depth. In Maharastra onion is grown almost year round. Seedling (transplanting to 45 days) bulb initiation (45-60 days) bulb development 60 -90 days and maturity (90-120 days) are important growth stages in onion.
These stages may differ from season to season and variety to variety. In garlic seedling and bulb initiation and bulb development are the most critical stages from irrigation point of view. Seedling stage can withstand for water stress or fluctuations in irrigation. Bulb initiation and develop can be arrested by deficit moisture or due to fluctuations in irrigation interval. Excess moisture or waterlogged conditions during these stages lead to development of basal rot and purple blotch. Similarly continuous irrigation towards maturity leads secondary rooting which in turn develops new sprouts and such bulbs do not keep longer in storage. Further, losses can be enhanced by the infection of basal rot and purple blotch. With- holding of irrigation for two-three weeks prior to harvesting in onion is very essential. However, for garlic some amount of moisture is necessary at harvesting for easy lifting of bulbs.
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Onion must be kept growing with reasonably constant soil moisture. Drastic soil moisture fluctuations result in set backs and in onions that start new growth after being retarded, the inner scales may split the outer ones causing splits and doubles which greatly reduces marketability. Onion roots continue to arise from the stem plate at base of the plant during most of the time that the plants are growing. Because new roots are not formed unless the zone from which they arise in moist soil, the soil near the surface must be kept supplied with enough moisture until the crop is completely mature. Moisture deficit occurring at any period reduces yield but droughts occurring early in the season are not so detrimental as those occurring late.
Bulbs grown under low moisture are liable to dry out earlier and lose more weight during storage than those grown with adequate moisture. Over irrigation as well as under irrigation may result into lower yields. The foliage of onions receiving excessive irrigation acquires a yellowish green colour. Irrigating heavily within 2-3 weeks of harvest may cause immature bulbs, thick-skinned bulbs. When the plants start to mature, irrigation should be discontinued and the soil allowed to dry out as much as possible which facilitates the bulbs to mature sooner, Otherwise secondary growth may start, which is very difficult to stop and also complicate the process of proper curing of onions. More over, irrigation after leaf withering pre disposes the bulbs to infection by Fusarium, frequent irrigations reduce the total soluble solids and moisture stress increases No3 - N content in bulbs. In the case of garlic, the plant is very shallow rooting and cannot withstand water - logging. The crop thrives well on well-drained, fertile, loamy soils. Generally, garlic is irrigated by flood irrigation method. First irrigation is given soon after sowing and later field is irrigated after every 7-10 days interval until bulbs begin to develop. At this stage, more frequent irrigations are required. There should not be any soil moisture stress in the growing season. Otherwise the development of the bulbs will be checked as the soil may be packed around the base, which interferes with their normal expansion. Irrigations after temporary set-back during bulb development cause the partly developed cloves to form tops. When the bulbs are matured then irrigation should be given sparingly. The last irrigation should be given 2-3 days before harvesting for making it easy without damaging the bulbs.
Recent practices and recommendation
Water requirement of any crop depends upon the nature of crop, soil, evapotranspiration rate of that particular locality and also stage of growth of plant. Water requirement for vegetables would be different in different seasons and localities and therefore water requirement estimated in a particular area would not be exactly applicable in other areas. Onion and garlic are the important bulb vegetables cultivated all over India. Both crops are very shallow rooted and frequent irrigation is necessary for better bulb development. These crops are very sensitive to moisture stress conditions during bulb initiation and development stages. Lot of research work has been done in scheduling of irrigation water and total water requirement of onion and garlic in India.
The most common method of applying water to the onion crop is to irrigate with basin or border strip flooding or furrow irrigation. Onion and garlic are shallow rooted crop. It’s root system is normally restricted to top 3 cm and roots penetrate seldom deeper than 15
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cm. The water requirement of the crop at the initial growth period is less. It depends on crop growth, soil type and planting season.
Transplants should be irrigated as soon as possible after being set if the soil is dry. Well-hardened seedlings will survive for 12 or more days being transplanted to dry soil, but delayed irrigation results in lower yields. Under irrigated condition just before planting, the field is irrigated and life irrigation is to be done on the third day after planting. Frequent irrigation during early in the crop growth period and more frequent applications during bulb development are essential in both crops. Onions consume less water immediately after the establishment of the crop but the consumption increases with advance of the season. Irrigation application at 13 days interval during November - December 10 days interval during January and 7 days interval during February was optimum for onion at Pune. On clay soils of Anantharpet (Andhra Pradesh), irrigation at 5 Days interval gave higher yields of December - May crop. Average totally 12-15 irrigation is essential to complete life cycle of onion. Water Requirement of Onion
Optimum soil moisture No. of irrigation Depth of Irrigation
(cm.)
Total water requirement
(mm)
Consumptive use of water
(mm)Based on type of soil 16 (sandy loam soil)
12 (clay loam soil)- - -
Based on season 5-6 (kharif)12-15 (rabi)1 5 -20 (summer)
- - -
Based on soil water potential - 0.65 bar tension
16 -18 7.5-8.0 640-720 450-630
In the case of garlic, it needs irrigation at an interval of 8 days during vegetative growth and 10-15 days during maturation. First irrigation is given after sowing and repeated irrigation is to be given on third day of sowing. In the initial stage of crop growth to encourage more vegetative growth, frequent irrigations are given viz., once in week. When the crop approaches maturity the irrigation intervals are increased 7-10 days and finally the irrigation is with held. The optimum soil moisture for emergence is 80-100 % of field capacity. There should be no scarcity of moisture in the growing season, otherwise bulb development is affected.
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It has been recommended to irrigate garlic at 60 mm CPE (Cumulative Pan Evaporation) for good crop for high yield of good quality garlic two irrigations (20mm) in August – September and three irrigations in October- November are necessary where early planting is done. Garlic is shallow rooted with most of the roots limited to the upper 5 cm of soil. The soil at each irrigation should be kept wet to this level. As the crop reaches maturity stop irrigation to allow field to dry out first. Continued irrigation as the crop matures causes the roots and bulb scales to rot. This discolours the bulbs, and exposes the outer cloves and decreases the market value of the bulbs. Irrigations after long spell of drought results in splitting of bulbs. Excessive water supply results in sprouting. Micro irrigation
Onion and garlic are the crops grown on well irrigation. Irrigation water is becoming scarce commodity day by day. Available water needs to be used more effectively and efficiently for enhancing the productivity. Use of micro irrigation methods is the only alternative. Onion and garlic crops respond to theses modern techniques very well. Though closely spaced crops, both can be grown on drip and sprinkler irrigation. Planting of seedling of onion or dibbling of garlic cloves on raised beds of 1.2m (BBF) and provided with paired row of drip laterals or sprinkler set for irrigation is becoming common practice of irrigation in Maharsatra. Micro irrigation has got manifold advantages over surface irrigation.
1. Water saving to the tune of 35-40%2. Yield increase by 15-20%3. Uniform maturity and uniformity in size of bulbs4. More number of A grade bulbs5. Higher fertilizer use efficiency and 30% saving6. Less labour required for weeding7. Less labour cost on irrigation8. Saving of bed preparation9. Ease in irrigation10. Minimum incidence of pest and diseases.
Constraints1. High initial cost.2. Demands more of technical management.3. Safety water cannot be applied through sprinkler.
<Back>Weed Management Practices in Onion and Garlic
The vegetable fields are usually infested by wide spectrum of broad leaf and grassy weeds. Weeds compete with the crops for water, soil nutrients, light and space and thus reduce yields. Onion and garlic exhibit greater susceptibility to weed competition than most other crops, mainly due to slow initial growth and inherent characteristics of onion and garlic such as short stature, non branching habit, sparse foliage, shallow root systems coupled with frequent irrigation and fertilizer application at high doses cause severe crop-weed competition. Without weed control, both bulb crops yields shrink nearly to zero.
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Extent of losses
In onion crop, slow germination and early growth and the absence of dense foliages, initial competition tends to be severe. Onion relative yield was more sensitive to the duration of weed competition than to weed load. Bulb size class distribution and the resulting average onion price were affected by weed competition. The period of 40 days after transplanting was most critical for weed competition. Weeds even if present for 2 weeks can reduce the production of onion by 42 per cent.
In another Report, yield losses in onion and garlic due to heavy weed competition were to the extent of 10-70 per cent depending upon types of weed flora, their intensity and duration of crop – weed competition. Delayed weeding operations, which results poor development of bulb and impairs the keeping quality.
Weed competition during the whole crop cycle reduced bulb yield by 86% in both the crops. Competition in the first 90 days after transplanting was comparable to that in the whole crop cycle. Competition during the first 15 days had no adverse effect on yield. When crops were kept weed-free for the first 15 days only, there was 81.0% reduction in the bulb yield. The critical period of crop-weed competition in onions occurred from 15 to 45 days after transplanting.
Types of weeds presents in onion and garlic field
Botanical Name Common nameAbutilon indicum Velvet leaf, pilibuti, kanghi, patataAcalypha indica Copper leaf, kuppiAcanthospermum hispidum SandburAllium vineale Wild garlic, gandhanAmaranthus sp Spiny amaranthusArgemone mexicana Mexican poppy, dhamoi, bharbandAvena fatua Wild oatBrassica communis Wild mustardCannabis sativa Hemp, bhangChenopodium album BathuaConvolvulus sp Field bindweed, deer’s foot, hiran podiCrotalaria sp Gulali, jhojhruCuscuta sp Dodder, amarbel, swarnlataCyperus rotundus Purple nutsedge, motha, dedaDatura sp Thorn appleDigitaria sp Crab grassEclipta alba Mukand, bhangraEupatorium odoratum Crofton weed, kali basutiEchinocholoa colonum Jungle rice, samaghasImperata sp CongograssLantana camara Lantana, putus, phulkakriLeucas aspera Maldoda, chatra, gummaPortulaca sp Purslane, kulfasag, nunka
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Brachiaria ramosa Signal grassPolygonum glabrum PankheriPhalaris minor Littleseed, canary grassCoronopus didymus, Swinegrass, janglipatRumex acetosella Jangli palakMedicago denticulata Blavk medick, miana, chandausiOxalis latifolia. Khat-mithi, khat-mandariMelilotus parviflora Senjimethi, methaFumaria parviflora Fumitory, pitapra, bansoysEuphorbia sp Spurge, dudhiAgeratum conyzoides Billgoat weed, mahakauaOrobanche aegyptiaca Broomrape, hadda, thokraSetaria glauca FoxtailTrianthema portulacastrum Carpetweed, patharchatta
Types of weedicides used in onion and garlic
Manual, mechanical and chemical methods of weed control are practiced in India in onion and garlic. But very close spacing and shallow root system of onion and garlic make the mechanical method of weed control is tedious, expensive and time consuming. More over non-availability of sufficient labour at critical period of crop competition and some time field conditions do not permit manual weeding in time, which ultimately results in poor bulb development and yield. Under such situations, chemical weed control can only be the best alternative. Both crops different pre and post mergence weedicides are practiced in bulb as well as seed crop.
Chemical method increased the bulb yield in weed free environment by killing the weeds, thus eliminating competition. In past it has been noticed that herbicides had their persistence for 40-60 days after application. If we supplement it with one weeding it may be helpful in increasing yield of crop by reducing the weed as well as weeding loosen the soil and proper development of bulb. Post planting application of herbicide, Oxadiazon 4 litres/ha and pre emergence weedicide Oxadiazon, Pendimethylene and Oxyflurofen were good weedicides in controlling weeds in Haryana and Punjab
In onion at Karnal and Nashik conditions, Stomp @3.5 l/ha applied three days after transplanting plus one hand weeding at 45 days in rabi onion was effective. While in khraif onion Stomp @2.5 l/ha with one hand weeding was found effective at Nashik. Tenoran @2.5 kg per hectare three weeks after transplanting checks broad leave weeds effectively. Oxyfurofen @150-250 g/ha with one hand weeding is also found effective. Many selective weedicides are now available in India for onion. Use of oxyflurofen applied @0.15-0.25 kg ai/ha gives good weed control in rabi onion. Other weedicides used in onion are Lasso, Ronstar, Dual, Treflan, etc. A preplanting application of Pendimethalin at 1.5 kg/ha to control both grasses and broad-leaved weeds is also recommended.
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In the case of garlic, Pendimethalin and Oxidiazon as pre emergence have been reported to be effective weedicides. Pendimethalin @3.5litre or Goal @0.25 kg ai hectare + 1 hand weeding at 45 days after planting has been recommended under Karnal and Nashik conditions for control of broad leave weeds. Application of Oxadiazon (0.75 kg/ha), oxyfluorfen (0.24 kg), fluchloralin (0.9 kg) and methabenzthiazuron (1.4 kg), all pre emergence weedicides gave bulb yields comparable to the weed free control.
.RECOMMENDATIONS
Direct sown onion
Good control of all annual weeds, has been obtained with methabenzthiazuron at 2.1 kg/ha applied after the first irrigation after sowing. When the weeds are at the 2- to 4-leaf stage and chlorthal-dimethyl at 10.5 kg after sowing but before the first irrigation giving good weed control in direct sown onion. Under Pune conditions, Pendimethalin, Oxydiargyl and Oxyflurofen effectively control both dicotyledonous and monocotyledon weeds up to one month but application of Oxydiargyl and Oxyflurofen adversely affected the germination and seedling growth. The lower concentration of Pendimethalin 2ml/lit reduced the weed population without affecting the yield of onion.
Transplanted onion
In onion, pre emergence application of Oxyflurofen (Goal) @ 0.15-0.25 kg ai/ha or Fluchloralin (Basalin) @1.0kg/ha or Pendimethalin (Stomp) 3.5 l/ha combined with one hand weeding was found effective in both kharif and rabi grown onion.
Nursery
In onion nursery application of Pendimethalin @3ml/litre just after sowing is found best in controlling weeds without affecting the germination, seedling growth and final stand
Garlic dibbled
Pre emergence application of weedicides, Pendimethalin @3.5litre or Goal @0.25 kg ai hectare or fluchloralin - 0.9 kg + followed by one hand weeding at 30-45 days after planting has been recommended for control of both grasses and broad leave weeds.
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List of pre and post emergence weedicides used in onion and garlic
Pre emergence weedicides
Doses Pre emergence weedi-cides and post date of planting application
Doses
Metribuzin (Sencor Lexone)
0.35kg/ha Ioxynil (Toxynil) 0.5kg/ha
Propachlor (Ramrod) 4.5kg/ha Pendimethalin (Stomp) 2.5-3.5l/haOxyfluorfen (Goal) 0.15 or 0.25 kg/ha Butralin (Tamex,
Sector)3.5kg/ha
Fluchloralin (Basalin)
1.5 or 2.0 g/ha Oxyfluorfen (Goal) 0.15 or 0.25 kg/ha
Pendimethalin (Stomp)
2.5-3.5l/ha Fluchloralin (Basalin) 1.5 or 2.0 g/ha
Oxadiazon (Ronstar) 1.25 kg/ha Oxadiazon (Ronstar) 1.25 kg/haMethabenzthiazuron (Tribunil)
1.4 kg/ha Alachlor (Lasso) 2.0 kg/ha.
