Onion Seed Production Technique Basic knowledge about onion seed production

1. Onion Seed Production

2. Onion seed Production in India
India area under onion 1.20 million hectare area
India World rank in onion 2nd Largest producer
India Production 19.40 million tons
India Productivity 16.12 tons hectare
India Export 2415.75 thousand tons
India Export value 3, 10,650.09 Rs. lakhs.
India Onion seed requirement's 7000 tons per year

3. Onion Seed Production Influenced by
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ONION SEED PRODUCTION
Genetic factor Environmental factors
Cultivar Temperature
180c – 240c day &100c-120c night
Variety Potential Rainfall
Soil conditions
Presence of beneficial insects

4. Climate – Best quality with abundant sun and dry weather in late development
Soil- grow in many types of soil, but best quality bulbs are produced on light
soils
Fertility – considered heavy feeders, especially P
Season-long weed control essential
Often transplanted in market-garden and subsistence production
Extended storage feasible and common (bulbing)
Climate

5. Temperature
Crucial for seed Production Appropriate month - mother bulb planting
Rabi season crop Produce larger bulb
September to October Sowing mother Bulb
January - February Flowering starts
Cool & ample soil moisture Required for flower initiation in January
High temperature Flower abortion resulting seed yield.
Dry sunny condition For mature & quality seed
Cool & Heavy rainfall Disease problem & poor seed setting
Soils
Best Light soil with good fertility and drainage
pH 6.0-8.0
Best quality bulb On light soils

6. Pollination
Onion Cross pollinated crop mainly insect pollinated
Efficient pollination Depends largely on presence of insects
Insect Population of pollinating insects including
honeybees to achieve the full potential of onion
seed and consequent higher seed yield.

7. Method of onion seed production
Bulb to seed Seed to seed
The onion bulbs are produced which after
maturity are harvested and bulbs which are ture
to type are sorted & stored. The stored bulbs are
planted in the next season to produce seeds.
Seedlings after transplanting are allowed to
over sinter in the field. The bulbs are not
lifted and allowed to flower in the same
field.
Options for quality bulb selection . No need to harvest bulb
Bulb produces several flower stalks Produce less flower stalk
Higher seed yield . Less seed yield.
Required 10 to 11 months Required 7-8 months
4 - 4 1/2 months for bulb production
6-7 months for seed maturity

8. BULB TO SEED – NURSERY PRODUCTION
Bulb to seed - MOTHER BULB PRODUCTION
Nursery site Sunny with good drainage facility
Seed bed Raised About 10 to 12 Kg. seed
is required to raise seedlings
for one hectare transplanting.
The seedlings are ready for
transplanting 45-60 days after
sowing.
Seed treatment Thiram
Seed rate 12kg/ha
Spacing Line sowing
Fertilizer Soil test
Bed covering Straw
Grass cover removal After sprout
Bed Irrigation Water can
Pest control Drenching

9. SEEDLINGS TRANSPLANT - FOR MOTHER BULB PRODUCTION
MOTHER BULB PRODUCTION - TECHNIQUE
Seedling stage 50 to 60 days aged seedling.
Bed irrigation Required before uprooting of seedlings
Trimming of seedlings Aged seedling need trimming before transplanting.
Furrow/ridge preparation Raised or shallow bed with irrigation facility
Field pre-irrigation Irrigate bed before transplanting
Transplanting/spacing The spacing 15x10 cm (row to plant)
Fertilization Recommended dose for larger bulb & higher yield.
Irrigation As per crop requirement
Weeding/Cultivation Chemical & hand weeding
Protection As per reccomendation
Maturity stage Restrict irrigation during maturity stage
Bulb harvesting and curing Harvest mature and developed bulb
Bulb selection and storage Larger size bulb need to store for seed production

10. MOTHER BULB SOWING - SEED PRODUCTION
Bulb planting October Pest control Thrips
Bulb seed rate 25q/ha bulb Pollination Honey bee
Isolation distance 500-1000 m Harvesting At maturity
Land preparation Ridge & Furrow Drying umbels In sunny days
Spacing 45 cm Seed extraction mannually
Fertilizer P & K Seed drying In sunny days
Irrigation Growth Seed Storage After drying
Weeding Hand weeding Seed Yield 5 – 10 qt/ha
Field inspection – 2 times - At mother bulb production and seed production stage.

11. NUTRITION
Onion needs a heavy dose of fertilizers for good yield.
FYM field preparation 25 to 30 tons per hectare
Urea field preparation 50 Kg. per hectare
SSP field preparation 312 Kg. per hectare
MOP field preparation 83 Kg. per hectare
Urea application in two split dose after transplanting
Urea 30 Kg/ha at 30 days after transplanting
Urea 30 Kg/ha at 45 days after transplanting
After 45 days no need to apply urea fertilizers
Sulphur field preparation 45 Kg. Gypsum/ ha 15 days transplanting.

12. WEED MANAGEMNT
Crop weed competition is recorded to higher from transplanting
till almost 60 days, it may reduce yield up to 60 percents.
Oxyfluorfen
(24 % EC.)
1- 1.25 ml/liter Before 2 days of transplanting
or Within 1week after transplanting
Oxyfluorfen
(24 % EC.)
0.4 ml/liter Post emergence - spray after 30 DAT
Oxyfluorfen
(24 % EC.)
0.6 ml/liter Post emergence - spray after 60 DAT
Hand weeding is also recommended for weeding and inter cultural
operations to increase larger bulb size.
Spray GOAL @ 1.5ml/L after planting of bulbs and one weeding after
45-60 day after planting should be done.
Pendimethalin @ 3ml/l or Oxyfluorfen @ 0.25 l/ha with one hand
weeding at 45 days given good control of weeds.

13. Major disease and insect pests of onion
Major insect pest Control measures.
Fungal leaf diseases
Purple Blotch
Ridomil 10 gm/ 15 lt water
Agrolaxyl 15ml/15 lt. water
Thrips Dimethoate 20ml/15 lt water
Selecron 15ml/15 lt water
Storage rots
Onion maggots
Leaf feeding insects
Nematode
s

14. Major disease and insect pests of onion
Major insect pest Control measures.
Purple Blotch Ridomil 10 gm/ 15 lt water
Agrolaxyl 15ml/15 lt. water
Thrips Dimethoate 20ml/15 lt water
Selecron 15ml/15 lt water

15. MATURITY, HARVESTING, CURING, STORAGE & YIELD
All seed heads do not mature at same time, harvesting in installments.
25% Seed inside capsules become black the umbels should be cut.
The umbels are spread on ground to avoid attack of mold for drying.
The optimum moisture content is 10-15 % at the time of harvesting.
Seed can be cleaned using any regular screening.
Sees are dried at a level of about 6% moisture & pack in tins.
Storage in air conditioned & dehumidified store at 250C & RH 40%.
In hot & humid climate, viability of onion seed is lost within an year.
Onion seed if dried to 6% moisture & stored in sealed containers, its
life may be prolonged to 3-4 years without loss in seed germination.
Seed Yield – 5 to 10 qt/ha

16. Mother Bulb Production

17. Mother Bulb to Seed Production