Evaluation of Three-Way Cross Hybrids and Their Parents for Storage Losses in Onion (Allium cepa L.)

The aim of present investigation was the assessment of the several new onion hybrids develop through three- way cross along with their parents for having less problem of weight losses due to sprouting and rotting, and long storage quality at normal room temperature and relative humidity. The design of experimental plot was complete randomized block design (CRBD) with three replications. This study was carried out in the year of 2018-2019 at Division of Vegetable Crops, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bengaluru, India. Thirty hybrids developed by three- way cross, thirteen parental lines and one check have been included for the experiment. Three F1 hybrids used as female lines and ten commercial varieties used as male testers, were taken to develop the hybrids through line x tester design. The bulbs of all these genotypes were kept for four months in normal storage chamber at 25-30°C room temperature with 65-70% relative humidity. The overall losses of per cent bulb weigh was recorded and conclude that the three-way hybrids TWCHO-15 (26.91) were recorded for smallest amount of loss followed by TWCHO-5 (27.02), TWCHO-14 (28.83) and TWCHO-4 (29.98). These hybrids can be suggested for more profit to onion grower by keeping for long shelf-life.