Assessment of quality indicators of onion seedlings before transplanting to a permanent field

Abstract

The use of high-quality seedlings is one of the key factors ensuring high onion productivity and marketable yield. Seedling morphological characteristics before transplanting determine plant adaptation, root establishment, and subsequent growth under field conditions. In this study, twelve onion varieties and hybrids of local and foreign breeding were evaluated according to seedling quality parameters. The number of leaves, longest leaf length, false stem diameter, and average seedling weight were determined. Considerable differences among varieties were observed for all measured traits. Possat, Robin F₁, Red Star F₁, and Swift F₁ exhibited superior seedling quality, indicating their high potential for successful establishment and vigorous vegetative growth after transplanting.