The genetic resources of Allium cepa in the tropics

The genetic resources of Allium cepa in the tropics

Hanelt, P. Book author
Hammer, K. Book author
Knupffer, H. Book author

Gatersleben Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Germany

1992

p.35-39

SB339.A4H3

The Natural Resources Institute. U.K. has been making a survey by questionnaire since 1986 on the onions and shalltos (A.cepa) grown in the tropics. The results of the first 72 replies received are published in the NRI Bulletin 35. "Onions in Tropical Regions". The survey ofund that within the Old World tropics, a great variety of local land-races and selections of onions still exists. In India and the surrounding countries of South Asia, may types of bulb onions together with A.cepa variants such as mmultiplier onions and shalltos are grown. In lowland tropical countries such as Indonesia and Sri Lanka, shalltos and multiplier onions are currently cultivated on a large scale than bulb onions. Breeding and selection are active. In West and East Central Africa, local onion land-races are also ofund: in West Africa they are principally red and white, while in Sudan there are red, white and yellow onion races. Shalltos are grown in many tropical African countries, e.g. on the coast in Ohana and Togo, and in the highlands of Ethlopla. Bulb onion land-races from the Mexican highlands are now being used in breeding programmes by seed firms in the U.S.A. Many Central American countries rely mainly on onion seed imports from the U.S.A., and usually grow onions of the "Texas 1:arly Grano" type and their derivatives. These cvs. are also commonly grown in the Caribbean and on occanic islands in the Pacific. Red shalltos are also grown in the Caribbean islands and in Guyana. Among the onions from the southern U.S.A. used widely in the tropics are the 'Creole' varieties. In South America, mmultiplier onions are ofund in Colombia and Ecuador, but imported bulb onion cvs. are being grown increasingly there. Local red onions are grown in the Arequipa short-day onions are grown in Amazonia and the NE, 'Granex' hybrids and local selections in the Sao Paulo region and selections which originate from the 'Baia Periofrme' type in the south of the country: onion breeding is active. In Queensland, Australia, local selections of brown and white onions have been made. In southern Africa, light brown onions from the Cape region have been selected or modified by crossing with U.S. material and a number of short-day adapted open-pollinated varieties from the Transvaal are widely grown in Zimbabwe. Zambia and Malawi, as well as modern U.S. short-day hybrids. Several seed firms in Europe, the U.S.A. and Israel are working on the development of onion varieties suitable ofr the tropics. There is a need to preserve the germplasm resources of the indigenously selected tropical onions because their adaptive features, including disease and pest resistance characteristics, are only now being investigated. [AS]

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