A Collaborative Effort Joint Allium Research Meeting Showcases Latest Research on Onion Production, Pests, Diseases By Heather MacKay and Lindsey du Toit, Stop the Rot Project Mike Havey, National Allium Research Conference Peter Rogers, W-3008
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ith the ultimate goal of helping onion growers increase crop yield and quality, a trio of onion research groups met to share information on onion breeding, production and disease managment. The three research groups held a joint meeting in Denver, Colorado, on Feb. 28 - March 2. The National Allium Research Conference (NARC), W-3008 multistate research project on integrated onion pest and disease management and the “Stop the Rot” research project team gathered in person and online, in association with the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, which was holding its annual meeting at the same time in Denver.
NARC, W-3008
Presenters shared some of the latest research on onion cultivation and breeding, along with disease, pest and weed management, during the NARC sessions. This was followed by reports from all participating states in the W-3008 project comprised of onion bulb production, climate influence, and disease and pest pressures encountered during the 2021 growing season. Topics of discussion included the paucity of water resources and extreme temperatures in western production regions and their effects on bulb quality and yield. The loss of registrations of important pesticides and the increased
Lindsey du Toit with Washington State University presents Robert Sakata of Sakata Farms in Brighton, Colo., with flowers in appreciation of Sakata’s longtime support of the onion research community. Photo courtesy Julie Kerr
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Earliness: Early main Sowing period: 09-15 - 09-25 Taste: Sweet Pyruvates: 3.6 Lacrymatory Factor: 2.8 Shape: Granex IR: Foc; Pt
Earliness: Early Sowing period: 09-25 - 10-05 Taste: Very sweet Shape: Grano IR: Foc; Pt
Earliness: Late Sowing period: 09-25 - 10-05 Taste: Very sweet Pyruvates: 3.5 Lacrymatory Factor: 2.4 Shape: Granex IR: Foc; Pt
Earliness: Main Sowing period: 09-18 - 09-28 Taste: Sweet Pyruvates: 3.4 Lacrymatory Factor: 2.6 Shape: Granex IR: Foc; Pt
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