Nitrofen (Tok) 2 kg/ha Trifluralin (Treflan) 1.0 kg/ha.Linuron (Lorox) 0.94 kg/ha Oxydiargyl (Raft) 0.25 kg/haTrifluralin (Treflan) 1.0 kg/ha.Oxydiargyl (Raft) 0.25 kg/ha
Forbidden weedicides in onion and garlic
Glyphosate2-4-DDalaponButachlor
<Back>
Cropping Systems in Onion and Garlic
In recent years, soil fertility - fertilizer use research is focused on cropping sequences. Fertilizer recommendations are made for cropping sequences as a whole taking in to account the yield of preceding crop and their residual effect. In any crop sequences, the last crop is usually benefited by the residual effect of nutrient left over in the soil by the previous crops. This residual effect depending upon the soil and the order of crops included in sequential cropping pattern. More over the escalated chemical fertilizer production cost, impaired quality of produce, degraded soil and polluted surroundings necessitated the use / practice of cropping systems for vegetable production in recent years. Due to exaltation of increased fertilizer prices and consideration for ecological sustainability, now interest is focused towards intensive cropping system especially to legume crops in a sustainable crop sequences as an alternative or supplement to chemical fertilizers. Consistent growth in agriculture production becomes possible if the health of the environment including soil is also taken care off. Recycling of organic refuge and crop
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residues can ameliorate soil health and productivity. Diversifications of crops are capable of providing more balanced and abundant nutrition. More over more employment will be generated through out the year. For effective utilization of land, water and available resources the better way is to go for cropping systems
Both onion and garlic are short duration and shallow rooted nature and suitable to adopt for various cropping pattern including intercropping and sequential cropping system depending upon the location, nature of soil and climatic condition.
The onion crop generally follows a heavily manured crop grown in the previous season or raised as an early crop or late monsoon crop. When cultivated as monsoon or late monsoon crop, it is followed by coriander, French bean, sorghum, pearl millet, chillies and groundnut. As a winter crop, it follows cereals, groundnut and cowpeas a summer crop, it follows paddy. In UP, particularly in eastern part, it follows potato where as in Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa it follows paddy.
Onion can also be grown as an intercrop in sugarcane fields. It is common in some pockets of Haryana and Maharastra. In Karnataka, onion is grown as intercrop in chilli or cotton. In Tamil Nadu onion is well grown as intercrop in turmeric and sugarcane field.
Based on the research survey conducted under Western Maharastra, during kharif – rabi seasons aster-onion, marigold-onion, soyabean-onion, groundnut-onion, bajra-onion, onion-wheat, potato-onion, mungbean-garlic, pea-garlic, bajra-garlic, potato-garlic sequences are followed. In summer – late kharif season, groundnut- onion, cucumber- onion sequences are popularly followed among farmers.
Experiment at HPKV, Palampur revealed that onion cultivation is more profitable when okra and radish as one of the component vegetables are grown in the vegetable sequences. It has demonstrated the possibility of substituting the existing paddy-fallow – onion (bulb) by okra – radish – onion (bulb) crop rotation, which proved to be more remunerative. It is concluded that three vegetables can be raised successfully on the same piece of land in one year, which is economical and suitable as compared to the traditional sequence.
Based in research studies under North India, groundnut-potato-onion cropping system was the best crop sequence with a potato and it gives more remunerative had the highest land use efficiency, highest biological and production efficiency, highest net returns and benefit-cost ratio.
Studies conducted at National Research Centre (NRCOG), Rajgurunagar reported that among the cropping sequences evaluated in onion, the soyabean in kharif season followed by onion in rabi season adjusted the best onion based cropping system under western Maharstra conditions in terms of yield, soil health and cost benefit ratio. There was a tremendous improvement in physical and chemical properties of soil noticed in legume based cropping sequences particularly soyabean followed by onion and groundnut followed by onion.<Back>
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Organic Production of onion and garlic
Organic Agriculture brings with it a number of added benefits for example, improved soil fertility and water quality, prevention of soil erosion, generation of rural employment, etc. But to make this a reality need to frame supportive policies for encouraging such agriculture for exports as well as to enhance food security. The concept of food quality has changed dramatically in recent years. It now refers not only to the characteristics of the final product, but also to the way in which it is produced, processed and transported.
Onion and garlic are important spices used every day for culinary purposes as well as for fresh consumption as salad in case of the onion. Onion and garlic consume lot of fungicides and pesticides for the control of fungal diseases and thrips. Besides use of chemical fertilizers is inevitable for augmenting productivity to coupe up with production cost and harness some profit. There is hardly any information on the organic production of onion and garlic, although some of the farmers are showing interest towards organic cultivation but lack of standards and less premium price for organic onions are the major impediments. The low yield of organically produced onion in initial years in one of the major problem that farmers have to deal with. The experiments conducted At NRC O&G revealed that reduction of yield of onion may go up to 50 to 70 % in initial years. There is reduction in size of the bulbs and number of ‘A’ grade bulbs may be as low as zero percent in initial years. The yield increases slowly in later years with the build up of organic matter and soil microorganisms. Similarly the yield of garlic was also reduced by 20to 40 percent in organic treatments as compared to recommended doses of fertilizers and plant protection measures. The reduction of yield was mainly attributed by reduced bulb size. The main reason of yield reduction of was the high infestation of diseases and pests particularly thrips as most of the organic pesticides were found less effective against thrips. The thrips prolongs the vegetative growth phase, which resulted in small size bulbs. In extreme cases there was no bulb formation.<Back>
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16. PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY
Onion and garlic are affected by a number of diseases and insect pests in field as well as in storage. Economically important pests and diseases of onion and garlic along with suitable management strategies are described here under.
1. Onion and Garlic Pests
Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a regular and potential pest of onion and garlic in the tropics. Thrips originated in the Mediterranean region and is distributed all over the world. Onion thrips feed on many cultivated plants and weeds belonging to 25 families. Though onion and garlic are the preferred hosts, the principal alternate hosts include cabbage, cotton, tomato, cucumber, melons, pumpkins, strawberries and many flowering plants.
Thrips are small, slender and fast moving. Reproduction in this species is mostly through a process called parthenogenesis (Thelytoky); this allows the rapid multiplication of thrips population under favourable conditions. Many workers studied biology and development of this pest. The duration of life cycle was similar on both onion and garlic. The females at 300C lay more eggs and live longest. On an average a female produces 10-100 eggs. Eggs are microscopic and inserted into the tender leaf tissue and hatch in 4-10 days depending on temperature. Development from egg to adult requires 10-30 days depending on temperature and produces many overlapping generations in a year. Adults and nymphs also over-winter in the soil, refuse and weeds from which they migrate to host crops. With the favourable conditions of hot and dry weather the thrips populations may increase to 200-500 per plant.
Thrips attack onion at all the stages of crop growth. Both nymphs and adults cause direct damage by sucking out sap with modified piercing and sucking mouthparts. Infested foliage is disfigured with numerous silvery white patches. Plants show twisting and curling. In seed crop the flowers become discoloured, deformed and dry. Yield damage up to 50% recorded in rabi season. Thrips aggravates disease infections by Alternaria porri, and stemphylium blight. T.tabaci vectors topso virus Iris Yellow Mosaic Virus.
Monitoring Coloured sticky traps were found attracting different species of thrips in different geographical areas. Among them, yellow and blue are more attractive. Certain volatile chemicals like, ethyl nicotinate, p-anisaldehyde and benzaldehyde attract adult thrips in green houses.
Population dynamics Geographical variations are evident in population fluctuations of thrips. Early dates of planting may be economical as the crop matures sufficiently before the thrips population builds up. The role of maximum temperature on thrips population is not clear. Relative humidity and rainfall have negative effect. Two population peaks –one in the month of August and the other in February occur in western Maharashtra.
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Management
Cultural methods
Destruction of culls of onion reduces the abundance of this pest. With other sanitation techniques eliminate alternate hosts. Avoid successive planting of onion and garlic. Because of mobility, crop rotation has little effect. Planting upwind can be helpful in escaping infestation from old plantings.
Planting date Early plantings escapes severe infestation of thrips.In Maharastra onions planted in the months of September and October were less attacked by thrips and require little crop protection compared to rabi plantings.
Barrier cropping Planting two rows of maize or inner row of wheat and outer row of maize surrounding onion crop (250sq.m) can block adult thrips up to 80% and insecticide sprays could be brought down to two.
Mulching Black plastic was spray-painted with aluminum paint and silver colour mulch repelled 33-68% of the thrips, but only during initial stages. Under sowing of clovers, Trifolium subterraneum and T. fragiferum in onion crop reduces the thrips population but the straw mulch was not effective.
Mixed cropping Mixed cropping carrots with onion, reduced attacks of T. tabaci compared to monocrop of onion. In most cases, to combat pest problem in other crops onion or garlic were successfully employed as mixed crop but not vice versa.
Irrigation Drought stress increases the susceptibility of onions to thrips damage. Irrigation systems also had an effect on the pest incidence. In some places like Australia, farmers use overhead irrigation to simulate rainfall and thereby control thrips in onion. Field trials at NRCOG, Rajgurunagar suggested that sprinkler irrigation reduces thrips population considerably compared to drip and surface irrigation. In case of garlic, sprinkler system was not that effective as in case of onion. In Sudan, thrips populations were significantly less in onion crop irrigated at wider intervals compared to shorter irrigation frequencies but the bulb yield was hampered.
Fertilization Soil fertility management may also affect thrips infestation and damage. A high amount of nitrogen makes the plant succulent and makes it vulnerable to sucking insects like thrips. Though potassium was reported to reduce pest population of sucking pests such as aphids on many crops, it has shown no effect on thrips in onion. Lack of adequate soil calcium may invite higher populations of thrips.
Biological Control Predators like lady beetles, minute pirate bugs, ground beetles, big-eyed bugs, lacewings, hover flies, predatory mites, and spiders were found effective in reducing thrips population from 20-70% in green houses. The predators consume 23.2-96 thrips per day; however in open fields their incidence is very low. A parasite Ceranisus sp. was recorded in India but the incidence of parasite was low in the field. Recently at NRCOG predator, pirate bug, Orius tantillus incidence was noticed on large scale in garlic. So far
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mass rearing and release methods and their efficacy in field are not available in India. Under laboratory and green house conditions, besides B. bassiana, Metarhizium insopliae, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Verticillium lecani effectively killed T.tabaci and Frankliniella sp. Mortality of thrips was highest with B. bassiana at 260 C and 75% RH. Such high percent of humidity seldom occur under field conditions for longer period.
Host Plant Resistance Many sweet Spanish onion varieties- White Persian, Grano, Sweet Spanish, Crystal Wax, Yellow Bermuda and Spanish White.were found resistant to T. tabaci in temperate regions. In India, commercial varieties N-2-4-1 and Pusa Ratnar were found resistant to T.tabaci in Punjab, but the former was susceptible to thrips in Maharashtra. The variety B-780 is moderately resistant to thrips. In Bihar, Pusa red and N-53 had lowest thrips population during winter and monsoon respectively while Patna red and Arka niketan had highest infestations in both the seasons. Many germplasm lines were reported resistant to thrips elsewhere in India. However till today there is no promising and consistent variety of onion available in India for thrips resistance.
In general, red onions tend to be more susceptible to thrips than white onions, with yellows intermediate. Thrips resistance mechanism was non-preference. Plants with wider leaf angle and round leaves had smaller number of thrips. Plants with glossy foliage were more resistant to non-glossy. Welsh onion (A. fistulosum), a non-bulbing species was highly resistant to thrips.
Botanical pesticides Botanicals, particularly neem was found effective in controlling many thrips species on various crops. However they failed in reducing T.tabaci populations on onion. Neem, Karanj, Annona was ineffective in suppressing onion thrips compared to insecticides.
Chemical control Judicious use of insecticides may be achieved by following ETL of 30 thrips per plant in onion. Thrips control is critical during bulbing (45-75 days). Many insecticides like dimethoate, phosphomidon, monocrotophos, methyl demeton, endosulfan, cypermethrin, carbosulfan profenofos effectively suppresses thrips. Never use single insecticide continuously. Young plants could be protected for 30 days by soil application of Carbofuran 3G or Phorate 10G granules or by seedling root dip with carbosulfan or imidacloprid for 2 h before transplanting. In seed crop thrips should be checked before flower opening. If possible avoid spraying after flower opening. Insecticides that are safer to pollinating bees should be applied late in the evening when there is no foraging of bees.
Pyrethroids like cypermethrin, permethrin, fenvalrate and OP compounds like monocrotophos, fenitrothion, methyl demeton and dimethoate left no residues on onion bulb. A minimum period of 14-20 days for onion tops and 6-13 days for bulbs is suggested.
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2. Onion maggot
Onion maggot is more restricted to cooler coastal climates where onions are grown on organic and muck soils of temperate regions. Maggot is primarily a pest of onions and do not cause economic damage to garlic. Besides Delia antiqua (Mg), D.platura (seed corn maggot) and D. allaria are the important species of onion maggots in different parts of the world. Left unchecked, the onion maggot can cause onion stands losses from 20-90% in many temperate regions. Adults are 1/4-inch, gray-brown, bristly, humpbacked flies. The 1/3-inch maggots are legless, cylindrical, tapering at the head and creamy white. Eggs are laid in small batches in the soil near the base of the seedlings. The maggots tunnel in the bulb and crown. At a later stage the tops to turn yellow and wilt. Mature larvae pupate in the soil. There are several generations per year. Maximum eggs are laid at 15 oC and 90% RH. Larval mortality is lowest at 20 oC.
Decomposing onion seedlings and bulbing plants elicit a greater host finding response by female. Both male and female are attracted to chemical, dipropyl disulfide. Larvae are microbe and bacteria grazers. D.antiqua prefer internal sections of onion bulbs for faster development and survival.
No monitoring system is available to monitor this pest. However adults can be caught using yellow sticky traps. The activity of adults was crepuscular. Flies avoid the onion crop during day; prefer to rest in the shade of surrounding foliage.
Management
Cultural methods Avoid planting in soils that are high in undecomposed organic matter. Control of D.antiqua is exceptional in areas where crop rotation was followed in the previous year.
Host Plant Resistance Little varietal resistance to onion maggot is known in bulb onions. Onion fly through oviposition non- preference does not attack A.fistulosum. Resistant cultivars produce small amounts of alkyl thio compounds from onion plant and non-sulfur compounds from bacteria compared to the susceptible ones.
Biological control Seven insect species were confirmed as parasites of which only the braconid, Aphaereta pallipes and Staphylinid, Aleochara bilineata have significantly increased the mortality of onion maggot. However their performance in field is poor. Ground beetle is an onion maggot predator and establishing grassy refuse stripes in onion crop will enhance the beetle population. An entomogenous fungus, Entomophthora muscae was reported from Canada. Under laboratory conditions the entomophyllic nematodes, Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis caused 63.3-100% mortality of D. antiqua.
