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Seed quality effects in bulb onions ( Allium cepa L.)
Author(s) -
GIL M. OCANA,
WERNER C. P.,
CROWTHER T. C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1991.tb05356.x
Subject(s) - biology , bulb , allium , germination , pollination , crop , horticulture , agronomy , liliaceae , botany , pollen
SUMMARY The nature and persistence of seed quality effects produced by a range of seed production treatments was investigated in the autumn‐sown onion crop. Genotypically equivalent seed lots raised in different glasshouses within the same year were found to germinate at significantly different rates. The seed lot which emerged earlier produced larger seedlings and this difference in size persisted throughout the growing period. In a comparison between the effects of hand crossing and self‐pollination techniques the hand crossing method produced a much lower total seed yield but heavier seeds and larger plants. The induced effects persisted throughout the year but were not significant in the mature bulb characters. The implications of these results upon the control of seed production for plant breeding and genetical experiments is discussed.