Onion

Varieties
RecommendedOnionVarieties
NationalResearchCentreforOnionandGarlic(NowDirectorateofOnion&GarlicResearch)has
developedsevennewimprovedonionvarietiesasfollowswithhighyieldandqualitypotential.
BhimaRaj
The variety Bhima Raj (B780522, IC No. 561257) The variety Bhima Raj produces dark red and oval
shapedbulbswithsinglecentreandthinneck. TheTSSrangeisfrom10.0to11.0%. Thisvarietyissuitable
for kharif and late kharif season in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat.It can be cukltivated
duringrabiseason andhasbeenidentifiedinXXVth AICRP(VC)groupmeetingheldatHissarforzoneVI
(Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi). The Bhima Raj matures within 120125 days after transplanting
with absolutely no bolters with average yield ranges from 2530 t/ha with high percentage of marketable
bulbsduringrabi. Thehighestyieldpotentialis4045t/ha.

BhimaRed
BhimaRed(B780531,ICNo.561258)hasbeendevelopedthroughbulbtorowselectionmethod.Bhima
RedissuitableforlatekharifinthestatesofMaharashtra,Karnataka,andGujarat. ItcanbegrowthinKharif
seasonalso.Bulbsareattractiveredincolourewithroundshape.TSSrangedfrom10.0to11.0%.Average
yieldinlatekharifseasonrangedfrom48.052.0t/ha.Boltersaelessthan5%duringlatekharifandalmost
no bolters during rabi. It can be stored upto 4 months during late kharif season.This variety can be grown
during ravi season also for immediate marketing as it can be stored up to 3 months duringrabi. It was
identified at National level for Zone VII (Maharashtra & M.P) at XXVI AICRP (VC) group meeting 09 at
Coimbatore for rabi season. It matures in about 115120 days during late kharif and rabi season after
transplanting.

BhimaSuper
BhimaSuper(ICNo.561259)hasdevelopedfromabasepopulationofcultivarB780byexercisingselection
pressureforsinglecenteredbulbsbyfollowingeightcyclesofselectionandattaining95%ofsinglecentered
bulbs. Bhima Super is suitable for kharif season and can be cultivated during late kharif cultivation in the
states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat. The variety possesses round bulbs with tapering towards
neck. TheTSSisfrom1011%. Thevarietyproducesqualitybulbswithmaximumnumberofsinglecentered
bulbs with an average yield of 2628 t/ha in kharif and 40 to 45 t/ha in late kharif cultivation.Bulbs attains
maturityafter110115days.

BhimaKiran
BhimaKiran(RO597)(ICNo.572766)wasidentifiedatNationallevelforreleaseduring1st AINRPOGgroup
meetingatCITH,Srinagarduring2010fortwozonesviz.ZoneIII(Delhi,UP,Haryana,BiharandPunjab)and
VI (Maharashtra, Karnataka and AP) for rabi season. Bulb attains immediate light red colour after harvest.
Bulbsareovaltoroundinshape,haveverylessnumberofboltersanddoublesinrabi(lessthan5%),thin
neck, TSS 12%, good keeping quality suitable for storage upto 56 months. Matures in 130 days after
transplanting. The average marketable yield potential is upto 41.5 t/ha during rabi season with national
averageyieldof30.3t/ha.

BhimaShakti
BhimaShakti(1156)(ICNo.572769)wasidentifiedatNationallevelforreleasedduring2nd AINPROGgroup
meetingatOoty(TNAU,Coimbatore)during2011forfourzonesviz.ZoneIII(Delhi,UP,Haryana,Biharand
Punjab),ZoneIV(RajasthanandGujarat),ZoneV(MP,ChhattisgarhandOrissa)andzoneVI(Maharashtra,
KarnatakaandAndhraPradesh)forlatekharifaswellasrabiseason.Bulbsattainsimmediateattractivered
colour after harvest. Shape is round. Very less number of bolters 2.15% & 0.36% and doubles 5.69% &
1.38% during late kharif and rabi season, respectively. TSS 11.8%. Small to medium neck thickness,
uniform neck fall during rabi and more than 70% neck fall during late kharif. Very good storage life. Bulbs
mature in 130 days after transplanting duringlate kharif and rabi season. It is tolerantto thrips. Marketable
yield during late kharif is 45.9 t/ha and during rabi 42.7 t/hain Mahareashtra with national average yield of
29.18t/haduringrabiseason.

BhimaShweta
BhimaShweta(WhiteEl.Comp.Selection/NRCWO2) (ICNo.572761)wasidentifiedatNationalLevelfor
release during IInd AINPOG group meeting at Ooty (TNAU, Coimbatore) during 2011 for three zones viz.,
Zone III (Delhi, UP, Haryana, Bihar and Punjab), Zone V (MP, Chhattisgarh and Orissa) and Zone VI
(Maharashtra,KarnatakaandAndhraPradesh)forraviseason.Bulbsareattractivewhiteincolour, roundin
shape,verylessnumberofboltersanddoubleslessthan3%inrabiseason,thinneck,TSS11.5%,matures
in110115dayaftertransplantingduringrabi,mediuminkeepingquality upto3monthsduringrabiseason.
Averagemarketableyieldduringrabiseasonis35.9t/hawithnationalaverageyieldof28.2t/ha.Itistolerant
tothrips.

