Onion breeding in Argentina

GALMARINI, C.R.

ACTA HORTICULTURAE

ISHS

Año: 1994 p. 205 - 209

0567-7572

In Argentina, 16 000 ha of onion are grown yearly, with a total production of 265 000 tons. There are three main producing regions: the Northern, Western, and Southern areas. In the Northern area, short-day cultivars are grown, especially for the local market. In the Western and Southern areas, intermediate and long-day cultivars are cropped for local and international markets. Argentina exports about 50 000 tons, specially to Brazil, Uruguay, and the EEC. The production of onion seeds is about 65 000 kg per year. A breeding programme for short- and long-day onions has been ongoing since 1948. To date, eight cultivars and hybrids have been released. The most successful is Valcatorce INTA, a long-day cultivar with dark brown skin and excellent storage quality. This cultivar is grown on 80% of the onion area in the country. It has also been cropped in Chile and Uruguay. Nowadays, breeding programmes are being carried out for short-day onions at San Juan Experimental Station (INTA) and for long-day onions at La Consulta Experimental Station (INTA). Breeding goals are earliness and good storage quality in long-day cultivars, production of hybrids using male sterility, production of pure lines by ovule culture technique, introduction of resistance to Phoma terrestris (onion pink root), and obtaining cultivars with high dry matter cultivars for the dehydration industry.