Yield and Quality Evaluation of Six Local Onion (Allium cepa L.) Varieties

Abstract

Research was carried out at Hudeiba Research Station Experimental Farm, in the River Nile State, during seasons 2003/04 – 2004/05 to evaluate bulb yield and quality of six local varieties, open pollinated onion namely; Saggai (an improved cultivar with pink red skin colour); Kamleen (with yellow skin colour); El-Hillo (with white skin colour); Abufrewa (with deep red skin colour); Wadhamid (with yellow skin colour) and Zeidab (with red skin colour). Results showed a considerable variation in vegetative growth among the six varieties, where Kamleen and Wadhamid produced more foliage and earliness in bulbing than others. Kamleen gave the highest total and marketable yield, while Zeidab gave the lowest yield in the two seasons. Saggai, Kamleen and El-Hilo varieties showed less splitting, doubling and premature bolting. Wadhamid, Abufrewa and Zeidab gave the lowest values in quality characters. However, Abufrewa matured earlier, while cultivar Saggai matured late.