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Chemical control Furrow application of granular formulations of dichlorofenthion, ethion, carbofuran and chlorfenvinfos, chlorpyriphos at planting adequately controls for 8 weeks. Application of pirimiphos methyl at 1l/ha and deltamethrin at 0.3l/ha were also recommended. Fipronil 80 WG (25 g ai/Kg) and Cyromazine 75 WP (50 g ai /Kg), an insect growth regulator as seed treatment and as pelleting was recommended. No pesticide residues were reported above tolerance limits.
3. Other caterpillars
Army worms Beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hubner and Common armyworm S. litura attack onion. Larvae feed on leaf surface and bore into the leaf and remain inside and feed. Pheromones were widely exploited for monitoring and mating disruption all over the world. Resistant varieties are not known. NPV, Bt and Insecticides like cypermethrin, methomyl, quinolphos, endosulfan etc., can be used if infestation is more.
Gram caterpillar, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner occurs sporadically on onion seed crop. Larva feed inside the stem and subsequently invades umbel and seeds resulting complete drying of flowers and seed. Among the commercial onion varieties Arka Niketan is less attacked.
Cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon Black coloured larvae remain in soil near the plant and cut the young onion seedlings at ground level at night. Soil application of chlorpyriphos 1l/acre, NSKE at 5%, endosulfan @0.4 l/acre control cutworm effectively.
4. Eriophyid mite, Aceria tulipae (Keifer)
A. tulipae is microscopic, white, wormlike about 0.25 mm long with 2 pairs of legs. Eggs are round and white in colour. They feed on liliaceous bulbs, cereal grains, and wild grasses. Both larvae and adults are seen near midrib. In garlic symptoms include stunting, twisting, curling, yellow mottling and reduce the plant stand as well as yield. Mites also attack the stored garlic bulbs and make them dry and desiccate. Most of the mites are located at the basal portion of cloves. At present this is not a regular pest in India. It is capable of transmitting viruses such as Wheat yellow streak mosaic virus in wheat, garlic mosaic virus and onion mosaic caused by Allium 1 virus.
Management
Flood irrigation or heavy winter rains may reduce field populations. Avoid planting successive onion or garlic crops. Wettable sulfur 0.3% + dimethoate (0.03%) as pre- sowing and post- sowing treatment is recommended in India for control of this pest. Seed dressing and plant stand treatments with 0.5% sulfur, 0.2% methomyl, and 0.1% dimethoate are also effective in controlling mites. Hot water treatment of seed garlic at 55 and 60 oC for 10 minutes was also effective but affects clove sprouting. Fumigation with methyl bromide at 32 g/m3 for 2 h or 3g/m3 aluminium phosphide for 72 h in airtight plastic box has been recommended for the control in stored garlic.
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5. Red spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (urticae)
Occurrence of this mite on garlic was reported in Spain in 1985. In Venezuela, T. telarius was reported on onion and garlic and wettable sulfur and dicofol were recommended for its control. However, so far large-scale incidence of this pest was not reported on onion and garlic in India. In 2001 rabi season it was first time recorded in onion and garlic at NRCOG on garlic and onion seed crop grown under cages.Incidence was started in February on 120-day-old garlic crop and later it was observed on onion seed crop grown under cages. In garlic, silk webbings were seen on the upper surface of the leaves. Both nymphs and adults were seen in colonies under webbing. Due to feeding, small white specs formed on the leaves. Both old and new leaves were infested. In onion, both foliage and flower stalks were infested. Fine silk webbing was spun around the umbel. Mites were also found on the plants grown in poly houses.Mite infestation on garlic (28.25/cm2) was higher than that of onion (13.55/cm2). In garlic, mite population was significantly higher in insecticide sprayed plots compared to unsprayed plots (4.9 mites / cm2). This may be due to continuous use of insecticides particularly synthetic pyrethroids and elimination of natural enemies of the mites in the agro ecosystem.
6. Bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus robini Claparede
Bulb mites are shiny, creamy white, bulbous-appearing mites that range in size from 0.02 to 0.04 inches long that occur in clusters under the root plate of onion bulbs or garlic cloves. This is a pest of crops with corms, tubers and bulbs. Plants infected with Fusarium are more vulnerable to mite attack.
Management
Following crop rotation, avoiding cole crops especially cauliflower, un-decomposed organic matter, and flood irrigation minimizes the incidence. Hot water treatment of seed garlic before planting reduces mite infestation. Soil drenching with dicofol at 2 ml/l, powdered sulfur control mites. Fumigation with methyl bromide @ 16 g/m3 for 3 h or 10 g/m3 for 6 h is effective in stored garlic.
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DISEASES
1. Damping off
Damping off is the major constraint in growing onion nursery. It occurs in two stages i.e. pre-emergence and post emergence. This disease is commonly caused by many species of Pythium spp. In Israel, Rhizoctonia found causing damping off. Fusarium oxysporum and F. oxysporum f.sp. cepae cause delayed seedling emergence and seedling damping off. This disease is severe under high soil moisture and soil temperatures below 180C and in the areas of intensive production of direct seeded alliums.
Management
Cultural Methods Practices that minimise excessive soil moisture, compacted soil horizons, turning soil 20-30 cm deep, crop rotation, land leveling, installing drains, sowing of clean uninfected seed on raised beds reduce seedling diseases. Overcrowding of onion plants should be avoided. Nursery should be well drained. Soil solarisation of nursery beds with white polythene for 30 days before sowing gave good control of damping off disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum.
Biological Methods Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed followed by soil application of T. viride @ 500 g multiplied in 50 kg farmyard manure / ha gives good control.
Chemical Methods The disease can be effectively controlled by seed dressing before sowing and also drenching the nursery soil by captafol or thiram @ 0.2% or carbendazim @ 0.1% or copper oxychloride.
2. Purple blotch
The disease is widely distributed throughout the world and caused by Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif. It requires temperatures of 21 to 30oC for development; most serious in hot humid climates and causes 50% reduction in seed and bulb yield.
Initially, small white sunken spots develop on the leaves; later enlarge, become eye shaped under moist conditions, turn to purple colour and are surrounded by a broad chlorotic margin. These spots are very prominent on the flowering stalk. Lesions may girdle leaves and stalks causing them to drop after 2-3 weeks. Infection can cause a semi watery rot of necks of bulbs, which turn yellow-red in colour, bulb tissues eventually become papery. The fungus is seed borne but the relevance of this phase in initiating disease outbreaks in hot climates are not well documented. Infected onion debris is an infection source. Conidia survive on debris or in soil for 8 months.
Conidiophores arise singly or in-group, straight or flexuous. Dark olivaceous, long, multicellular conidia are produced at conidiophore tips. Conidia may form repeatedly on lesions with alternating cycles of low and high relative humidity. The fungus can grow at
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temperatures at 6-34oC, optimum being 25 oC. The fungus require relative humidity of 90% or higher for sporulation. The number of lesions increased with increase in temperature and leaf wetness duration. As humidity decreases between 7.00 and 10.00 A.M., hygroscopic movements in the conidial apparatus cause detachment of mature conidia. Young leaves damaged by thrips are more prone to A. porri infection. The first leaf symptoms can appear 1-4 days after penetration by the fungus, and by the fifth day conidia may develop lesions.
Management
Cultural Methods Crop rotation with non-host crops and good drainage reduce the disease incidence. Higher doses of N PK reduced the number of purple blotch affected seed stalks. Plant spacing of 10 x 20 cm showed a higher incidence of purple blotch in Brazil. In Egypt highest disease severity in garlic was recorded when plants were irrigated at 5-10 days short intervals, while the least infection recorded at 20-30 days intervals. Hot water soaking of onion seed (50oC for 20 minutes) proved to be best treatment for reducing purple blotch pathogen.
Host Plant Resistance In long day types, sweet Spanish onions are more susceptible than yellow globe types. Bock, in 1964 found resistance in many American hybrids with thick cuticle and Red Creole in Cuba. Phenolic compounds and high oxidase activity are responsible for the resistance in cv. Tailani Red. Some of the resistant onion lines identified for purple blotch are 53-3, Agrifound Light Red resistant. Onion varieties Agrifound Dark Red, Red Globe were moderately resistant and VL Piyaz 3 from hills of Uttaranchal was tolerant. In garlic, variety HG-1 as moderately resistant and LCC 1 was resistant. Immunity to purple blotch was reported in garlic cultivar Pantnagar selection A.
Biological Methods Little work has been done on biocontrol of disease. Trichoderma viride (10000 spores/ml) and covering crops with transparent polythene sheets inhibited growth of the pathogen A. porri in the field. Species of Penicillium, Aureobasidium pullulans, Sporobolomyces roseus and Cryptococcus luteolus found effective in inhibiting growth of the pathogen in vivo.
Botanicals Aqueous leaf extracts of Polyalthia longifolia, Eucalyptus citriodora, Datura alba, Ocimum sanctum, Punica granatum, Azadirachta indica, Ipomea carnea, Tridax procumbens and Tabernamontana coronaria were found to be effective in reducing the conidial germination.
Chemical Methods The fungicides recommended for the control of disease are benlate and mancozeb. 4 sprays of mancozeb or chlorothalonil @ 0.25% or iprodione @ 0.25% or Captafol at 10 days intervals were effective in reducing the disease. In garlic, clove dip in 0.25% iprodione solution for 1 hr before sowing followed by 2 sprays of ridomil MZ @ 0.25% or 0.2% iprodione was suggested. Prophylactic spray of metalaxyl + mancozeb @ 0.25% gave good control of purple blotch disease in onion seed crop at Himachal Pradesh. Difenoconazole was found as an effective fungicide in Indonesia.
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3. Stemphylium leaf blight
Stemphylium leaf blight on onion and garlic was reported from many parts of the world. In India, Rao and Pavagi first recorded the disease in 1973. The disease is more destructive in India with about 90% losses in seed yield. The disease is caused by Stemphylium vesicarium (Wallr.) Simmons. The perfect stage of pathogen is Pleospora alli.
The first symptoms of disease appear on the radical leaves at 3-4-leaf stage. Symptoms develop in the middle of the leaf as small yellow to orange flecks or streaks, which soon develop into elongated, spindle shaped spots surrounded by characteristic pinkish margin. The spots progress from the tip to the base of the leaves as symptoms develop. Lesions turn light brown to tan and blacken when the conidia develop. The spots coalesce into extended patches, blighting the leaves and gradually the entire foliage. The symptoms develop only on the dorsal side of leaf / stalk.
The mycelium is cottony white or olivaceous brown to black. Condiophores are straight to variously curve, simple or occasionally one branched, cylindrical, enlarging, apically at conidium production site. Conidia are oblong, rounded at the ends or oblong ellipsoidal and brown in colour. The fungus normally invades dead and dying onion tissue, leaf tips, purple blotch lesions, etc. Under persistent wet conditions for more than 24 hours, conidium inoculum may reach enough concentration to cause minute lesions. Initiation and development of disease were favoured by moderate temperature and humidity coupled with precipitation. Maximum airborne conidia (950 / m3) were trapped between 11.00 hrs and 15.00 hrs. In India, the disease is more severe in rabi than in kharif season as higher temperature prevail during March-April, and the area under cultivation of onion is extensive during that season.
Management
Cultural Methods Include long rotations with non-host crops and practices that reduce leaf wetness, i.e. good field drainage and reduced plant density. Disease incidence highest (52.2%) when the crop was sown on 30th September at a spacing of 45 cm x 30 cm and the lowest at 60 cm x 45 cm spacing, sown on 30 October. In Maharastra, the disease appeared throughout the year with 14 to 56% (average 30.07%) intensity. Since the pathogen survive on the dead plant tissues, sanitation of field and collecting and burning of crop refuse reduces the disease. Hot water soaking of onion seed (50oC for 20 minutes) proved to be the best treatment for reducing the pathogen.
Host Plant Resistance Welsh onion, Allium fistulosum lines were resistant or moderately resistant, whereas A. cepa lines were susceptible.
Biological Methods Little work has been done on biological control.
Chemical Methods Mancozeb offers best control with higher cost benefit ratio. For north India, fortnightly sprays of 0.25% mancozeb or 0.25% of iprodione were recommended on onion seed crop. 3 sprays of 0.25% chlorothalonil at 10 days interval starting 60 days after transplanting was effective.
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4. Colletotrichum blight / anthracnose / twister disease
The disease was reported from Europe and Argentina. In India, the disease occurs in Maharashtra during monsoon season only. Initially pale yellow water soaked spots appears on the leaf, which increase lengthwise covering the whole leaf. Numerous black coloured slightly raised structures are produced in the central portion. These structures may be arranged in concentric rings. The affected leaves shrivel, droop down and finally wither. The characteristic symptoms are curling, twisting, and chlorosis of the leaves and abnormal elongation of neck (false stem). The disease is caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes.. Acervuli are cushion shaped, waxy, sub epidermal, typically with dark spines or setae at the edges measuring 80-135 mm in length. Conidiophores are simple and elongated. Conidia are hyaline. Glomerella is the perfect stage of the fungus. The fungus survives on crop debris and transmits through seedlings and onion bulbs. Boff et al. (1995) indicated the seed borne nature of the fungus. The initiation and development of anthracnose depend upon the frequency of rainfall and the movement of conidial inoculum during rainfall. It was suggested that the dispersal of conidia occurs from soil to lower leaves by splash mechanism and then from the leaves to the neck of the onion bulb and to the bulb by wash off. Euphorbia hypericifolia was identified as an important weed host for the pathogen.
Management
Cultural Methods Since the pathogen survives on crop refuse, sanitation and destruction of infected plant debris helps in reducing the disease.
Host Plant Resistance The cultivars Texas Early Grano 502, Browns Ville and Red Creole C5 were found susceptible, cultivar Composto IPA-6 was moderately susceptible and cultivar IPA 3, Belem, IPA 9, Franciscana IPA 10, Vale Ouro IPA II and Roxinha de Belem were found resistant.
Chemical Methods Spray of mancozeb @ 0.25% also gives good control of disease or captafol (0.2%) for control of anthracnose.
5. Cercospora leaf spot
Cercospora leaf spot in onion and garlic was first observed in 1923 in the Philippines. It is a hot climate disease and is prevalent in many regions of the world. The disease is characterised by chlorotic leaf spots, which are circular to elongate with brown to red margin later on turn brown with sporulation. Lesion centres may fall out, leaving a hole. Extensive lesioning results into leaf death and defoliation.
This disease in onion and garlic is caused by Cercospora duddiae. Conidiophores are septate and are produced in bunches on the lesion. They bear single hyaline, 13 to 19 septate whip like conidium. Conidia are either wind or water borne or transported with onion plants. They survive on crop debris. High temperature and prolonged wet conditions are conducive for disease development.
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Management
The cultural practices like crop rotation and field sanitation should be followed since the infected debris is the source of the infection. As the disease is wind borne, a forecasting system for spray schedule needs to be developed. Several fungicides are found useful in controlling the disease viz., Bordeaux mixture, maneb, thiobendazol. Mancozeb @ 0.25% and bavistin @ 0.1% were found effective in controlling the disease.
