ISHS Acta Horticulturae 760: XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: II International Symposium on Plant Genetic Resources of Horticultural Crops
COLD TOLERANCE AND WINTER CULTIVATION OF WELSH ONIONS |
| Authors: | H. Su, K. Xu, W. Liu |
| Keywords: | low temperature stress, resistance indicators, yield, bolting, Allium fistulosum L. |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.760.46 |
| Abstract:
The winter cultivation of Welsh onions (Allium fistulosum L.) has recently become popular in China. The objectives of our study were to compare the winter cultivation of three onion cultivars ‘Chunwei’, ‘Changbao’, and ‘Zhangqiu’ and to evaluate their cold tolerance. Welsh onions were grown in low tunnels during the winter in China. Our results showed that each of the Welsh onion cultivars suffered stress in low temperature winter cultivation, but they differed in their responses. Chunwei had the most cold tolerance, followed by Changbao. Zhangqiu had the least cold tolerance. Our measurements were determined through the examination of electrolytic leakage from leaves, malondialdehyde and chlorophyll content, protective enzymes, photosynthesis, and root activities during winter. The bolting rate of Chunwei was 0, Changbao 35.2% and Zhangqiu 81.0% when harvest on 20 Apr. The yield of Changbao was higher than that of Chunwei or Zhangqiu by 25.67% and 52.94%, but commercial yield of Chunwei was the highest, 54,882 kg•hm-2, which was an increase of 18.57% compared with Changbao. Zhangqiu yielded only 8,568 kg•hm-2. In summary, Chunwei was the best to cultivate in low tunnel in winter. Zhangqiu had the least winter hardiness. We do not recommend it for winter cultivation. | |
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