Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2189, FAX: (701) 742-2700, email: rgreenla@ndsuext.nodak.edu

ONION HYBRID PERFORMANCE TRIAL

Richard Greenland, Leonard Besemann, and Delores Anderson

Table 27. Early vigor, maturity, and quality of onions

Table 28. Yield and total onions

Onions grow well in North Dakota. Growers are producing mostly yellow sweet Spanish onions and some storage onions. This study evaluated 47 onion hybrids.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Soil:	Maddock sandy loam and Hecla sandy loam; pH=6.7; 1.8% organic matter; soil-P and soil-K were very high; soil-S was medium.
Previous crops:	2001 - broccoli, cauliflower, artichoke, and fallow; 2000 - field corn; 1999 - soybean.
Seedbed preparation:	Disked Nov 1 2001. Multiweeded (field cultivated) on April 23 to incorporate fertilizer and smooth the seedbed.
Planting:	Direct seeded onions (174,000 seeds/acre) and a barley cover crop (0.45 bu/acre) on April 30 with a Monosem precision planter. Planted onions in paired rows (2.5" apart), with the paired rows on 18" centers. A row of barley was planted between and parallel to the onion rows. Onion sets (80,000 bulbs/acre) were hand planted on May 1. Planted sets in single rows on 18" centers, 4⅓ inches apart, in a furrow, and covered with ½ inch of soil. Sprayed Poast + Dash (1.5 pt/acre + 1 pt/acre) on May 25 to kill the barley cover crop.
Plots:	Plots were 3 ft (two paired rows) wide by 17 ft long. The study had 4 reps.
Fertilizer:	On April 18, broadcast 18 lbs N/acre and 20 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24. Sprayed 50 lbs N/acre on Apr 23 and 60 lbs N/acre on May 29 as 28-0-0. Applied 50 lbs N/acre as urea on June 27.
Irrigation:	Irrigated 0.5 inch with hand-move, overhead sprinklers on May 24 and on May 31. Irrigated with underground drip irrigation as needed the rest of the season.
Pest control:	Weeds were controlled with: Prowl (1.5 pt/acre on May 23 and June 11); Buctril and Goal 2EC (1.5 and 0.4 pt/acre on June 6); Buctril and Goal 1.6EC (1.5 and 0.6 pt/acre on June 25 (did not spray onion sets)); and hand weeding. Sprayed Maneb (2 lb/acre on Jul 11 and Aug 7), Ridomil MZ72 (2.5 lb/acre on Aug 2), Ronalin (2 lb/acre on Aug 16), and Dithane F45 (2 qt/acre on Aug 27) to control diseases. No insect control needed.
Harvest:	Pulled onions from Sept 11 to Sept 27 (approximately 2 weeks after half-down date). Onions were allowed to dry in the field for about two weeks, then were bagged and moved to a shed. The onions were graded Oct 22 to Oct 29.

RESULTS

Very few onion hybrids produced greater than 4 inch diameter bulbs this year. Ranchero, Granero, Mesquite, Vaquero and Tequila produced the highest yields of 3-4 inch onions as well as the highest yields. SX 7000, Vaquero, Tamara, SWO 7391 and Granero had the highest percentage of single centers. All of the onion sets had low yields and poor quality. Yields were much below average for the second year in a row.

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Table 27. Early vigor, maturity, and quality of onions in the Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2002 onion performance trial.

Hybrid	Seed producer¹	June 17 stand	Herbicide injury²	Days to half-down³	Single centers	Uniformity	Overall score
		1000s plt/A	1 to 10		%	1 to 5	1 to 10