BULB DISEASES
6. Fusarium basal rot (basal plate rot)
The basal rot in onion and garlic is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cepae and is prevalent all over the world. This causes damping off, wilting, root rot, seed infection and accounts for 30-40% losses in storage. This disease occurs in warm climates and optimum temperature for development of the disease is 28 to 32oC. The pathogen may infect garlic and onion bulb at any time during their growth. Plants show symptoms like yellowing and stunting up to 45 days but not later.
The main symptoms of disease are delayed seedling emergence, seedling damping off, stunted growth and basal rotting accompanied by early maturation and basal rotting in storage. The roots may turn pink and gradually decay until the entire root disappears. White mycelium appears on the stem plate that later turn brown. Infected garlic shows reddish or reddish purple discolouration on stems and bulbs. Symptoms usually begin from the bulb base. The pathogen is commonly found in soil in the form of chlamydospores and forms the source of inoculum for next season. The optimum temperature for growth of the pathogen is 24 to 270C. The disease increases with continuous cropping of onion, injury to roots, stem plate or bulb by onion maggot or other insects, stress due to high temperature and drought.
Management
Cultural Methods Crop rotation for 4-5 years with non-host crop, good drainage, deep ploughing in summer, flooding the soil in the non-growing season and avoiding plant injury reduces the incidence of diseases. Use of planting materials free of F. oxysporum f. sp cepae has been advocated. Mixed cropping with tobacco and jowar; green manuring reduces the disease. Covering of wet soil by polythene sheet (750 gauge) for 10 days in hot season (45-550C) can effectively control the disease.
Host Plant Hybrid onion Spanish and Mustang showed resistance to bulb rotting after harvest. The other cultivars reported resistant are Granex, Elba Globa, Lown 44, Yellow Sweet Spanish and Texas Early Grano. Three lines viz. IIHR 141, IIHR 506 and Sel 13-1-1 were found consistently resistant to Fusarium oxysporum in the field.
Biological Soaking the seed in bacterial suspension of Pseudomonas cepacia can protect onion seedlings. Fungal antagonist Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum, T. hamatum, T. koningii, T. pseudokoningii and the bacterial antagonists, Pseudomonas fluorescens and
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Bacillus subtilis were effective against F. oxysporum in in vitro conditions. Combined seed treatment of T. viride + P. fluorescens reduced onion basal rot incidence both in pot and field conditions.
Chemical Methods Benomyl, carbendazim, thiram and difolatan @ 0.2% were found promising. Pre harvest spray of carbendazim @ 0.1% before harvest resulted in lowest yield loss after 5 months of storage.
7. Black mold
The disease occurs in the high temperature regions of 30-450C. It causes post harvest blemishes and rotting of onion. In India, the disease is very common in onion in storage. The bulbs have black discolouration at the neck and streaks of black mycelium and conidia beneath the outer dry scales. Rotting may be enhanced by the presence of other organism viz., bacteria or Fusarium. Black mold in onion is caused by Aspergillus niger Van Tieghem. Other species viz., A. fumigatus (green mold) and A. alliaceus are reported to cause similar type of symptoms. The fungus grows saprophytically on dead plant and animal tissues and is a common inhabitant of soil. The optimum conditions for germination of spores are 300C temperature and 100% RH. Losses of 22-76% in stored onion at 270C and 70% RH were reported from Texas. Losses of 33% - 61% were recorded during summer storage in Japan.
Management
Bruising should be avoided during harvest, storage or transportation. Drying bulbs at less than 36% humidity at 37.80C reduced black mold in Texas. Less rotting is at 300C and 50% humidity. Presence of Ca in onion tissue played an important role in resistance to the disease and plants grown in reclaimed soil with high level of Mg, Na and K were more susceptible. No resistant cultivar is known, but white cultivars are susceptible to black mold than yellow, red or brown cultivars. Dusting of topped onion with calcium carbonate reduced post harvest bulb rotting by 17%. During transit, black mold can be reduced if the containers are fumigated with nitrogen trichloride @ 430 mg / m3.
8. White rot
Berkelay first reported the white rot disease from U.K. in 1841. Later on the disease was reported from Africa, America, Canada and India. 80-100% losses due to white rot disease have been reported from Italy and Mexico. The plants can become infected at any stage of growth. The pathogen is soil inhabiting and infects the roots and the basal part of the bulb scales. Initial symptoms of yellowing and dying back of leaf tips occur. Roots are normally destroyed and semi watery decay of the scale with abundant superficial white fluffy mycelium. Brown or black sclerotia develop on surface or within tissue.
The white rot disease in onion and garlic is caused by Sclerotium cepivorum Berk. The pathogen has ascomycetous affinities but no described perfect stage. The only reproductive structures are sclerotia, which are mostly spherical in shape, have a dark slightly roughened surface and are rubbery in texture. Secondary sclerotia are approx 100 to 150 mm in diameter and may form within parent sclerotium or adjacent to it. They are formed in response to unfavourable soil condition. The fungus probably over winters by means of
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sclerotia, which germinate on prevalence of favourable, condition i.e. temperature between 15-200C and soil moisture below 50%. The minimum and maximum temperature for growth are 5 and 290C, respectively with the optimum being at 20-240C. Under dry condition and at closer spacing incidence has been very high. It is reported that area with more than 20 sclerotia per kg of soil has high correlation with earlier development of white rot symptoms.
Management
Cultural Methods Infected plants may be destroyed and the soil around these plants may be treated with fumigants. Hot water treatment of bulbs at 490C gives effective control. Solarization of soil at high temperature i.e. 350C for 18 hrs or 450C for 6 hrs reduces the disease incidence by 50-70%. Crop rotation has been advocated to restrict further dissemination of white rot.
Biological Methods T. viride, Glyocladium zeae, Coniothyrium minitans, Penicillium nigricans, Bacillus subtilis and T.harzianum are reported as prominent antagonists for control of white rot.
Chemical Methods Among the fungicides, iprodione @ 0.25%, Benomyl @ 0.1% were found effective. Dicloran as seed / bulb dip treatment and furrow application in soil gives good control of disease. In garlic crop, dusting PCNB (Pentachloro nitrobenzene) in the rows at the time of planting @ 50-62.50 kg per ha gives good control.
9. Bacterial rots
Brown Rot
The bacterial brown rot disease is a serious disease of stored onions in subtropical countries especially in India. The disease is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The disease has a characteristic dark brown discolouration in bulb scale. Bacterial development occurs below the epidermis and the adjacent cylindrical cells. Browning of the inner scale along with rotting is the main symptoms of disease. Rotting starts in the inner scales towards outer scales. Apparently the bulb seems to be healthy, but when pressed, the white oozing is noticed from the neck.
Soft Rot
The disease is caused by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Jones) Bergey. In India the disease was first reported from Andhra Pradesh. The affected fleshy scale tissues are water soaked and pale yellow to light brown and become soft as the rot progress. The whole interior of the bulb may break down giving out foul smell. Liquid may ooze from the neck if affected bulb is squeezed. Bulbs with mechanical injury, bruises are more susceptible as the bacteria gains entry into the bulb through neck tissue. High temperature and humid condition favours the growth of the bacteria.
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Slippery Skin
The disease is caused by Pseudomonas allicola. When bulb cut open, the internal scales show brown water soaked cooked appearance. When pressed from bottom, the central core may be ejected. Infection progress downward and bulb become soft and rotten. At room temperature, matured bulb may rot completely within 10 days of infection.
Management of bacterial rots
The best way to control bacterial diseases of onion is to grow the crop under the best possible condition of tilth, fertilizer, drainage, crop rotation and freedom from weeds. It is necessary to dry the crop quickly after harvest. During rainy season, artificial curing is required. Resistant varieties are not known. Chemicals like streptocycline were found somewhat effective in the control of bacterial diseases.
Apart from the leaf and bulb diseases mentioned above, some diseases like Pink root (Pyrenochaeta terrestris) onion smut (Urocystis cepulae), downy mildew (Peronospora destructor), leaf blight, blast (Botrytis squamosa), leaf flecks (Botrytis cinerea), leaf blotch (Cladosporium alli f. sp cepae) and onion rust (Melampsora allii), in leaves and neck rot (Botrytis allii), smudge (Colletotrichum ciranans), blue mold (Penicillium cyclopium), and sour skin (Pseudononas cepacia), have been reported from bulbs. Stem and bulb nematodes have also been reported. The damage caused due to above diseases are, however, low hence are of minor importance.
10. Virus diseases
Onion is known to be affected by Onion yellow dwarf, leek yellow stripe, shallot latent, garlic latent, tobacco rattle, tomato black ring, tomato spotted wilt and Iris yellow spot etc. in many countries. The two viral diseases noticed in India are described here. Iris Yellow Spot Virus
IYSV belongs to the genus, Tospo virus that includes Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and other species. The incidence of disease often reached 50-60% resulting in heavy losses of onion. The incidence was widely spreading across the countries. IYSV was first identified in 1998 and later reported on onion from Israel, Brazil, Australia and Slovenia; Iris (Iris hollandica) in The Netherlands; Lisianthus (Eustoma russellianum) and Hippeastrum hybridum in Israel. The disease is emerging as a potentially devastating and widespread disease of onion seed crop in India. The other hosts include Nicotiana benthamiana, Datura stramonium, garlic, leek, chive and other Allium species and several other ornamental hosts.
The virus is primarily transmitted by Thrips tabaci. Thrips can transmit the virus only if they acquire during larval stage, especially by the first instar. Adult thrips can only inoculate but could not acquire the virus. Thrips remain viruliferous for the entire life but the virus is not known to pass to next progeny through eggs. Though thrips occur in large populations, epidemics can occur only when these biological entities coincide in an appropriate environment.
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The disease causes straw coloured, dry, spindle or diamond shaped lesions with green centers on the leaves and scapes or seed stalks of onion. These symptoms are more distinct on seed stalk than on foliage. In severe infestation, the stalks break and fall down resulting in total seed loss. In bulb crop, the lesions reduce the photosynthetic area and reduce the bulb size. The total yield losses of 1-10% or more reported in Colorado, USA. This virus is not transmitted to onion seedlings from infected mother plants through the seed. Even onion bulbs and roots of infected plants are not known to have the virus, but volunteer onions are found symptomatic. The virus remain on over wintered onion, perennial and annual weeds. Over wintered thrips on the harvested culls spread the disease to fresh onion plantings in the next season. Virus distribution with in a plant was found uneven and the highest titers were in the inner leaves and near the bulbs.
Recently the disease was noticed on rabi grown onion at NRCOG, Rajgurunagar and near by areas. It occurred more severe on seed crop and 100% incidence was noticed. The leaves were dried completely and more than 80% stalks were found broken at lesion. Symptoms were also noticed on bulb onion and garlic crops.
Management
Once the disease is infected the plants, there is no remedy. Even though the thrips vector the disease, thrips control is not alone sufficient to control the disease economically. A multi pronged approach is more appropriate to combat the disease. A range of host plants, weeds and the voluntary onion plants, harvested culls act as a potential source for both virus and thrips as well. Destroy the culls and weeds. As the disease is new, no known resistant varieties were reported till date. In areas where onions are grown continuously, crop rotation can break the ‘green bridge’ for thrips. Plant stressors such as heat, drought, and poor nutrition further compound the disease injury. Avoid irrigation stress and maintain soil fertility. Thrips should be monitored and controlled effectively.
Onion Yellow Dwarf Virus
In India this disease was first noticed in Haryana, in 1963. Earlier it was reported from Brazil, Indonesia, and Japan. Generally the plant appears dwarfed, and wilted. The first symptoms appear on the youngest leaves, which turn pale and develop many yellow streaks along the veins. Leaves may crinkle and flop over. Symptoms are more pronounced on leaves that develop from an infected bulb or transplant, and the yellow streaks begin at the base of the first leaves and successive leaves as they emerge. Later, there is more pronounced yellowing, and leaves crinkle, flatten, twist, and fall to the ground. Flower stalks are shortened, streaked with yellow, and twisted. Allium cepa, A. chinense, A. fistulosum, A. vineale, Chenopodium amaranticolor,C. quinoa are the known susceptible hosts.
The virus is transmitted by various aphid species, the important one being, Myzus persicae (Ahididae); or mechanically to onions and other crops such as garlic and leek. Aphids can acquire and transmit the virus within seconds or minutes after feeding. The virus survives in a living host, either in aphid vector or a plant host.
Seed does not spread the virus, but infected bulbs (transplants, volunteers) always produce diseased plants and serve as a source of contamination for following seasons,
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especially when aphid populations are high. Therefore, disease-free transplants and crop rotation for at least three years is necessary. Other disease management recommendations include isolation from other susceptible crops or volunteer onions, vector control, field sanitation.
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General IPDM practices for onion and garlic
Do seed treatment with thiram (2g/kg seed) to control seed and soil borne disease in nursery
Apply Trichoderma viridae@5 kg/ha mixed with FYM to main field as well as in nursery.
Surround the onion plots (at least 250sq.m) with rows of maize planted 30 days before planting onion to block the thrips to enter onions plants.
Avoid planting onion during peak incidence of thrips (example, during second forthnight of November in Maharashtra).
Seeding root dip with carbosulfan (1 ml/l) for 2 h should be done before planting to protect the plants durng intial stages.
Grow the crop on raised beds and provide proper drainage during kharif season to minimize disease incidence.
Thrips and foliar disease can be effectively sontrolled by spraying carbosulpfan (2ml/l)+Carbendazim (2.5g/l)+sticker (0.7ml/l); Profenofos (1ml/l)+Mancozeb (2.5g/l) + sticker (0.7ml/l); Cypermethrin (60 g ai/ha) + Chlorthalonil (2.5g/l) + sticker (0.7 ml/l) in rotation.
Bulbing stage (45-75 days) is cruicial for thrips management and needs chemical intervention.
Never use same pesticide repeatedly.
Forecasting of Diseases and Pests
Database is being generated for developing forecasting models.