BhimaShubra
BhimaShubra(w009)(ICNo.572763)releasedatinstitutelevelduring2010forkharifandlatekharifseason
forMaharashtraregion. Bulbsareattractivewhiteincolour,ovaltoroundinshapebulb,havelessnumberof
boltersupto 6%duringlatekharifandnoboltersduringkharifanddoubleslessthan3%inlatekharifand
krarifseason,thinneck,TSS10.4%inkharifand11.7%inlatekharif, maturesin112dayaftertransplanting
duringkharifand125daysinlatekharif.bulbscanbestoredfor23monthsduringlatekharif.Ithascapacity
to tolerate environmentalfluctuation, hence can be cultivatedin all the three seasons. Averagemarketable
yieldduringkharifis24.16t/haandduringlatekharif38.9t/hacanfillthegapforprocessingfromOctoberto
February.

Nameofthevariety/sourceandCharacteristics
Redcolouredbulbs
PunjabSelection

PAU,Ludhiana
Bulbsred,globularinshapeandmeasure56cmdia,averageweight5070g.Bulbsarequitefirmwithgood
keepingquality.TheTSSisabout14%.Averageyieldis20t/ha.Recommendedforrabiseason.

PusaRed
IARI,NewDelhi
Bulbmediuminsize,averageweight7090g,bronzeredincolour,flattoglobularshapedandlesspungent.
Keepingqualityisgood.Plantsmaturein140145daysaftertransplanting.TSSisabout1213%.Average
yield is 25 t/ha. It can be grown both in late kharif and rabi season in Maharashtra. Suitable for export
purpose.

N241
NIPHAD
Average bulb diameter 46 cm, brick red colour, shade globular, pungent in taste. Keeping quality good,
plantsmaturein140145daysaftertransplanting.TSSisabout1213%.Averageyieldis3035t/ha.Suitable
forexportpurpose.

PusaMadhavi
IARI,NewDelhi
Bulbsmediumtolargeinsize,lightredincolourandflattishroundin shape.Keepingqualityisgood,plant
mature in 130145 days after transplanting. The average yield potential is 30 t/ha. Recommended for rabi
season.Suitableforexportpurpose.

ArkaNiketan
IIHR,Bangalore
Bulbsglobularwiththinneck,attractivecolour,46cminsize.TSSis1214%,pungencyanddrymatteralso
high. Good keeping quality. Plant mature in 145 days after transplanting. The average yield is 34 t/ha.
Though,itisrecommendedforrabiseasonmainly,itcanbegrowninlatekharifalsoinMaharashtra.

ArkaKalyan
IIHR,Bangalore
Bulbs globose shaped, 46 cm size with deep pink coloured outer scales and fleshy succulent concentric
internal scales. TSS is 1112%. Average keeping quality, matures in 100110 days after transplanting.
Averageyieldis33.5t/ha.

AgrifoundDarkRed
NHRDF,Nasik
Bulbs are dark red, globularin shape, 46 cmin sizewith tight skin,moderately pungent. TSSis 12 13%.
Plantmaturesin95110daysaftertransplanting.Yieldis3040t/ha.Averagekeepingquality.Recommended
forkharifseason.Suitableforexportpurpose.

AgrifoundLightRed
NHRDF,Nasik
Thebulbsareofglobularshapewithtightskin,lightredcolourand46cminsize.TSSis13%.Ithasgood
keepingquality.Plantsmaturein160165daysaftersowing.Averageyieldis3032.5t/ha.Recommendedfor
growing during rabi all over country. It can be grown in late kharif season also in Nasik district of
Maharashtra.

AkraPragati
IIHR,Bangalore.
The variety has attractive pink coloured, globe shaped bulbs of uniform size with thin neck pungency and
earlymaturity.Itmaturesin140145daysaftersowing.Ityieldsabout20t/ha.

N53
NIPHAD
Itisverypopularforgrowingduringkharifseasonalloverthecountry.Bulbsareflattishroundinshape,redin

colour,mediumtolargeinsizeandmildlypungent.TSSis1112%.Poorkeepingquality.Readyforharvest
in90100daysaftertransplanting.Averageyieldis25t/ha.Suitableforexportpurpose.

Baswant780
MPAU,Rahuri
Bulbsareflattishroundinshape,redincolour,mediumtolargeinsizeandmildlypungent.TSSis1112%.
Keeping quality is poor. Ready for harvest in 90100 days after transplanting. Average yield is 25 t/ha.
SuitableforkharifseasoninMaharashtra.

