Review of two decades of progress in the development of successful drip irrigation for onions.

The irrigation needs of long day onion (Allium cepa) have been extensively studied at Ontario, Oregon, over the past 22 years. Drip irrigation has compared favorably with furrow and sprinkler irrigation systems. Onions were found to have very narrow soil moisture requirements. Drier soil than optima led to yield loss and wetter soil promoted bulb decomposition. Short term water stress at the three- to six-leaf stages of plant growth promoted multiple centers in long day onion varieties. Irrigation was successfully scheduled using soil water tension or evapotranspiration. Nitrogen fertilization and plant populations have been optimized. Drip system design must carefully consider the hydraulic conductivity of the soil in the placement of tape and onion rows since the soil moisture must wick over from the drip tape to the onion plant. The drip irrigation system design uniformity, operation, and maintenance are essential given onion?s low tolerance to water stress

Owyhee Russet: AVariety with High Yields of U.S. No. 1 Tubers, Excellent Processing Quality, and Moderate Resistance to Fusarium Dry Rot (\u3ci\u3eFusarium solani var. coeruleum\u3c/i\u3e)

Owyhee Russet (AO96160-3) originated from a cross between A89384-10 and A89512-3 in 1996. Owyhee Russet was released in 2009 by Oregon State University, in cooperation with the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho and Washington and is a product of the Northwest Potato Variety (Tri-State) Development Program. Owyhee Russet has semi-erect medium sized vines with medium to late maturity. The tubers are long, with a tan skin, medium russeting, and attractive tuber appearance for fresh market. Owyhee Russet was evaluated in several locations across the Northwest for more than 15 years. Total yield of Owyhee Russet is similar to that of Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet but significantly higher than Russet Norkotah. U.S. No.1 tuber yield of Owyhee Russet is significantly higher than Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah, resulting in substantially higher marketable yield. Owyhee Russet tubers have significantly higher specific gravity than Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah. Fry color following tuber storage at 4°C and 9°C is significantly lighter for Owyhee Russet than the comparison varieties. Relative strengths include high yield with a very high proportion of U.S. No.1 tubers, good tuber appearance and excellent processing quality, resistance to cold sweetening, common scab and Fusarium dry rot. Weaknesses include susceptibility to foliar and tuber late blight and susceptibility to metribuzin herbicide injury. Allelic patterns of five SSR markers have shown that Owyhee Russet has a distinctive DNA genetic fingerprint from its russet type reference varieties which are Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank, and Russet Norkotah

Owyhee Russet: A Variety with High Yields of U.S. No. 1 Tubers, Excellent Processing Quality, and Moderate Resistance to Fusarium Dry Rot (Fusarium solani var. coeruleum)

Owyhee Russet (AO96160-3) originated from a cross between A89384-10 and A89512-3 in 1996. Owyhee Russet was released in 2009 by Oregon State University, in cooperation with the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho and Washington and is a product of the Northwest Potato Variety (Tri-State) Development Program. Owyhee Russet has semi-erect medium sized vines with medium to late maturity. The tubers are long, with a tan skin, medium russeting, and attractive tuber appearance for fresh market. Owyhee Russet was evaluated in several locations across the Northwest for more than 15 years. Total yield of Owyhee Russet is similar to that of Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet but significantly higher than Russet Norkotah. U.S. No.1 tuber yield of Owyhee Russet is significantly higher than Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah, resulting in substantially higher marketable yield. Owyhee Russet tubers have significantly higher specific gravity than Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah. Fry color following tuber storage at 4°C and 9°C is significantly lighter for Owyhee Russet than the comparison varieties. Relative strengths include high yield with a very high proportion of U.S. No.1 tubers, good tuber appearance and excellent processing quality, resistance to cold sweetening, common scab and Fusarium dry rot. Weaknesses include susceptibility to foliar and tuber late blight and susceptibility to metribuzin herbicide injury. Allelic patterns of five SSR markers have shown that Owyhee Russet has a distinctive DNA genetic fingerprint from its russet type reference varieties which are Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank, and Russet Norkotah.Keywords: Breeding, Processing, Common scab resistance, Fusarium dry rot resistance, Variety, Solanum tuberosu

Onion response to phosphorus application strategies and in-season nutrient supplementation.