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17. SEED PRODUCTION
Year Crop Variety Quantity of seed / planting material produced (kg)
Breeder seed
Truthfully labelled seed
Total
1998-99 Onion Baswant 780 - 18.00 18.001999-2000 Onion Baswant 780
N-2-4-1-
- 22.00 209.00
22.00 209.00
2000-2001 Onion N-2-4-1Baswant 780
-22.00
559.00 -
559.00 22.00
2001-2002 Onion
Garlic
Baswant 780N-2-4-1G-41
22.65
10.75-
267.50 732.006000.00
290.15 743.756000.00
2002-2003 Onion
Garlic
Baswant 780N-2-4-1N-53G-41
11.45
- 1.50-
306.50 200.00 -7650.00
317.95 200.00 1.507650.00
2003-2004 Onion
Garlic
Baswant 780N-2-4-1N-53G-41
14.10
11.80 4.00 -
119.50 130.00 -7200.00
133.60 141.80 4.007200.00
2004-2005 Onion
Garlic
Baswant 780N-2-4-1N-53G-41
3.70
5.30 0.90 -
158.00 110.00 -7200.00
161.70 115.30 0.907200.00
2005-06 Onion
Garlic
Baswant 780N-2-4-1N-53Phule SafedG-41
78.25
6.50 - --
325.55 606.25 4.001.555592.00
403.80 612.75 4.00 1.555592.00
2006-07 Onion
Garlic
Baswant 780N-2-4-1N-53G-41
4.00 1.5 - -
566.00 2000.00 -7861.00
570.00 2001.50 -7861.00
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18. MECHANIZATION OF PRODUCTION IN ONION AND GARLIC
Onion and garlic are the vegetables, which are harvested at one time like field crops and therefore can offer good scope for partial mechanization. The operations like bed making, precision seed drilling, spraying of herbicides and pesticides, harvesting, topping, grading etc. can be done mechanically. The bed for nursery sowing and field planting are generally prepared manually. The size of the bed varies with the land holding, soil type and slope of field. The broad based furrow can be made with tractor drawn bed maker. Onion is a transplanted crop and transplanting consumes lot of labour. No specialized equipment for these operations is used in India. Although, some prototypes for direct sowing or transplanting of onion have been developed by some research institutes or farmers with the help of local artisans. These transplanters or drills need to evaluate, modified and popularized. The application of fungicides, weedicides and other chemicals is usually done with knapsack sprayers. The tractor mounted sprayers also used by the farmers. Micro-irrigation systems particularly drip and sprinkler are getting popularity in onion and garlic. There are many irrigation companies such as Plasto-Plasson, Jain Irrigation Ltd., Nagarjuna-Palma, Netfim, etc. are providing various types of filtration equipments, fertilizers tanks and a wide range of inline and online drip laterals and sprinklers. Micro-irrigation studies on onion and garlic and proved that with drip and sprinkler irrigation there is 30-40% water saving, 10% yield increase and 90% labour saving on irrigation charges. There is need for lateral spreader and collector attached to tractor. Onion harvesting, topping and tailing and size grading operations are done manually in our country. Tractor drawn harvester cum windrower will save lot of labour on harvesting. There is need for developing harvesters suitable for different types of soils. Some graders for onion have recently developed by various organizations. These graders need to be popularized to decrease the cost of grading. Further the graders presently designed and tested do not recognize doubles, bolters, rotten bulbs and bulbs of different colours. Onion curing is presently done by field curing and shed curing after cutting necks for late kharif and rabi crop. However, the weather conditions during kharif harvest do not permit proper curing as a result losses during marketing are very high. Suitable facilities for artificial curing of bulbs harvested in kharif season are the need.
Post Harvest Handling and Storage of Onion
Onion is stored in ambient storage condition in our country where the storage losses are very high. It is estimated that 40 to 50% of the stored onion never reaches to the consumers because of various types of losses. These losses comprise of physiological weight (PLW) (30-40 %), rotting (10-12 %) and sprouting (8-10 %). The higher storage losses are due to physiological loss of weight occurring during the months of May to July when mean temperatures are high. The rotting losses are high in the high humid months of rainy season. The sprouting of onion starts in September -October when the temperatures start decreasing.
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Factors effecting storage life of onion
(a) Varietal characteristics
The inherited qualities, which lead to give good storage life of onion, are high dry matter content, high pungency and long dormancy. The genetic linkage between these qualities particularly between dormancy and high dry matter content is not fully stabilized. The varieties having several layers of dry skin have better chances of performing well during storage. The locally adopted short day onion varieties tend to have better storage quality than the imported short day cultivars. The poor keeping varieties have low T.S.S., low dry matter content, high relative loss of water in the period immediately after harvest and poor skin retention with only one number of skin. Apart from varietal characteristics, seasons and the size of bulbs also influence the storage life. It is found that the rabi onion have better storage life than kharif and late kharif onions. As far the size of bulbs is concerned the medium size (50-60 mm diameter) and thin-necked onion performed better storage than bigger and smaller onions. The light red coloured varieties have better storage life. Therefore light red colour cultivars such as N-2-4-1, Arka Niketan, Agrifound light red, Pusa red, Pusa Madhari should be selected for cultivation. Further, the onion produced in rabi season should only be stored. The late kahrif and kharif onion should not be kept in store.
(b) Cultural Practices
The cultural practices during crop growth and development effects the storage life of onion. Among them fertilizers, irrigation, time of harvest etc. plays significant role in storage life of onions. Onion crop removes 85kg Nitrogen, 36kg phosphorus and 68 kg Potassium per hectare from soil for production of 30 tones of onion. Therefore sufficient quantity of Nitrogen, phosphorus and Potassium fertilizers should be applied to the soil. A sizable quantity of organic manures should also be applied. The excessive nitrogen application has been found to increase the rotting in storage. It has been reported that high nitrogen is associated with thick neck in onion, which are more prone to storage losses. The time of application of nitrogen application is also an important factor. The late application of nitrogen should be avoided. Further the application of sulfur and additional doses of K have been found to enhance the storage life. Therefore application of higher degree of nitrogen particular in the later stage off growth should be avoided. There must not any application to nitrogenous fertilizer after 60 days of transplanting. Further, the application of sulfur (50 kg/ha) and additional of K (30 kg/ha) should be applied to increase storage life.
The method and time of irrigation has also closely associated with storage losses. The late irrigation results in higher level of neck rot. The choice of overhead irrigation rather than furrow or drip irrigation can also increase the incidence of diseases. It is generally recommended that irrigation should be stopped 2-3 weeks before harvest. The quality of water should be good if overhead irrigation system is used for irrigation. The regulation of quantity of water in overhead irrigation is also important.
Time of harvest is important for yield maximization and quality production. The yield is maximum, if the bulbs are left in the field until all the leaves have completed dried. But under relativity wet soil conditions complete drying of leaves seldom occurs. Further the delayed harvest may result in reduction in skin quality, sprouting rooting and reduction in
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firmness. Thus it is generally recommended that onion should be harvested when 50% plants show neck fall.
(c) Pre-harvest treatments
The foliar application of fungicides 10 to 15 days before harvesting helps in reduction of pathogens load and helps in reduction of diseases in storage. Therefore the mature crop should be sprayed with fungicide such as Bavistin (0.2%) 15 days prior to harvesting. The use of sprout suppressants such as maleic hydrazide (1500-2500 ppm) 2 to 4 week before harvesting have been found successful in control of sprouting in storage. The sprout suppressants should be applied when there are 5 to 8 green leaves per bulb to absorb and translocate the sprout inhibitor The early application of maleic hydrazide leads to high proportion killed brown shoots and spongy bulbs. Lot of studies have been conducted on use of maleic hydrazide in onion. It was found that the effectiveness of maleic hydrazide in controlling the sprouting of onion is critically related with the time of application. The bulb texture is adversely affected by too early application of maleic hydrazide while too late application of maleic hydrazide fails to prevent sprouting. The maleic hydrazide should be applied 1 to 2 weeks before harvesting because only green tissues absorb it. The early application of maleic hydrazide leads to high proportion of killed brown shoots in treated bulbs. (d) Field curing, removal of tops and shade curing
It has been found that the untopped bulbs remains in the store for longer period but presence of top in bulb is undesirable due to many seasons, but the top should be removal after complete drying of leaves. The proper drying of leaves (field curing) allows the inhibitors presence in the leaves to tickle down in the bulbs. These inhibiters plays significant role in the dormancy of bulbs. Further the complete drying of leaves closes the neck of bulbs, which reduce the chances of infection of the bulbs. The onion should be dried with intact leaves for 3-4 days after harvesting, while cutting the leaves, 2-3 cm long neck should be kept along with the bulbs. These bulbs should be kept under shade for 2 to 3 weeks for proper drying of bulbs.
Shade curing normally takes from 15 to 20 days and done in well ventilated curing sheds. A properly cured onion has a dried, shrunken neck and dry outer scales without punctures or splits. After the onion bulb is lifted, its roots quickly dry, no new leaves are produced, and its respiration rate dramatically decreases. The bulb will continue to size up. The neck must dry and shrink, and a maximum number of outer scales must be retained. The most important factor for the grower to consider at this point is the condition of the wrapper layers. The bulb should have several layers of wrapper scales. This is important because a mature onion with several wrapper scale layers will cure more rapidly than an immature onion with fewer wrapper scales and higher moisture content. When the wrapper scales are dry, they provide protection against storage rots. In addition, the better the quality of the wrapper scales on an onion bulb, the better it will store. Excessive exposure to sunlight causes sloughing off of the outer scales (baldness), sunburn and excessive shrinkage of the onion.
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(e) Post harvest treatments
i) Fumigation
The fumigation of Onion with sulphure for 2 to 4 hours different durations helps in reducing rotting and black mould infection
ii) Irradiation
The gamma irradiation of well-cured bulbs of onion helps in checking sprouting during storage. The effect of irradiation on controlling sprouting varies from variety to variety and season to season. Irradiation did not show any effect on weight loss and black mould infection.
iii) Grading In India grading of onion is usually performed manually either before storage or before marketing. The grading specifications vary according to country, consumers’ preference, varietal characters etc. Thus onion is graded into different grades before sending to internal and foreign markets. The onion grading in India is performed manually both at farmers and traders levels .It is a cumbersome process and requires lot of labours. The grading with machine reduces cost on labour charges and increases precision. Onion is generally graded in three grades i.e. A, B and C .The A grade should have more than 60 mm diameter. While B and C grades should be of 50-60 mm and 35-50 mm diameter, respectively .The grading specifications are different in different areas according to consumers’ preference, varietal characters etc. The higher profits are achieved by clearer markets, which facilitate purchasing, and by better-standardized products, which generate greater market efficiency.
iv) Packing
Dry onions are sorted, cleaned, sized and graded just prior to packaging. The onion is generally packed in Hessian cloth bags of various sizes for marketing. Now the use of Lino bags and consumers pack (1 to 5 kg) is also going popularly. The comparison of various type of packing such as staling, Hessian cloth bags, leno bags and plastics crates revealed that the weight loss was more in plastics crates as comparison to stakes and Hessian cloth and lino bags. But rotting and black mould infection was less in crates. The space required for storage in maximum in crates followed by bags. As far economics in concerned the crates are most costlier method than others.
(f) Storage method and storage environment
The temperature and relative humidity are the prime important factors associated with storage of onion. A high relative humidity (more than 75%) is the biggest enemy of onion storage as it promotes root growth and development of storage diseases. In contrast the humidity (less than 65%) leads to excessive moisture loss from the bulbs, resulting shriveling
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and loss of weight. The dormancy of bulbs, which inhibits sprouting, is primary temperature dependent. Sprouting is high between 50C to 200 C. As far as the weight losses is concerned it is less at 0-20C or moderately lower at 25-300C. The temperature of 5 to 250 and more than 300 increases the weight loss. Thus there are two distant temperature conditions and one defined humidity range suitable for safe storage of onions. Thus the onion storage structure should be planned and designed storage in such a manner that it can achieve and maintain the desired storage conditions in lowest possible cost with in the available resources.
The onions are stored in heaps/stakes under ambient conditions in our country. The size of slakes plays an important role in regulating the storage losses. The width of one stake should not be more than 4 fit. The maximum height and length should not be more than 5 fits and 15 fits, respectively.
The selection of site for naturally ventilated storage structure in very important. These should be construction at an elevated place where the air movement is good and their should not any obstacles around the structures. There should not be any water body around the storage. The direction of the storage structures is also important for the movement of air in naturally ventilated storage structures. Usually single row storage structures are constructed in North-South direction while double row structures are constructed in East-West direction.
i) Naturally ventilated storage structures
Various types of naturally ventilated structures are used for the storage of onion. Most of these structures are traditional type. Several modified onion storage structures has been design and tested. These structures help in reduction of storage losses. Many state government/ central government organizations are providing subsidy for the construction of modern type of storage structures.
Traditional storage structures
These structures have been developed by the farmers using their traditional knowledge and skill. Their size, shape and other features varies from place to place. These structures are usually without bottom ventilated. These structures are made with locally available materials. The construction material varies according to availability of material and cost of the materials. Usually wooden logs, bamboos, grasses, sugarcane leaves, coconut leaves, stalks of wheat, pigeon pea, Mangalore tiles are used. These structure may have one or two rows /stakes of onions depending on the width of structure. These structures usually temporary type but considerable numbers of permanent structures are found inmajor onion growing belts. The storage losses in these structures are more than 50% in four months of storage.
Bottom ventilated storage structures
These structures are permanent type and usually constructed with Galvanized iron framework. The floor in bottom ventilated and usually built with wooden bantams or bamboos. The sidewalls are also constructed with wooden bantams or bamboos. The roof is made with asbestos sheets. The additional aeration provided in this structure helps in reduction of losses. Generally the storage losses in this structure ranges from 30to 40% in 4
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month of storage. Various type of bottom ventilated structures are desinned and evaluated by different organizations.
The Top and bottom ventilated storage structure designed and tested by NRC for onion and garlic is one of latest type of ventilated structures. This structure is constructed with G.I. framework. The floor is ventilated and constructed with wooden bantams. The sidewalls are made of bamboo and plastered with clay and cow dung paste. The ventilation is provided at lower portion of western sidewall and upper portion of the eastern sidewall. The lower portion ventilator of e western sidewall has control flaps to regulate the entry hot winds in summer and high humid wind sin rainy season.. Plastered sidewalls control humidity in rainy days, while maintains inside temperature during summer. The storage losses in this structure are 28-30% for four months of storage. This structure may better suites to humid and high temperature areas.
The Low cost bottom ventilated structure has designed by NRC for onion and garlic for small and marginal farmers. This can easily constructed by farmers with their own farm resources. The structure is constructed with bamboo/wooden framework provided with bottom ventilation. The bottom and sidewalls can be made of bamboo or wooden bantams. The roof is made up of thatch from dried sugarcane leaves or grasses. The storage losses in this structure are 30-35% for four months of storage.
ii) Storage bin and pallets
Various types of circular or rectangular bins have been developed and tested during last three –four decades. These bins or pallets are suitable for reduction of storage losses but their limited capacity and higher cost of manufacturing was restrict their popularization among the farmers.
iii) Forced ventilated structures
The forced ventilated structures are generally not used in our country due various reasons. But the results of the forced ventilated structures in others countries these structures are helpful in reduction of diseases in storage. The monitoring of temperature and humidity in forced ventilated structures is an important aspect.
iv) Cold storage and CA storage
The onion can be stored under cold storage at 0-20C and 65-70% humidity with very minute losses. But cost of storage and the problem of sprouting in post cold storage in onion is main problem. This problem of sprouting can be minimized by gamma irradiation treatment. The cold storage of onion is successful if combined with r-irradiation techniques. Besides these the cost of storage and problem of condensation of moisture, which causes loosening of scales, are other problems. In India cold storage of onion is till in experiment stage.
Onion can stored for one year without loss of quality under CA conditions with 1% or and 1% CO2 at 1oC temperature. It was also found 5% O2 and 93 – 94% N2 combination was better than other combinations and low temperature storage. The high concentration of CO2
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has been reported to cause physiological disorder in onion. The higher CO2 concentration reduced the neck rot but increased the injury due to CO2 concentrations. The relative humidity required to control during C.A. storage of onion to prevent root development.