BGS 174	BE	67 j-n⁵	1.8 abc	123 f-I	60 b-f	3.1 c-h	7.5 a-e
Braddock (BGS 142)	BE	77 f-k	2.3 cde	124 g-k	5 l	3.8 a-d	7.5 a-e
Brahma	SS⁴	91 a-f	1.0 a	123 f-i	45 d-i	3.0 d-i	7.5 a-e
Condor	AT	78 e-k	2.3 cde	129 o-s	25 h-l	2.6 f-j	6.5 c-g
Copra	BE	101 a	2.0 bcd	123 f-j	35 f-k	4.3 a	7.9 abc
Corona	BE	95 a-d	2.8 d-g	114 d	75 abc	3.5 a-e	6.3 d-g
Cortland	BE	98 abc	2.0 bcd	123 f-i	30 g-l	3.3 b-g	7.3 a-e
DPSX 1170	DP	97 a-d	2.8 d-g	120 ef	45 c-j	4.0 abc	4.4 ij
DPSX 1171	DP	72 h-m	2.5 c-f	128 l-p	35 f-k	2.3 ij	6.5 c-g
DPSX 1172	DP	88 a-g	2.6 c-f	128 k-p	20 h-l	2.8 e-j	7.0 a-f
Festival	BE	95 a-d	2.5 c-f	124 g-k	75 abc	3.5 a-e	8.3 ab
Flintstone (sets)	DVG	67 j-n	3.5 ghi	95 a	55 b-g	4.0 ab	1.0 l
Flintstone	DVG	78 e-k	3.0 e-h	116 de	70 a-d	3.5 a-e	1.0 l
Frontier (T-400)	AT	86 b-h	2.3 cde	122 fg	75 abc	4.0 ab	7.0 a-e
Frosty	DP	57 mn	3.3 fgh	132 rst	40 e-j	2.8 e-j	6.5 c-g
Granero	SS	86 a-h	2.3 cde	128 l-p	80 ab	3.5 a-e	8.5 a
Kodiak	DP	76 f-k	2.3 cde	127 k-p	20 i-l	2.5 g-j	6.3 d-g
Mesquite	DP	71 h-m	2.8 d-g	133 stu	15 jkl	2.9 e-j	6.1 e-h
Mustang	BE	10 ab	2.8 d-g	129 m-q	60 b-f	2.9 e-j	6.5 c-g
NiZ 37-32	VL	82 d-j	3.3 fgh	126 i-p	60 b-f	3.0 d-i	6.8 b-g
Prince	BE	89 a-f	2.5 c-f	127 k-p	40 e-j	3.5 a-e	7.5 a-e
Ranchero	SS	85 a-i	2.7 d-g	127 k-p	54 b-h	2.5 f-j	7.6 a-e
Red Baron (sets)	DVG	60 lmn	4.3 i	113 cd	65 a-e	3.8 a-d	2.0 kl
Red Beauty	BE	67 j-n	2.3 cde	132 q-t	40 e-j	3.0 d-i	3.3 jk
Sabroso	SS	77 f-k	2.3 cde	128 l-p	45 d-i	2.9 e-j	8.3 ab
Salem	BE	86 a-h	1.8 abc	125 g-l	45 d-i	3.4 b-f	7.8 a-d
Setton (sets)	DVG	64 k-n	4.3 i	110 bc	75 abc	3.0 d-i	4.3 ij
Setton	DVG	65 k-n	3.3 fgh	136 uv	75 abc	2.4 hij	3.3 jk
Sharon	BE	92 a-e	2.0 bcd	120 ef	30 g-l	3.5 a-e	7.8 a-d
SR7002	SS	78 e-k⁵	2.0 bcd	124 g-k	75 abc	3.0 d-i	6.3 d-g
Sturon (sets)	DVG	70 i-n	4.3 i	107 b	40 e-j	2.6 f-j	2.3 kl
Sturon	DVG	60 lmn	3.0 e-h	132 q-t	20 h-l	2.8 e-j	5.4 f-i
SWO 7391	SWK	77 f-k	2.8 d-g	127 k-p	80 ab	3.0 d-i	7.4 a-e
SWO 7074	SWK	58 mn	2.5 c-f	126 h-n	35 f-k	2.1 j	7.0 a-e
SWO 7761	SWK	81 d-j	3.0 e-h	129 m-q	55 b-g	2.8 e-j	7.3 a-e
SX4391	SS	82 d-j	3.8 hi	130 p-s	30 g-l	2.3 ij	5.3 ghi
SX7000	SS	84 c-i	1.8 abc	126 i-o	90 a	2.9 e-j	7.8 a-d
T-433	AT	72 h-m	2.8 d-g	140 v	10 kl	2.4 hij	4.6 hij
T-439	AT	72 g-m	2.3 cde	127 k-p	45 d-i	2.6 f-j	6.3 d-g
T-441	AT	74 g-l	2.5 c-f	125 g-l	70 a-d	3.1 c-h	6.9 b-f
Tamara	BE	82 d-j	2.2 cde	125 g-m	80 ab	3.0 d-j	7.0 a-f
Tequila	DP	77 f-k	2.5 c-f	129 n-r	40 e-j	2.8 e-j	7.5 a-e
Tesoro	SS	96 a-d	2.0 bcd	124 g-k	30 g-l	3.4 b-f	7.8 a-d
Teton	SM	56 n	1.3 ab	126 j-p	60 b-f	2.8 e-j	7.0 a-e
Torrero	SS	76 f-k	3.3 fgh	133 tu	75 abc	2.3 ij	6.5 c-g
Vaquero	SS	72 g-m	3.0 e-h	128 l-p	80 ab	2.9 e-j	8.0 abc
Varsity	SWK	90 a-f	1.0 a	122 fgh	45 d-i	3.0 d-i	7.8 a-d

