Screening of onion cultivars for their performance at the northern areas of Pakistan.

摘要

Five cultivars of onion (Allium cepa), i.e. Red creole, Red King, Texas, Chinese White and Swat-1, were screened for their growth and yield potential in Juglote, Gilgit, Pakistan, during 2002-03. The number of days to harvesting, plant height, bulb diameter, bulb weight, and bulb yield significantly varied among the cultivars. The number of days to harvesting was lowest (129.00) in Texas and highest (143.67) in Chinese White. Plant height ranged from 33.90 (Red Creole) to 48.73 cm (Chinese white). The differences in plant height among Red Creole, Texas and Swat-1 were not significant. The highest number of leaves per plant was recorded for Chinese White (13.10), followed by Swat-1 (12.13), whereas the lowest (9.80) was registered for Red Creole. The individual bulb weight was highest in Red King (179.07 g), followed by Swat-1, Texas and Red Creole (173.67, 158.83 and 149.90 g, respectively). Bulb diameter was greatest in Red King (6.91 cm), while Chinese White produced the bulbs with the least diameter (5.28 cm). Red King also resulted the highest bulb yield (36.52 t ha-1), followed by Swat-1 (32.27 t ha-1) and Texas (30.37 t ha-1). Bulb yield was lowest (23.10 t ha-1) in Chinese White. Red King and Swat-1, which were the most promising cultivars, are recommended for commercial cultivation under the agroclimatic conditions in northern areas in Pakistan..