Storage diseases and disorders
Neck Rot
Neck rot is the most common storage disease. The symptom appears as Water-decay at neck area, which moves down word through entire bulb. Light gray fungal growth is generally visible at neck infection and on outer scales. Seed treatment before planting. Proper drying and curing of onion are essential to prevent this storage disease. Black mould: Black discoloration and shriveling at neck and on outer scales caused by the fungus. This often associated with brushing and leads to bacterial soft rot. Low temperature storage delays growth of fungus, but it is high under high temperature and high humid conditions. Proper shading curing reduces infection.
Bacterial rots
Several types of bacterial diseases have been reported to affect the onions in storage. Among them slippery skin, sour skin are common. Water-soaked, foul smelling, The slippery skin is generally visible only at neck area and upon cutting to expose inner scales. Scales have a watery-cooked appearance. In Sour skin, slimy, yellow-brown decay generally limited to inner scales, which give off a sour odor when exposed. These diseases can be control by proper sanitation and crop rotation.
Greening
This disorder is associated with high nitrogen application, direct exposure of sunlight. It can be reduced by use of less nitrogen and use of proper shading/roofing methods.
Sprouting
Sprouting is a genetic characteristic of bulb, which is temperature dependent. It can be reduced by sprout suppressant and irradiation
Post harvest handling and storage of Garlic
Garlic is an important spice crop. Around 0.5 million tones of garlic is produced in India from 0.11 m ha area. Contrary to onion, it is grown only in winter (rabi) season and usually harvested in March-April. it is stored for 6-9 months to fulfill demand round the year.. The major losses in garlic are weight loss (10-15%) infection of diseases (15-20%).
Factors affecting the storage losses in garlic
Similar to onion, garlic storage is also affected by several factors. Although vary little work have been carried out on garlic storage. The garlic varieties differs considerable in the
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inherent duration of dormancy. Generally sprouting is not a problem in garlic. The sprouting/ internal sprouting occurs only after October-November. The higher nitrogen application and use of more irrigation particularly in the later part of growth and development is detrimental for garlic storage. The time of harvesting and curing are the other factors influencing the storage of garlic. The late harvesting of garlic is to be avoided as it leads to re-sprouting of cloves.
The leaves of garlic are removed only after complete drying of leaves. It has been reported that the garlic with intact leaves has more storage life than the topped garlic.
The optimum conditions for garlic are 25 to 300C temperature and 65-70% relative humidity. The small quantity of untopped garlic is stored by hanging the bundle but large quantity of garlic may be stored in circular heaps of 1 m diameter and 1to 1.5-meter height. The topped garlic can be packed in Hessian cloth bags and can be stored for 3-4 months. The well-ventilated stores were found better than traditional store for storage of garlic.
Post harvest diseases and Pest
1. Blue mould: This disease is caused by Penecillium Corymbiferum causes this disease. The affected clove became soft shrivels and covered with blue-green powdery spores. The infection is carried from field and heavy bulbs may also carry fungus on the out scales. Proper drying and field sanitation reduces in the infection of diseases.
2. Black mould: This is called by Aspergillus, which causes deposition of black mould on outer layer of bulbs and cloves. The infection can be reduced by proper shade curing of bulbs.
3. Mites: Sometimes mites found damaging the cloves in the store. The fumigation of bulbs will methyl bromide (35 g/cubic m area) after harvest and before storage can control the mites.
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19. VALUE ADDITION
Onion and garlic are the volatile commodities from market point of view. These crops experience very wide fluctuations in market prices. Besides crop regulations, value addition by processing is the best way of controlling price partly. Fortunately both crops offer good scope for processing in to various products.
Type of products
1.Onion and garlic oils
Onion and garlic oils are obtained by distillation of minced onion and garlic. The oil percentage in onion varies from 0.002 to 0.03 .The oil yield is influenced by the variety, season of production, cultural methods and processing procedure. The oil is generally used for the food industries such as non-alcoholic beverages, baking industries, meat products, pickles etc. Garlic comprises higher volatile oils than onion which ranges from 0.1to 0.25 percent. It is also used for confectionary, bakery products etc.
2.Dehydrated onion and garlic products
The dehydrated products contribute a major share in onion and garlic processed products. The yellow or white onion varieties with strong pungency and high solid content are preferred for dehydration. The method used for preparation is important in flakes making, as it affects the overall economics of production as well as quality of the end product. Many options such as sun drying, solar drying, cabinet drying hot tunnel drying are used for drying of sliced or choked fresh onion flakes. The period of drying, temperature of drying and the moisture content of end product play very important role in colour retention, rehydration and storage life of the product. Almost more than a dozen types of dehydrated products such as Large Chopped, Standard Chopped, Small Chopped, Minced, Granulated etc. are available but the standard specification categorized onion dehydrated products in following four groups:
a) Slices /rings
b) Flakes
c) Grits
d) Powder
3.Paste
The onion and garlic paste are prepared individually or by blending each other. The standard products are onion paste, garlic paste, onion-garlic paste, onion–garlic–ginger paste and garlic–ginger paste. These are prepared by grinding, blending, concentration and pasteurization of these products. Some times preservatives are also added to increase the shelf life.
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4.Pickle
The pickled onion, which comprises of 10 to 20% of market are of two types, the brown onion of 30to45 mm size and pickling type onion of 10to 25 mm size. The onions are fermented in 10 to 15 % brine. The fermented onions are kept in vinegar solution having 2% brine. These fermented onions can be stored in vinegar–brine solution up to 2 years.
5. Other products
Onion and garlic juices, solid flavouring formulations such as onion-garlic salt,
dehydrated green onion leaves are also prepared and used in catering industries.
Economic potential of processed products
Around ten kilogram of onion is required to make 1kg dehydrated flakes or powder. The cost of production of kg products may be around 50 to 80 per kg. The cost of the product are very much influence by the fluctuating rates of raw material. The estimated demand for dehydrated products is to the tone of 10000 tones for export. How ever India is meeting 50 percent demand. The scope is vast. The demand of dehydrated product is rising at 7 to 10 % annually as the consumption of these products is increasing with change of life style. In India, the domestic consumption of processed products is very meager. That too is limited to some of the ayurvadic formulations.
Constraints
The processing units are suffering from many constraints viz. (i) unavailability of high TSS (18%) white onion varieties for processing (ii) Unavailability of raw materials round the year for running the plant economically, (iii) Strict sanitary standards in production keep away the small scale procedures, (iv) Sharp fluctuation in market prices affect the steady supply of raw material to industries.
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List of processors
1. M/s Jain Food Park Agri Park, Jain Hills, Jalgaon (Maharastra)
2. M/s Pardes Dehydration companyPurvalaya building, 14/15, Ram Krishna Nagar, Rajkot-360002
3. M/s AIMS Agro Products Pvt. Ltd16, J.P.Towers, Tagore Road, Rajkot-360002,
4. M/s. Oceanic Foods ingredients & SpicesOceanic Dehydration Compound.Bedeshwar Road, Bedi, Jamnagar
5. M/s. Oceanic Foods PVt. Ltd, Opp. Bruckbon, P N Marg, Jamnagar
6. M/s Kishan Dehydration,Gondal-Rajkot National Highway Road,Vill-Bhojapara,Tal-Gondal ,Distt-Rajkot
7. M/s.LMP Gujarat AgroExportLtd.PB NO>2537,Suraj Plaza-2Sayal Ganj,Vadodara
8. M/sSara Foods720/721,GIDC Vaghodiya,Vadodara
9. M/sKasar Foods Ltd32,New York Tower-BSG_highway,Near Faltaj Cross,Ahmadbad
10. M/sChhatariya Dehydration ExportsNear GIDC,Mahua
11. M/s Chhatariya Onion ExportsNear Village Jadra,Mahua
12. M/s Chhatariya FoodsPvty.Ltd.Near VillageVadli,Mahua
13. M/s Chhatariya Veg Export Pvt.ltd.Behind Near GIDC,Mahua
14. M/s Janak Dehydration Pvt.ltd.Near GIDC, Mahua
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15. M/s Murtaza Foods Pvt .Ltd.Mahua- Bhavnagar bye pass Road,Mahua
16. M/s Murtaza Exports.Near Village .JadraMahua
17. M/s Vinod Dehydrates Pvt. LtdNear ST workshop,Mahua
18. M/s Shree Ram Foods Pvt. LTd.Near GIDC, Mahua
19. M/s Shree Ram ExportsNear village Nesvad, Mahua
20. M/s Ruparel DehydratesNear Railway station, Mahua
21. M/s Kriti foods Pvt.ltd.Near village Nesvad, Mahua.
22. M/s Bhalala foods.Near village Jadra,Mahua
23. M/s Khanju Dehydrates Pvt.ltd.Mahua-Bhavnagar Highway ,Mahua
24. M/s Quality Dehydrates.Near village Dunger
25. M/s Daksh foods Rajula.
26. M/s Five star foods.Near village Morangi ,Mahua
27. M/s Five star foods.Talaja
28. M/s PizaOppo.HP Petrol Pump Umaniyavadar Road
29. M/s Unique Dehydrates.Shihar , Mahua
30. M/s GarlicoMandsaur(MP)
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20. TRANSFER OF TECHNOLGY
Since, establishment the NRC has developed capacity for training of staff of development department and farmers. The Centre is organising Kisan melas regularly. Besides, the scientists are participating in the on-farm training programmes.
Kisan melas organised
The Kisal melas on 16th June was organized. More than 500 farmers actively participated. The director and the scientists imparted on recent technology in onion and garlic production. Dr. S.S. Dhumal, Director, Horticulture Training Centre, Talegaon Dabhade, Pune, inaugurated the exhibitin. The farmers updated their knowledge on agro-products, displayed by different agencies in the exhibition.
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21. IMPACT ANALYSIS/SOCIO-ECONOMIC STUDIES
In the absence of approved post of scientists in the faculty of Economics or Extension the study can not be taken.
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22. ADVISORY NOTE FOR ADVERSE CONDITIONS
The kharif onion nursery and transplanted crop is severely damaged by very high rainfall during July-August. This will lead to the development of fungal diseases sprays of carbandazim and carbosulphas should be taken up regularly.
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Annexure – I
7. c. Detail research achievement
Crop Improvement
1. In addition to 1835 onion (red, light red, white and yellow) and garlic (pink & white) germplasm 50 onion and 300 garlic germplasm lines has been collected and are being evaluated.
2. High yielding two elite lines viz. NRCOG-571AC & NRCOG-597AC for late kharif season and better storage life has been developed and seeds are produced in large cages for AICVIP multilocation trials.
3. White onion high TSS (more than 18%) have been identified and are being purified for varietal development.
4. Four onion hybrids have been developed and seeds have been sent for multilocation trial in India.
5. Some promising lines have been identified through mutation in garlic and are being evaluated at the centre.
Biotechnology
1. Standardization protocol for callus culture and regeneration in onion variety B-780 via seed callus and garlic variety G-41 using root tip.
2. Micropropagation of onion var. B-780 through shoot multiplication was achieved.
3. 24 microsatellites primers have been worked out for 14 Indian and 2 exotic onion varieties for DNA fingerprinting.
4. Primer polymorphism has been worked out in onion and garlic varieties for RAPD studies. In onion 35 primers were found polymorphic, whereas, 42 were found effective in garlic.
Crop Production
1. Micro irrigation through drip has increased yield of onion and garlic by 10-15% with 35-40% water saving.
2. The intercropping of sugarcane with onion under drip irrigation provided higher yield of onion and garlic and sugarcane there was 40% water saving.
3. The direct sowing of onion in kharif season increased the yield by 20% with saving of time and labour.
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4. In INM studies, Soybean as preceding crop before onion (grown in kharif 2004) improved the organic carbon and available nitrogen content of soil. While, Pearl millet as previous crop decreased the available nitrogen status of soil.
5. INM modules with organic manures and 50% recommended doses of fertilizer recorded the superior yields of bulbs and improved the soil fertility status after harvest of onion and garlic.
6. During late Kharif season, deficiency symptoms for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu and Zn in foliage were recorded and documented through photographs.
7. Nutrient uptake pattern in 11 onion varieties for kharif season was evaluated. The dry matter production among first five best varieties followed the order N-53>B-780>ADR>Arka Kalyan>Udaipur-102. The highest nutrient removal (Kg NPK ha-1) was in following order: N-53> ADR> B-780> A Kalyan> Udaipur-102. The results showed that varieties N-53, ADR and B-780 are high yielding and suitable for kharif season in Rajgurunagar area.
Plant Protection
1. Two population peaks of thrips occur-one in August and the other in February and thrips causes yield loss upto 50% in rabi.
2. Barrier planting of two of maize surrounding onion crop can bloc thrips up to 80% and to two insecticide application
3. Thrips infestation was highest during bulbing stage and thrips control at bulbing stage gives highest B:C ratio
4. Indidence of predatory bug, Orius tantillus, coccinellids enhanced in onion and garlic with the insectary plants.
5. Botanicals, organic compounds loke cow urine and isect phthogenes were found inferior to insecticides in controlling thrips.
6. Seedling Root Dip with carbosulfan can protect the onion crop for 30 days from thrips damage.
7. Profenofos alone and in combination with neem were equally and very effective in controlling thrips.
8. 42 lines of garlic were identified that resistant to eriophyid mite.
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Post harvest Technology
1. Recommended bottom and side ventilated storage structure for reducing storage losses
2. The low cost onion storage structure was designed for small and marginal onion grower and evaluated for onion storage and were found suitable in reduction of storage losses by 5 to 10%.
3. The gamma-irradiation combined with cold storage may minimize the losses as low as upto 5% in onion.
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Annexure - II
9.I.b. First meeting recommendations 6-7 May 2005
Germplasm from different parts of the world like S. Mexico, Indonesia, Thialand etc. lying in the same geographical situations of our country should be collected to increase the variability in onion and garlic.
Germplasm from Kashmir and North-Eastern Region should be collected in the month of June and it should be maintained at SKUA&T, Srinagar, CITH, Srinagar and HPKVV, Solan. The concerned authorities should be contacted and request for providing help in maintenance of germplasm. All members suggested that NRC should have its sub-Centre under temperate condition. A proposal may be submitted by the Director to the Council.
Onion hybrids should be developed particularly for export, processing industries with better storage life and uniformity besides the yield.
Induction of parthenogenesis may also be tried for the development of inbreeds besides the ongoing development of haploid programme. Irradiation treatments may also be tried for getting haploid and protocol should be developed to develop more number of haploid plants.
Protocols should be developed for the male sterile line A and B line besides the C line for maintenance and multiplication.
All the crop production and post harvest trials should be critically reviewed and accordingly new trial should be framed.
In organic production trials recommended dose of fertilizers should be substituted with same quantity through different organic sources after analyzing the available nutrients in the soil and in the organic sources before application in the field. Microbial activity of the soil should also be studied.
Complete package of practice should be developed for the variety being developed by the Centre.
Trials may be conducted to see the effect of mycorrhiza particularly for the availability of phosphorus and drought in onion.
