Assessment of storage of onion grown as annual crop in the Non-Chernozem zone

An assessment of the safety of cultivars, hybrids and new hybrid combinations of onion grown in an annual culture in the Moscow region is presented. The yield of selected onion samples was evaluated during winter storage, taking into account the loss of weight, the number of dried, affected and sprouted bulbs. The number of preserved bulbs and the dynamics of these indicators were used to assess the safety of samples. The safety of onions depends on the suitability of this variety or hybrid for long-term storage and its aging. Full maturation of onions is characterized by the presence of dry covering scales, drying of leaves and neck, high content of sucrose and monosaccharides. This onion is stored longer and less affected by diseases. One of the important ways to reduce the loss of onions during storage is to observe a low-temperature regime and appropriate humidity. For better preservation of onions, the storage temperature was maintained at about 1-2 °C, with a relative humidity of 75-80%. To do this, the onion was placed in a storage with equipped refrigeration units that automatically regulate temperature, humidity and air circulation. The majority of samples had a safety of 28.3% to 71.1%, which was more than half-69.2% of the studied samples. The lowest preservation rate was for the 652/17 F₁ sample (Shet×AN 158 I₃) and was 28.3%, and this sample also had 42.3% sprouted bulbs. The best preservation of 95% and 94.6% were shown by samples of foreign selection F₁ Santero and F₁ Premito (standard), with a dry matter content of 10.9% and 10.8%, respectively. Also, the 652/2 F₁ (Shet × Polo I₃) sample showed good preservation among hybrid combinations – 85% with a dry matter content of 10.2%, losing to the domestic Forvard (standard) cultivar by 1.8%.

Key words: onions, storage, shelf life, cultivar, hybrid.