Udaipur101
RAU,Bikaner,Udiapur.
Bulbsaredeep red,flattish globular sweet with less pungency. TSS is 1214%.Plants mature in
150160daysfromsowing.Averageyieldis2030t/ha.Thevarietyisrecommendedforgrowingin
Rajasthanandotheradjoiningstatesduringrabiseason.
Yellowcolouredbulbs
EarlyGrano
IARI,NewDelhi
It produces globular bulbs of yellow colour withvery pungency, size 78 cm. Cropmatures in 95110 days.
TSSis67%,poorinstorage.Averageyieldis50060t/ha.Suitableforcultivationinplainsduringkharifand
rabiseasonsforsaladpurpose.

SpanishBrown
RS,IARI,Katrain,Kullu.
Longdayvariety.Thebulbsareattractivegrownincolourwithmildpungency.TSSis1314%.Cropmatures
in160180daysandreadyforharvestingduringAugustSeptember.Goodinstorageathills.Averageyieldis
2830t/ha.

PhuleSuvarna
MPKV,Rahuri(M.S.)
Suitable for year round cultivation. Yellow coloured variety suitable for export to Europe, Australia and
America. Bulbs size mediumbig. Less pungent, TSS is 11.5%, excellent keeping quality (46 months),
suitableforlatekharifandrabiseason.Averageyieldis24t/ha.

Whitecolouredbulbs
PusaWhiteRound
IARI,NewDelhi
Bulbsarewhiteincolourandroundishflatinshape.TSS1213%anddryingratio8:1.Cropmaturesin130
135daysaftertransplanting.Yieldis3032.5t/ha.Goodforstorage.

PusaWhiteFlat
IARI,NewDelhi
Bulbs are attractive white, flattish round with 1214% TSS and drying ratio 9:1. Plants mature in 130 135
daysaftertransplanting.Goodforstorage.

Udaipur102
RAU,BikanerCampus,Udaipur
Thebulbsarewhiteincolour,roundtoflatinshape withlowpercentageofsmallbulbs.Sizeis4.56.5cm.
Maturesin120daysaftertransplanting.TSSisabout12%.Averageyieldis3035t/ha.

PhuleSafed
MPKV,Rahuri.
Bulbglobularinshapewithwhitecolour,TSSis13%.Suitablefordehydration.Averageyieldis2530t/ha.

N25791
MPKV,Rahuri
Bulbsareglobularshapedand whitecolour.Goodkeepingquality.Suitableasarabicropinoniongrowing
regionsofMaharashtra.Averageyieldis25t/ha.

AgrifoundWhite
NHRDF,Nasik.
Thebulbsareglobularinshapewithtightskin,silveryattractivewhitecolourand46cmdiameter.TSSis14
15%,goodkeepingquality.Plantmaturesin160165daysaftersowing.Averageyieldis2025t/ha,suitable
forkharifandrabiseason.Goodvarietyfordehydrationpurposeandexportpurpose.

SmallCommonOnion
AgrifoundRose
NHRDF,Chickballapur,Karnataka.
Thevarietyispicklingtype,grownexclusivelyforexport.Bulbsareflattishroundinshape,deepscarletredin
colourand2.53.5cmsize.Itmaturesin95110daysfromsowing.TSSis1516%,Averageyieldis1920
t/ha.SuitableforkharifseasoninCuddapahdistrictandallthethreeseasoninKarnataka.

ArkaBindu
IIHR,Bangalore
Bulbsaredeeppinkcolour,smallsize(2.53.5cm)offlattishglobeshape.Bulbsfreefromprematurebolters
andsplitsandhavehighpungency.TSSis1416%.Plantmaturesin100daysfromsowing.Averageyieldis
25t/ha.Suitableforexportpurpose.

MultiplierOnion
Co1
TNAU,Coimbatore
Medium sized bulbets of red colour, 78 bulblets per plant. Average weight of bulblets 5560 g per clump.
Yield10t/ha.CultivatedthroughoutTamilNadu.Plantsmaturein90days.FairlypungentwithmediumTSS.

Co2
TNAU,Coimbatore
Moderatelybiggersizebulbletsofcrimsoncolour,79bulbletsperplant.Bulb weightis6065g perclump.
ShorterdurationthanCo1i.e.65days.Yieldis12t/ha,pungentwithhighTSS.CultivatedthroughoutTamil
Nadu.Goodforstorage.ModeratelyresistanttothripsandAlternariablight.

MDU1
TNAU,Coimbatore
Uniform and big size bulbs of bright red colour, adapted in southern districts of Tamil Nadu, weight 75 per
clump.1011bulbletsperplant.Yieldis15t/ha.Plantsmaturein6075days.Betterkeepingquality.Tolerant
tolodgingduetothickerectleaves.

AgrifoundRed
NHRDF,Dindigul
Average bulb size 7.15 cm and weight is 6567 g. Number of bulblets per clump 5.79 (average). Size of
bulbletsis3.94cm,andweightofsinglebulbletis8.85g.Thecolourislightred.TSSis1516%.Itmaturesin
6567daysafterplanting.Yieldis1820t/ha.