Effect of cultivars on storage losses in onion under hot conditions

Abstract: In Khuzestan (South Iran), onion bulbs are usually formed and harvested in spring and consumed either in the same season or during summer while some of these are kept for seed production. In order to study the losses in onion bulbs under hot store conditions, an experiment was conducted in autumn 2002 and spring 2003. The data were collected on five cultivars being produced at Shahid Chamran University, two local cultivars and three of those under commercial cultivation. The collected bulbs were kept in 30 x 50cm boxes, 15 cm in height. The experiment was replicated three times in completely randomized design. Data on change in number, weight of the healthy bulbs and decayed bulbs were recorded every 15 days. No bulb root was produced during the storage when maximum, average and minimum temperature were 48, 33 and 25^oC, respectively with the average relative humidity (RH) of 30%. As far as storage life was concerned, there was a significant difference among the varieties. Compared to both the local and market bulbs, those produced at Shahid Chamran University showed more storage life. Another important finding of this research was that 50% of the local and university bulbs remained unspoiled after 120 days, whereas the Taxes Yellow Grano, Taxes Early Grano and G1 had the short storage life; 50% of the stock were destroyed after 60 days. In the present study, Aspergillus niger was found to be the most important factor responsible for onion decay in hot stores of Khuzestan.