Pelleted seeds of onion should be used in direct seeding trials. In storage trials, preharvest sprays of Carbandazim should be avoided due to its
harmful effects on human beings. Reason for incidence more thrips during bulbing stage should be critically worked
out. Separate trials for kharif, late kharif may also be laid out. Biochemical basis for more incidences should also be studied.
Frontline demonstration of barrier cropping trial should be taken in the farmers’ field. Work on viruses in onion and garlic should be started as there is no systematic reports
and information available in Indian material. This may cause severe problem in future as lot of new strains of viruses are being expressed. The post of virologist and pathologist must be created urgently.
There is no critical disease map for onion and garlic in India, which should be developed, and data on epidemiological aspects should be generated. The post of pathologist must be filled urgently.
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156
9.I.c. Second meeting recommendations 6-7 March 2006
Survey must be organized to collect germplasm from humid regions of the country especially Hoogly districts of West Bengal, Balasore districts of West Bengal, Balasore districts of Orissa, Ratnagiri district of Konkan and NEH region.
Work on physiology of bolting, bulbing and dormancy of short day must be initiated, as no inforamtion on short day onion is available.
There is need for establishment of cyto-genetic laboratory. National Centre must get for Ph.D. Recognition especially with University of Pune on
Physiological aspects. Work on somatic mutations in garlic must be given importance. Micro propagation of MS lines including A,B & C lines may be taken up. Formulate new experiments on precision farming, organic farming. Energy equivalent and crop equivalent ratio must be worked out in crop sequence
experiments. Work done on barrier cropping is of practical use to the farmers to reduce thrips
incidence. It has to go as recommendation. Screen the germplasm for purple biotch disease for tolerance and collect the
germplasm from humid areas of Hoogly district of West Bengal, Balasore district of Orissa and Ratnagiri district of Konkan region and NEH region. Collect the bulbs (dark purple coloured) from Manipur Centre.
An experiment has to be taken up to control Aspergillus (mould) in storage in conjuction with post harvest management.
Proven technologies must be dissemminated in different centres. Newly identified varieties must be tested in the farmers field.
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Annexure – III
9.I.d. Third meeting recommendations 21-22 March 2007
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158
Annexure - IV
9.II.c.ii. Detailed Recommendations of 1st QRT
The Quinquennial Review Team constituted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research comprising Dr. M.R. Thakur as Chairman and Dr. H.S. Gill, Dr. Narendra Singh, Dr. C.D. Mayee, Dr. B.B. Lal Kaushal, as Member and Shri U.B. Pandey, Member Secretary. Visited NRCOG main Centre at Rajgurunagar, seed production unit at NRC for Grapes, Manjri, Pune, farmers field in Pune, Nashik and Jalgaon district from 6-9 th February 2002. The committee also visited NHRDF facilities at Nashik and Lasalgaon and largest onion processing unit at Jalgaon run by Jain Food Industries, Jalgaon. The committee was asked for taking review from 1994-99, however, as per submission of the Director to the Council and to the committee the review was taken up to March 2001. Althoug, the project was sanctioned in VIII Plan and started functioning at Nashik from July 1994, the project could not be established properly because of remoteness of the farm and late appointment of Director and scientific staff. The real work was started with the appointment of Dr. K.E. Lawande as first Director on 1st May 1997. Due to remoteness from Nashik city and problems of irrigation, the decision was taken for shifting of NRC from Nashik to Rajgurunagar and accordingly the Centre started functioning from June 1998 at Rajgurunagar. Therefore, the earlier part cannot be considered as functional work and the committee thought of taking review up to March 2001.
After shifting to Rajgurunagar, the speedy progress was made by the Centre in terms of renovating old CPRS structures, shaping of farm, creation of facilities for irrigation, establishment of laboratories and need based modern equipments. The clear-cut foresight and untiring efforts of the Director and his colleagues can be placed on record for the quick establishment of the Centre. The master plan for administrative cum laboratory building, quarters, storage structures, poly-houses and other facilities was finalized in the IX Plan and the buildings are complete within a record time which will be inaugurated in a couple of months.
The technical programme was finalized through series of SRC, RAC and Brain Storming Sessions. During the visit, the committee could see well laid out trials on crop improvement, crop production, IPM and post harvest management. The promising lines developed in onion for late kharif as well as rabi season and also garlic lines are uniform. The committee is happy with the research programmes launched by the Scientists. The programme selected will be able to lead for achieving the mandates spelled out in the perspective plan of the Centre. The laboratories and library facilities created are satisfactory. All the equipments are in working condition. In general the moral of scientists and other staff is high. The Centre has established good linkages with national and international organizations for enriching expertise. The budgetary provisions and utilization is most critical and judicious.
Although, the Centre started recently and taken up need based programme, there is scope for further improvement. In general the committee recommends following aspects for future improvement.
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I Researchable Issues
1. Development of F1 hybrids
The technology of F1 hybrids in vegetables has elevated productivity almost 4 times per unit area. The F1 hybrids in cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, cucumber, brinjal, etc. are very popular among the vegetable growers. Unfortunately, F1
hybrids in onion have remained the topic of academic interest in India. Uniform maturity, uniformity in colour, shape and size would be important aspects achieved through heterosis breeding, besides high yield in onion. For eliminating land races, which contribute nearly 90%, promotion of F1 hybrids is highly essential. The Centre should concentrate on these aspects.
2. Development of high TSS white onion varieties
The export market for dehydrated flakes and powder of white onion is to the tune of 6000 ton/year, however, the existing exports is up to 2500 tons. The major constraints faced by processing industries is non-availability of high TSS (>18%) white onion varieties. The existing local types as well as released varieties offer TSS range between 11-13%. TSS is a function of genotypes environment and cultural practices. There is need for identifying high TSS lines, which can be grown in both seasons for assured supply of white onion to the industry.
3. Basic physiological aspects of short day onion and adaptation of long day bigger-cloved garlic varieties under short day conditions
The available literature for understanding the physiological aspects of onion is on exotic long day onion and garlic. However, there is no basic study on these aspects in respect of short day Indian varieties. Appropriate work should be taken up.
4. Resistance breeding for foliar diseases and insects in onion and garlic
The most of onion growing area lies in the tropical and sub-tropical climate. The high humidity and high temperature are more conducive for foliar diseases such as colletotrichum, purple blotch and stemphyllium blight. The incidence and disease can take heavy toll in different seasons. The estimated losses very from 20-70% in different seasons. The Centre should concentrate on the programme of resistance breeding.
5. Integrated disease and insect pest management in onion and garlic
The onion and garlic are consumed fresh as well as processed. In the absence of resistance varieties, the farmers have to rely upon chemical measures for controlling diseases and pests. Integrated pest and disease management approach should be the priority in the era where demand for originally produced fruits and vegetables is increasing.
160
6. Hunger signs and nutrient uptake studies at critical stages of growth in both the crops
The basic nutrient study in hunger sings of nutrient and nutrient uptake at critical growth stages is lacking in onion. This kind of studies will help for integrated nutrient management with a view to reducing budget on fertilization.
7. Fertigation studies in onion and garlic
With a paucity of irrigation water, the micro-irrigation such as drip and sprinkler is become important in fruits and vegetables. Onion and garlic though planted closely can respond to these methods of irrigation. Application of fertilizers through drip can reduce the budget on fertilizer. Since, the Centre has already developed very good infrastructure facilities for drip as well as sprinkler irrigation, the studies on fertigation for both the crops should be taken up.
8. Studies on onion and garlic seed production and storage
Short-term viability of onion and garlic is a major constraint in making available onion seed and garlic planting material to the farmers. As a result, the released and recommended varieties are not making proper headway in general production of onion and garlic. Studies on maximization of seed production and its effective storage for crossing over at least two seasons is required.
9. Studies on cold storage of onion and its post storage behaviour
Besides country storage structure, cold storage facilities at economic rates available at terminal market in metros would help in stabilizing the market supply and thereby control on prices. Cold storage studies in respect of onion and garlic are very meager and that too controversial.
10. Studies on development of dehydrated products, paste and extraction of essential oil
Value addition is the key factor in any fresh commodity for stabilizing market arrivals, controlling price and thereby reducing unrest among farmers. The study on development of dehydrated products, paste and extraction of essential oils is highly essential.
11. Standardization of mechanical method for descaling of garlic
Descaling of garlic cloves is time consuming, laborious and costly. The suitable gadgets need to be developed for descaling of garlic.
While taking up the above programmes the committee further recommends that there should be a mission mode approach. Very important problems like development of F1
hybrid, breeding of disease and insect pest resistant varieties should be detailed. Scientists to work on, the funds be allocated and time be fixed to resolve the same.
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II Infrastructure Development
1. There is need for additional land for conducting research as well as seed production in future.
2. Additional quarters up to 80% occupancy must be sanctioned as the place is away from Pune city Rajgurunagar town ship.
3. The works items proposed in X Plan worth Rs.432.00 lakhs and equipments to the tune of Rs.366.00 lakhs are strongly recommended.
4. The Centre is poorly equipped with vehicle facilities, the vehicle sanctioned in IX Plan should be allowed to be purchased immediately as a special case.
5. The grievance cell should be established as early as possible.
6. The scientific as well as supporting staff sanctioned in IX Plan should be filled in immediately so that the research work can be improved further.
The members strongly recommended the points of infrastructure development and filling scientific as well as supporting position. Since, the Centre is newly developed and having limited manpower support. Further, the committee members also strongly recommended for the sanction of vehicle, since, there is only one jeep available with the Centre.
III DDG’s Observations
1. Development of F1 hybrids resistance to purple blotch and stemphyllium wilt along with TSS content
The point is well taken care in QRT recommendations at Sl.No.1.
2. To undertake research on export oriented onion and to enhance the productivity of white onion for TSS content and biotic stresses.
3. Promotion of onion for export in developed countries
India exports onion to the tune of 5-6 lakh tons. The export is mainly Middle East and South East Asian countries. There is no organized production for export, however, the available material from the market is just graded, packed and exported. The contract production of onion for exports including yellow onion for European market is essential. It should be a joint venture of traders, elite farmers and research institutes. While, understanding this issue the Centre had a brain storming session on this issue with onion exporters on 24 th August 2002. We are trying to confirm linkages with exporters, APMC and the farmers.
4. To collect all the races and strains of the stemphyllium wilt and purple blotch and their conservation and molecular characterization.
162
The pure cultures of stemphyllium, colletotrichum and purple blotch were isolated during last three years. However, race identification remained to be done. Incidentally, the pathologist is retired and the work is at stand still. With the appointment of new pathologist, the work can be taken up.
5. Studies on various parasites, predators and antagonists and its efficacy related to biotic stresses.
Few parasites and predators have been already identified by our entomologist and the work is in progress.
6. Basic studies on physiological changes and diseases in onion and garlic during storage.
7. Some bio-chemical, physiological studies on seed storage and the role of dehydration to enhance the storage/shelf life.
The basic physiological changes and diseases in onion and garlic during storage is the priority in post harvest handling. However, the Centre is constrained, since, the posts of post harvest technology, physiology and biochemistry have not been created even after sanctioned during IX Plan.
8. Integrated approach to enhance productivity by managing micro-nutrient and organics.
The studies on micro-nutrient efficiency and use of organic manure have been initiated by soil scientist as well as scientist horticulture. The results are awaited.
9. Molecular tagging of important genes for biotic stresses
The facilities for biotechnological approach have been created. The scientists have gone through various trainings for developing their capabilities in this field and the work will be initiated after finalizing of various protocols.
10. Studies on bio-molecules for analyzing medicinal value of onion and garlic in collaboration with medicinal science group.
The work on studying bio-molecules for medicinal value will be taken up in collaboration with medicinal science group. The efforts will be made for establishing linkages with this group.
11. Creation of facilities for multiplication of predators, antagonists and bio-fertilizers.
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Annexure - V9.III.b. Total no. of projects
Project No. Title
Crop Improvement
1.1.1 Development of onion (red and light red) varieties / hybrids suitable for different seasons and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses
1.1.2 Development of onion (white and yellow) varieties / hybrids for processing and desirable horticulture trait suitable for different seasons and resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses
1.1.3 Onion improvement through biotechnological approaches
1.1.4 Garlic improvement through conventional and biotechnological approaches
Crop Production
1.2.5 Onion and Garlic production technology
1.2.6 Integrated nutrient management and uptake studies in onion and garlic
Post Harvest Technology
1.2.7 Post harvest studies in onion and garlic.
Crop Production
1.2.8 Onion seed production and storage technology
Crop Protection
1.3.9 Integrated pest management in onion and garlic
1.3.10 Integrated disease management in onion and garlic<Back>
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Annexure - VI
c. Research project files - II
Project No. Title
Crop Improvement
1.1.1 Development of onion (red and light red) varieties / hybrids suitable for different seasons and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressesPI: VSR Krishna Prasad, Co-PI: V Mahajan
1.1.2 Development of onion (white and yellow) varieties / hybrids for processing and desirable horticulture trait suitable for different seasons and resistant to biotic and abiotic stressesPI: V Mahajan, Co-PI: VSR Krishna Prasad
1.1.3 Onion improvement through biotechnological approachesPI: A Asha Devi, Co-PIs: A Aziz Qureshi, Anil Khar, V Mahajan, PS Srinivas
1.1.4 Garlic improvement through conventional and biotechnological approachesPI: Anil Khar, Co-PIs: V Mahajan, A Asha Devi
Crop Production
1.2.5 Onion and Garlic production technologyPI: V Sankar, Co-PIs: A Aziz Qureshi, PC Tripathi
1.2.6 Integrated nutrient management and uptake studies in onion and garlicPI: A Aziz Qureshi
Post Harvest Technology
1.2.7 Post harvest studies in onion and garlic.PI: PC Tripathi, Co-PIs: V Sankar, A Aziz Qureshi
Crop Production
1.2.8 Onion seed production and storage technologyPI: PC Tripathi, Co-PIs: V Sankar, A Aziz Qureshi
Crop Protection
1.3.9 Integrated pest management in onion and garlicPI: PS Srinivas, Co-PI: CR Ramesh
1.3.10 Integrated disease management in onion and garlicPI: CR Ramesh, Co-PI: PS Srinivas
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Annexure - VII
9.IV.d. Decisions of IMC
Confirmation of the Proceedings of the previous meetingThe committee confirmed the proceedings approved by the SMD.
Acquisition of additional land for onion seed productionThe committee was briefed about latest position of acquisition of additional land. The committee members expressed their concern for delay in possession of land from Govt. of Maharashtra. The committee recommended that we can explore the possibility of getting land from Govt. at other location, in case the presnt land is not transferred because of legal complications at their end.
Utilization of Funds for the year 2005-06The committee members expressed satisfaction regarding utilization of funds appropriately.
Review of progress made in respect of infrastructure facilities (a) Equipments, (b) Works (a) The committee was briefed about the equipments purchased after ninth IMC meeting. The list of equipments to be purchased as per EFC approval as well as the equipments to be purchased in lieu of EFC approved items was placed before the committee. The committee members approved for change of equipments after verifying the justification given. The committee also recommended for replacement of equipments i.e. Distil-M Unit with buy back of old unit under non-plan budget. (b) The members were briefed about major and petty works completed after ninth IMC meeting under Plan as well as Non-Plan. They were also briefed about works to be completed before March 2006. The committee memebrs personally visited the works completed and expressed satisfaction about the quality of work and time schedule.