Probability		<.0001	<.0001	<.0001	<.0001	<.0001	<.0001
C. V. (%)		14	24	2	42	19	18

¹See Appendix A for a list of seed sources.

²Rating from 0 (no injury) to 10 (all plants dead). Herbicides causing injury were Buctril and Goal.

³Number of days from planting to when half the onion tops had fallen over. This is an indication of maturity.

⁴This seed was furnished by Norman Haak.

⁵Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 0.05 level.

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Table 28. Yield and total onions in the Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2002 onion hybrid performance trial.

Hybrid	Seed producer¹	Onion yield (by bulb size)
Hybrid	Seed producer¹	> 4"	3½ to 4"	3 to 3½”	2¼ to 3”	<2¼”	Total	Cull weight	Total bulbs
		----------------------------------- cwt/acre --------------------------------------						%	1000s/A

BGS 174	BE	0 d³	5 hij	87 c-I	107 e-l	14 lmn	230 f-m	7 h-l	63 m-r
Braddock (BGS 142)	BE	0 d	0 j	38 m-r	133 a-g	34 e-h	216 g-o	4 kl	78 c-l
Brahma	SS²	0 d	3 hij	64 g-m	137 a-e	41 def	260 c-g	5 jkl	86 a-h
Condor	AT	0 d	10 f-j	61 h-n	134 a-f	20 j-n	267 b-g	15 c-k	75 d-n
Copra	BE	0 d	0 j	2 uv	152 abc	65 a	234 e-k	6 i-l	100 a
Corona	BE	0 d	0 j	16 q-v	111 d-l	40 def	188 i-p	12 f-l	85 a-h
Cortland	BE	0 d	0 j	19 q-v	108 e-l	60 ab	195 h-o	4 kl	89 a-f
DPSX 1170	DP	0 d	2 hij	5 s-v	91 h-p	63 ab	173 l-r	7 g-l	89 a-g
DPSX 1171	DP	0 d	21 d-g	65 f-m	82 k-p	24 g-m	242 e-i	20 c-f	69 j-p
DPSX 1172	DP	0 d	2 hij	97 a-e	134 a-h	28 e-l	308 abc	13 e-l	92 a-e
Festival	BE	0 d	2 ij	54 k-p	157 ab	42 cde	266 b-g	4 kl	92 abc
Flintstone (sets)	DVG	0 d	0 j	0 v	5 r	8 n	22 u	44 a	32 t
Flintstone	DVG	0 d	0 j	2 tuv	4 r	15 lmn	32 u	33 ab	49 rs
Frontier (T-400)	AT	0 d	0 j	5 s-v	121 b-j	51 bcd	185 j-p	5 kl	85 a-h
Frosty	DP	0 d	4 hij	32 o-t	84 j-p	17 k-n	164 o-s	15 d-k	52 qrs
Granero	SS	2 cd	29 a-d	119 ab	111 d-l	14 lmn	302 a-d	8 g-l	75 f-n
Kodiak	DP	4 bc	13 e-j	78 c-k	96 g-o	17 k-n	259 c-g	17 c-i	72 g-o
Mesquite	DP	3 cd	37 abc	105 abc	88 i-p	13 mn	303 abc	16 c-j	71 h-o
Mustang	BE	0 d	0 j	34 n-s	156 ab	31 e-j	255 c-g	13 e-l	94 ab
