Studies on performance of onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes for growth, yield, quality and pest Incidence during Rabi 2024-25

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a vital vegetable crop in India, with significant economic importance. This study evaluated 50 onion genotypes for growth, yield, bulb quality and pest incidence during the rabi season of 2024-25 at Dharwad, Karnataka. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant genotypic differences for all traits. High-performing genotypes including NHRDF Red-2 (50.89 t/ha bulb yield), NHRDF Red-4 (47.72 t/ha) and Bhima Raj (46.42 t/ha). Genotypes like Telagi-L exhibited thin neck thickness (0.52 cm), while DOGR-1771 showed high dry matter content (18.42 g). Low pest incidence was observed in NHRDF Red-4 (0% purple blotch) and Arakera local (0.51 thrips/plant). These findings identify superior genotypes for cultivation and hybridization in similar agro-climatic zones.