Purchase of library books/ journalsThe details of books, journals and periodicals purchased as well as the technical bulletins published by this Centre were presented before the members.
Progress of Revolving Fund SchemesThe physical targets achieved by the Centre for seed production in onion and garlic under RFS was placed before the committee members. The members advised for enhancing the targets of seed production so that sufficient seed could be made available to the farmers.
Revenue ReceiptsThe members were briefed about the revenue receipts generated under Main project as well as RFS project during the year 2004-05 and up to December 2005.
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Annexure VIII
12. Budget – Plan – Details of allocation and expenditure up to 31.03.2007 (FIGURES IN RUPEES)
Plan-2006-2007SL.NO.
HEAD OF ACCOUNTPlan-2006-2007
Allocation Expenditure 31.3.2007(A) ESTABLISHMENT CHARGES
1. Pay of Officers 6,00,000.00 2,85,796.002. Pay of Establishment 0.003. Dearness Allowance 1,13,573.004. House Rent Allowance 3,535.005. City Compensatory Allowance 2,880.006. Transport Allowance 0.007. Overtime 0.008. Bonus 0.009. Other Allowances 1,24,117.0010. Leave Salary & Pension Contribution 0.00
Total A : 6,00,000.00 5,29,901.0011. (B) : Wages of labourers granted
temporary status0.00
Total A + B 5,29,901.00(C) TRAVELLING EXPENSES 1,50,000.00
12. T.A. within India 86,225.0013. T.A. abroad 0.00
Total C : 1,50,000.00 86,225.00(D) OTHER CHARGES
(i) ASSETS ACQUIRED :-14. Land 1,64,19,000.00 0.0015. Building & Original Works 0.0016. Tools, Plants & Equipment 75,10,086.0017. Furniture Fixtures & Fittings 5,73,700.0018. Typewriter, Accounting Machines & Other
Office Equipment1,60,000.00
19. Livestock 0.0020. Vehicles & Vessels 0.0021. Library Books & Journals 37,116.00
Total : (I) Assets Acquired (14 to 21) 82,80,902.00(ii) OTHER CONTINGENT EXPENDITURE :
22. Chemicals & consumables for research work
3,98,690.00
23. Livestock/Animals required for research work
24. Fertilizer 2,04,794.0025. Feeding and upkeep of animals 0.0026. Petrol, oil & lubricants 5,89,628.0027. Electricity Charges 12,84,410.0028. Water Charges 16,605.0029. Rent 0.0030. Telephone Charges
a) Officeb) Residential
7,472.00
31. Postage 49,375.00
167
SL.NO.
HEAD OF ACCOUNTPlan-2006-2007
Allocation Expenditure 31.3.200732. Staff paid from contingencies 0.0033. Municipal/Property tax 00034. Stationery 21,242.0035. Printing & Binding 2,81,433.0036. Refreshment/Entertainment 17,662.0037. Other Office contingencies 49,584.0038. Other Research contingencies 32,08,762.0039. T.A. to Non-officials 0.0040. T.A. to Members of Selection Committees 0.0041. T.A. to candidates for recruitment 0.0042. Expenditure on Seminar/Conferences 2,08,264.0043. Fellowships 0.0044. Other expenditure 0.0045. Other non-consumable stores 5,20,961.0046 Sports & Tournaments 0.0047 Other Misc. Expenditure 12,79,216.00
Total (ii) Other Contingent Expen. 22 to 47)
1,64,19,000.00 81,38,098.00
(iii) MAINTENANCE & PETTY WORKS 28,31,000.0048. Maintenance of office Buildings 3,02,236.0049. Maintenance of residential Buildings50. Petty/Minor works51. Major Plan Works (only under plan) 25,28,764.00
Total (iii) Maintenance & Petty Works (48 to 51)
28,31,000.00 28,31,000.00
TOTAL OTHER CHARGES (i+ii+iii) 1,92,50,000.00Total Expenditure : (A+B+C) 2,00,00,000.00 1,98,66,126.00
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Annexure IX
12. Budget – Non Plan – Details of allocation and expenditure up to 31.03.2007
Figures in RupeesNon-Plan 2006-07
SL.NO
HEAD OF ACCOUNT NON-PLAN 2006-2007
AllocationExpenditure upto 31.3.2007
1. (A) ESTABLISHMENT CHARGES
77,00,000.00
2. Pay of Officers 21,16,343.003. Pay of Establishment 12,25,140.004. Dearness Allowance 14,15,282.005. House Rent Allowance 5,50,468.006. City Compensatory Allowance 91,793.007. Transport Allowance 84,502.008. Overtime 10,000.009. Bonus 53,657.0010. Other Allowances 20,40,083.00
Leave Salary & Pension Contribution
0.00
11. Total A : 77,00,000.00 75,87,268.00(B) : Wages of labourers granted temporary statusTotal A + B 77,00,000.00 75,87,268.00
12. (C) TRAVELLING EXPENSES 1,00,000.0013. T.A. within India 91,839.00
T.A. abroad 0.00Total C : Travelling Expenses (12 to 13)
1,00,000.00 91,839.00
14. (D) OTHER CHARGES(i) ASSETS ACQUIRED
15. Land16. Building & Original Works
17. Tools, Plants & Equipment 3,61,808.0018. Furniture Fixtures & Fittings
19. Typewriter, Accounting Machines & Other Office Equipment
20. Livestock21. Vehicles & Vessels
Library Books & JournalsTotal : (I) Assets Acquired (14 to 21)
3,61,808.00
22. (ii) OTHER CONTINGENT EXPENDITURE :
11,60,000.00
23. Chemicals & consumables for research work
39,822.00
24. Livestock/Animals required for research work
0.00
25. Fertilizer 0.00
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SL.NO
HEAD OF ACCOUNT NON-PLAN 2006-2007
AllocationExpenditure upto 31.3.2007
26. Feeding and upkeep of animals 0.0027. Petrol, oil & lubricants 0.0028. Electricity Charges (-)11,541.0029. Water Charges 8,912.0030. Rent 0.0031. Telephone Charges
a) Officeb) Residential
43,746.00
32. Postage 6,806.0033. Staff paid from contingencies 0.0034. Municipal/Property tax 0.0035. Stationery 0.0036. Printing & Binding 0.0037. Refreshment/Entertainment 0.0038. Other Office contingencies 1,408.0039. Other Research contingencies 0.0040. T.A. to Non-officials 0.0041. T.A. to Members of Selection
Committees0.00
42. T.A. to candidates for recruitment
0.00
43. Expenditure on Seminar/Conferences
0.00
44. Fellowships 0.0045. Other expenditure 0.0046 Other non-consumable stores 3,700.0047 Sports & Tournaments 0.00
Other Misc. Expenditure 7,05,339.00Total (ii) Other Contingent Expen. 22 to 47)
11,60,000.00 7,98,192.00
48. (iii) MAINTENANCE & PETTY WORKS
8,30,000.00
49. Maintenance of office Buildings 6,69,500.0050. Maintenance of residential
Buildings0.00
51. Petty/Minor works 1,60,500.00Major Plan Works (only under plan)
0.00
Total (iii) Maintenance & Petty Works
(48 to 51)
8,30,000.00 8,30,000.00
TOTAL OTHER CHARGES (i+ii+iii)
19,90,000.00
Total Expenditure : (A+B+C) 98,00,000.00 96,69,107.00
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Annexure-X
13. Annual Account 2005-2006
SCHEDULE SHOWING BREAK-UP OF CLOSING BALANCE AVAILABLE WITH AS ON 31-3-2006
S.NO.
NAME OF HEAD OF ACCOUNT
OPENING BALANCE AS ON 1-4-2005
RECEIPTS
DURING 2005-06
TOTAL PAYMENTS DURING 2005-06
REFUND DURING 2005-06
CLOSING BALANCE AS ON 31-3-2006
1 NON-PLAN(A) Institute Non-Plan (Remittance received from the Council)*
-1029000 8090000 7061000 8698377 201623 -1839000
(B) (i) Revenue Receipts 616706 990049 1606755 5519 407236 1194000
(ii) Recovery of 'P' Loans 423705 129835 553540 0 52540 501000
(iii) Interest on short term deposits
170418 279440 449858 0 94913 354945
(C) I.R.G. Schemes 0 0 0 0 0 0(D) TOTAL A + B + C 181829 9489324 9671153 8703896 756312 210945
(E) Loans & Advances (Remittance received from the Council)
0 200000 200000 197600 2400 0
(F) Pension & Gratuity (Remittance received from the Council)
0 1000000 1000000 581961 418039 0
(G) Non-Plan Schemes (Remittance received from the Council)
0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL NON-PLAN (D + E + F + G)
181829 10689324 10871153 9483457 1176751 210945
2 A.P. Cess Fund Schemes 1588600 0 1588600 440194 0 11484063 Revolving Fund Schemes 1309316 754414 2063730 624338 456000 9833924 PLAN 0
(A) Institute Plan (Remittance received from the Council)
0 20000000 20000000 16934978 3065022 0
(B) Plan Schemes of ICAR 0 0 0 0 0 0(C) NATP & Other EAPs 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 G.P.F. -76072 1588601 1512529 1439989 0 725406 Deposits (Others) 3075373 4756448 7831821 3550187 0 42816347 Recoveries effected but not
remitted to outside Dept (Remittance-I)
0 948033 948033 948033 0 0
8 S' Advances -16050 28050 12000 30000 0 -18000
9 Imprest 20000 0 20000 0 0 20000
TOTAL 6082996 38764870 44847866 33451176 4697773 6698917
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Annexure-XI
14. Revenue Generation
a. NRCOG Main (Figures in Rupees)SL.NO. HEAD OF ACCOUNT Upto 31.3.2007
1 Sale of Farm Produce 6,03,447.00
2 Sale of Fish & Poultry --
3 Sale of Land --
4 Sale of Building --
5 Sale of Vehicle, Other Machine Tools --
6 Sale of Livestock --
7 Sale of Publication and Advertisement 1,73,213.00
8 Licence Fee 29,110.00
9 Interest Earned on Loan and Advances 12,445.00
10 Leave Salary and Pension Contribution --
11 Receipts from Schemes --
12 Analytical and Testing Fee 0.00
13 Pre-shipment Fee --
14 Application Fee from Candidates --
15 Diploma Charges --
16 Receipts from Services rendered --
17 Unspent balance of Grants --
18 Interest earned on Short Term Deposits 2,17,330.00
19 Income Generated from Internal Resource Generation Scheme(a) Training(b) Consultancy(c) Contract Research(d) Sale of Technology(e) Others (specify the source)
--
20 Net profit in Revolving Funds --
21 Recoveries of Loans & Advances 1,61,910.00
22 Miscellaneous Receipts 1,26,310.00
TOTAL : 13,23,765.00
b. NRCO&G-RFS
1. Sale of Farm Produces 9,13,576.00
2. Interest on TDR 7269.00
3. Miscellaneous Receipt 0.00
Total 9,20,845.00
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Annexure-XII
18. Bank Reconcillation Updates – Upto March 2007
1. Balance as per Cash Book Rs. : 15,03,237.00
2. A) Cheque issued but not encashed vide Statement A attached herewith
B) Credit accounted for the bank but not included in Cash Book vide Statement B attached.
Rs. : 19,70,618.00
31,022.00
3. Total Rs. : 35,04,877.004. Deduction:
A) Debit adjusted by bank but not accounted in Cash Book vide statement C attached herewith
B) Amount remitted to bank but not accounted by bank vide Statement D attached herewith
Rs. :
Rs. :
47,204.00
4,07,695.00
5. Balance as per Bank Statement Rs. : 30,49,978.00
173
NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE FOR ONION & GARLICRAJGURUNAGAR- 410 505 DISTT. PUNE (MS)
Statement A : List of Un-cashed ChequesSr.No. Date Cheque No Amount
1. 20.3.2007 081773 1,826.002. 29.3.2007 081788 17,640.003. 30.3.2007 081790 1,49,442.004. 30.3.2007 081791 2,57,922.005. 30.3.2007 081792 1,81,319.006. 30.3.2007 081796 8,330.007. 30.3.2007 081797 27,896.008. 30.3.2007 081798 5,500.009. 30.3.2007 081800 4,32,036.00
10. 30.3.2007 560101 3,70,474.0011. 30.3.2007 560102 5,18,233.00
Total 19,70,618.00
Statement B : Credits Accounts by the Bank but not included in the Cash Book :Sr.No. Date Cheque No Amount
1. 27.11.2006 -- 290.002. 04.01.2007 -- 9432.003. 04.01.2007 -- 21,300.00
Total 31,022.00
Statement C : Debits Adjusted by Bank but not Accounted in Cash book :Sr.No. Date Cheque No Amount
1. 04.06.2006 12,290.002. 17.06.2006 12,722.003. 24.07.2006 1,500.004. 14.12.2006 2,248.005. 18.01.2007 5,020.006. 17.03.2007 125.007. 29.03.2007 3,997.008. 29.03.2007 7,354.009. 29.03.2007 1,398.00
10. 29.03.2007 550.00Total Rs. 47,204.00
Statement D : Amount Remitted into Bank but not Accounted in the Bank Statement:Sr.No. Date Cheque No Amount Remark
1. 08.01.2007 912939 8,095.002. 24.03.2007 684782 3,99,600.00
Total Rs. 4,07,695.00
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Annexure-XIII25. Trainings/Workshops etc. attended by the Scientists
a. National
Sr.No.
Name and DesignationTraining/workshop/conference/
symposia, meetings, etc.Organized by Duration
1
Dr. Asha Devi A.Scientist Sr. Scale (Genetics)
Winter school on ‘Personality development self motivation for enhanced performance of agricultural scientists and teachers’
NAARM, Hyderabad
08.11.2006 to 28.11.2006
2
Dr. P.C. TripathiSr. Scientist (Hort.)
International training course on ‘Agricultural Water Management for enhancing water productivity’
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agril. Univ. Rajendranagar in collaboration with Alterra – ILRI, Wageningen, The Netherlands
22.01.2007 to 11.02.2007
3
Dr. V. SankarScientist Sr. Scale (Hort.)
International training course on ‘Agricultural Water Management for enhancing water productivity’
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agril. Univ. Rajendranagar in collaboration with Alterra – ILRI, Wageningen, The Netherlands
22.01.2007 to 11.02.2007
4Dr. P.S. SrinivasScientist Sr. Scale (Ent.)
National symposium on ‘Plant protection in horticulture’
IIHR, Bangalore 07.03.2007 to 09.03.2007
b. International
SINo.
Name and Designation
Name of the Institution where the training obtained
Subject matter of the training
1. Dr. Anil KharScientist SS (Hort.)
USDA-ARS, Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USADuring 30.03.2006 to 29.03.2007
Received BOYSCAST fellowship from Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, Advance training on ‘Crop Biotechnology (Molecular mapping)’
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