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An onion (Allium cepa) cultivar trial is conducted in the Columbia Basin of Washington every year. The trial helps onion growers, packers, processors, and seed companies compare cultivars and identify those most suited to their operations. This report evaluates 54 onion cultivars that were in the trials 2 years or more from 2012 to 2014. Marketable yields of cultivars averaged 764 to 1314 cwt/acre. 'TTA-747', 'Scout', 'SV6672NW', 'Montero', 'XP07716000', and 'SV4058NV' had the highest yields. All cultivars produced more jumbo-sized (3 to 4 inches) bulbs compared with any other size category, but those with the largest percentages of jumbo bulbs were Utrero, Gunnison, and Sedona. 'Scorpion', 'Ruby Ring', and 'Purple Haze' had the largest percentages of medium (2.25 to 3 inches) bulbs, and 'Montero' and 'Ovation' had the largest combined percentages of jumbo and colossal (>4 inches) bulbs. Cultivar differences were evident in the 2012 and 2014 trials when many of the onions flowered (bolted). Cultivars averaged 0.0 to 15.5 bolted onions per plot when 2012 and 2014 results were combined. 'Trekker', 'Highlander', 'Trailblazer', 'Ruby Ring', 'NUN8003ON', and 'Milestone' had the fewest bolted onions.Cultivar differences were also apparent when several aspects of bulb quality were evaluated after 4 months in storage. 'Utrero', 'Trekker', 'NUN7202ON', and 'Tamara' had the most uniformly shaped bulbs. Bulbs of 'Crockett', 'Legend', and 'Utrero' had the most complete skins. 'Crockett', 'Talon', 'Utrero', 'Legend', 'Gunnison', and 'Tamara' had the firmest bulbs. Only 14 of 54 cultivars averaged more than 74% functionally single-centered bulbs. 'NUN7202ON', 'Arcero', 'Joaquin', and 'Utrero' had the largest percentages of bulbs with single centers or small multiple centers. There were more rots caused by bacteria (Enterobacter sp.) in bulbs produced in the 2014 trial than in 2012 and 2013, probably due to a high incidence of internal dry scale in 2014. Incidence of bacterial rot in cultivars was not significantly different in 2014, but there were some cultivar differences in 2012 and 2013. Incidence of fungal neck rot (caused by Botrytis sp.) in these trials was low and therewere no significant cultivar differences.The results of these trials demonstrate that many new and advanced experimental cultivars have attributes that couldmake them a good choice for onion growers in the Columbia Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onion (Allium cepa) varieties for commercial production in eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho are evaluated annually in replicated trials conducted at the Malheur Experiment Station, Oregon State University, near Ontario, Oregon. Characteristics evaluated include bulb yield, market grade, and the frequency of single centers. After the emergence of iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) as a threat to commercial onion production in the early 2000s, onion varieties at the Malheur Experiment Station have been evaluated for virus symptoms since 2004. Varieties showed differences in the severity of IYSV symptoms each year. Symptom severity increased over the years from 2004 to 2006, and variety virus ratings showed a strong negative correlation of severity with yield in 2005 and 2006. Marketable yield after 3 months of storage averaged 781, 534, and 551 cwt/acre in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. Averaging over varieties, yield of bulbs larger than 4 inches in diameter was 438 cwt/acre, 56 cwt/acre, and 76 cwt/acre, and the average virus severity ratings were 1.1, 1.3, and 2.7 in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. A few varieties showed a combination of high yield, large bulb size, low incidence of virus symptoms, and a predominance of single-centered bulbs. With the prevalence of IYSV, variety tolerance to IYSV has become an important production factor in the Treasure Valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onion (Allium cepa) cultivars for commercial production in eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho are evaluated annually in replicated yield trials conducted at the Malheur Experiment Station, Oregon State University, Ontario. Market demand has progressively called for larger bulb size and bulbs with single centers. At harvest onions were evaluated for maturity, number of bolters, and single centeredness. Cultivars showed a wide range of bulbs with only one growing point or "bullet" single centers, ranging from 1% to 57% in 2000, from 7% to 70% in 2001, and from 1% to 74% in 2002. The percentages of bulbs functionally single-centered for processing uses ranged from 18% to 88% in 2000, from 24.7% to 91.3% in 2001, and from 14.4% to 92% in 2002. Bulb yield and market grade were evaluated out of storage. Marketable yield after 4 months of storage varied significantly by cultivar from 643 to 1196 cwt/acre (72.1 to 134.1 Mg·ha-1) in 2000, from 538 to 980 cwt/acre (60.3 to 109.8 Mg·ha-1) in 2001, and from 583 to 1119 cwt/acre (65.3 to 125.4 Mg·ha-1) in 2002. Averaging over cultivars, super colossal bulb size averaged 26%, 14%, and 10% in 2000, 2001, and 2002, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]