NiZ 37-32	VL	0 d	0 j	22 q-v	113 d-k	34 e-i	178 k-p	5 jkl	75 e-n
Prince	BE	0 d	2 ij	38 m-r	146 a-d	33 e-i	231 e-l	5 jkl	84 b-i
Ranchero	SS	12 a	43 ab	124 a	100 e-m	16 k-n	329 a	10 f-l	79 b-m
Red Baron (sets)	DVG	0 d	0 j	0 v	22 qr	19 j-n	71 tu	39 a	47 st
Red Beauty	BE	0 d	0 j	3 tuv	58 opq	31 e-j	116 rt	26 bc	63 l-r
Sabroso	SS	0 d	16 d-i	95 a-f	124 b-i	21 i-n	276 a-f	7 h-l	76 d-m
Salem	BE	0 d	0 j	60 i-o	165 a	34 e-i	269 b-g	4 l	86 a-h
Setton (sets)	DVG	0 d	0 j	10 r-v	60 m-p	15 lmn	111 st	26 bcd	52 qrs
Setton	DVG	0 d	0 j	12 q-v	61 m-p	20 j-n	138 p-s	34 ab	58 o-s
Sharon	BE	0 d	2 ij	18 q-v	136 a-e	55 abc	219 g-o	3 l	93 abc
SR7002	SS	0 d³	18 d-h	86 c-j	79 k-p	11 mn	254 c-g	23 b-e	67 k-q
Sturon (sets)	DVG	0 d	0 j	9 r-v	58 pq	22 h-m	110 st	18 c-h	60 n-s
Sturon	DVG	0 d	3 hij	13 q-v	57 pq	18 k-n	122 qrt	25 bcd	55 p-s
SWO 7391	SWK	0 d	6 f-j	85 c-j	130 a-h	20 j-n	261 c-g	7 g-l	73 g-o
SWO 7074	SWK	7 b	21 c-f	65 f-m	59 n-q	15 lmn	198 h-o	12 f-l	52 qrs
SWO 7761	SWK	0 d	5 hij	58 j-p	132 a-h	17 k-n	241 e-j	13 e-l	73 g-o
SX4391	SS	0 d	5 g-j	23 q-v	75 l-p	36 efg	172 n-q	18 c-g	68 k-p
SX7000	SS	0 d	6 f-j	37 m-r	116 c-k	38 def	215 g-o	8 g-l	81 b-k
T-433	AT	0 d	11 f-j	75 d-k	97 f-n	19 j-n	227 f-n	9 f-l	63 l-r
T-439	AT	0 d	6 f-j	74 d-l	128 a-h	15 lmn	246 e-h	9 g-l	69 i-p
T-441	AT	0 d	0 j	30 p-u	105 e-l	32 e-j	175 m-q	5 jkl	69 i-p
Tamara	BE	0 d	0 j	43 l-q	155 abc	38 d-g	243 d-j	3 l	85 a-j
Tequila	DP	0 d	44 a	92 b-g	105 e-l	11 mn	307 abc	14 e-l	72 g-o
Tesoro	SS	0 d	0 j	68 d-l	164 a	29 f-k	287 a-e	8 g-l	89 a-f
Teton	SM	0 d	8 f-j	66 e-m	79 k-p	19 j-n	189 i-p	9 g-l	54 p-s
Torrero	SS	2 cd	28 b-e	93 a-f	104 e-l	9 n	261 c-g	10 f-l	63 l-r
Vaquero	SS	2 cd	42 ab	97 a-d	102 e-l	16 k-n	265 c-g	3 l	69 j-p
Varsity	SWK	0 d	15 d-j	90 c-h	153 abc	24 g-m	322 ab	11 f-l	91 a-d

Probability		0.0003	<.0001	<.0001	<.0001	<.0001	<.0001	<.0001	<.0001
C. V. (%)		410	130	42	26	35	19	60	15

¹See Appendix A for a list of seed sources.

²This seed was furnished by Norman Haak.

³Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 0.05 level.

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