Germinating onion seed and new onion seedlings have difficulty obtaining adequate phosphorus (P) for ideal early growth. Low soil temperatures in Oregon and Idaho reduce soil P availability early in the growing season. In addition, soil fumigation to improve onion health can have negative effects, reducing mycorrhizal fungi which enhance nutrient absorption by onion roots. At-planting P fertilization could enhance early season growth. Nutrient supplementation through the drip irrigation system during the season could also result in yield enhancements. This trial tested P application at planting and nutrient supplementation during the season with two varieties and two plant populations.bitstream/item/199074/1/ONION-RESPONSE-TO-PHOSPHORUS-APPLICATION-STRATEGIES-AND-IN-SEASON-NUTRIENT-SUPPLEMENTATION.pd

Onion response to irrigation criteria for two varieties at two plant populations.

Past research at the Malheur Experiment Station demonstrated the sensitivity of onion yield and grade to soil water tension (SWT) (Shock et al. 2000). The ideal SWT for initiating irrigations for drip-irrigated onion was determined to be dose to 20 cb. ln many other countries onions are grown at higher plant populations than in the Treasure Valley. A higher plant population might require a different SWT. This trial tested four SWTs with two varieties and two plant populations .bitstream/item/199071/1/ONION-RESPONSE-TO-IRRIGATION-CRITERIA-FOR-TWO-VARIETIES-AT-TWO-PLANT-POPULATIONS.pd

Onion response to late-season water stress at two plant populations.

Split onion bulbs is a phenomenon where the bottom of the bulb splits open. Split bulbs can reduce onion crop marketable yields. Anecdotal evidence suggests that late-season irrigation interruptions can cause bulb splitting. Past research at the Malheur Experiment Station demonstrated the sensitivity of onion yield and grade to soil water tension (SWT) (Shock et al. 2000a). ln many other countries onions are grown at higher plant populations than in the Treasure Valley. This trial tested the effect of late-season irrigation interruption on bulb splitting at two plant populations with two varieties.bitstream/item/199073/1/ONION-RESPONSE-TO-LATE-SEASON-WATER-STRESS-AT-TWO-PLANT-POPULATIONS.pd

Nutrient Management for Sweet Spanish Onions in the Pacific Northwest

This guide to nutrient management strategies focuses on onion production in the Treasure Valley and the Columbia Basin, irrigated by water from the Columbia and Snake rivers. The authors use extensive data collected over years of cropping seasons from many different onion varieties grown in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to assist growers in producing a high-quality crop while protecting the environment from excess nutrients. 28 pages

Purple Pelisse: A Specialty 'Fingerling' Potato with Purple Skin and Flesh and Medium Specific Gravity

Purple Pelisse is a specialty ‘fingerling’ potato with purple skin and dark purple flesh. It has medium maturity and sets a large number of smooth, small, fingerling-shaped tubers. The tubers have medium specific gravity and high levels of antioxidants. This potato variety is mainly intended for the fresh market but it can also be used for processing; chips made from Purple Pelisse tubers retain their bright purple color and have a pleasant taste. Purple Pelisse is moderately resistant to common scab and potato virus Y and susceptible to most of the other common potato diseases. Purple Pelisse resulted from a cross between NDOP5847-1 and bulked pollen of red-fleshed potatoes. It was first selected from seedling tubers planted and grown at Madras, Oregon in 2001 and was subsequently evaluated for six additional years in public and industry trials throughout the western U.S, including Western Regional Red/Specialty Trials in 2006 and 2007. Purple Pelisse was officially released as a variety in 2009 by the Pacific Northwest (Tri-State) Potato Variety Development Program.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by the Potato Association of America and published by Springer. It can be found at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1099-209x/Keywords: Gourmet, Breeding, Variety, Solanum tuberosum, Chipping quality, Antioxidant