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Exploration of the potential of old onion landraces for organic farming (ZwiebÖL)
Project
Project code: 2819OE019, MRI-OG-08-627-1060 ZwiebÖl
Contract period: 01.03.2020
- 28.02.2023
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: crop production, biological diversity, vegetable production, genetic resources, ingredients, plant genetic resources, seed and planting material, secondary crop ingredients, sensor technology, organic farming
The common onion (Allium cepa L.) is the third most widely cultivated vegetable globally after tomato and watermelon and very popular for its unique taste and scent. In Germany, onions are also among the most frequently consumed vegetables. Onions contain high levels of phytochemicals (especially sulphur compounds), polyphenols and fructans which are associated with health-promoting effects. The largest part of consumed onions is produced conventionally. For this, almost exclusively a limited number of infertile hybrid varieties is used. These practices restrict the diversity of cultivars and are a threat to biodiversity in general. As with other vegetables, the demand for organically grown onions is increasing. Hybrid varieties are considered as not suitable for organic farming: On the one hand, they are not adapted to the conditions of organic farming; on the other hand, hybrids are generally undesired in organic farming or, as in case of the CMS hybrids, even not allowed. The availability of a broad range of open-pollinated onion cultivars which are cultivable under the specific conditions of organic farming in different regions is therefore essential to promote organic onion production. Against this background, the old European onion landraces which are characterised by a broad genetic diversity and thus cover a range of valuable agronomic traits moved again towards the centre of interest in recent years. Moreover, landraces exhibit a diverse and cultivar-specific metabolite profile which forms the basis for attractive sensory properties and a usage for bioeconomic applications. At the same time, landraces promise to be more pursuant to the different expectations of increasingly demanding customers who prefer varieties with either mild and sweet or a rather pungent taste. The Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables of the Max Rubner-Institut and the University of Hohenheim (Institute of Crop Science, Quality of Plant Products, Prof. C. Zörb) have recently performed a pilot study to investigate the suitability of onion landraces for the use in organic farming as well as the storability of organically produced onion bulbs [1-2]. The ZwiebÖL project aims to continue and broaden these preliminary investigations by means of sixth work packages (WP). Firstly, a survey of the current state of onion cultivation in Germany will be performed by registering the spectrum of onion varieties currently used in conventional and organic farming in different growing regions (WP1). Next, field trials in two consecutive years on two different growing sites will be performed with 4-6 landraces and hybrid cultivars under organic farming conditions to determine the agronomic and quality parameters as well as sensory attributes of the investigated varieties in a comparative manner (WP2). Storability of the bulbs under cold storage conditions will be investigated in WP3. Fresh as well as stored onion bulbs will then be analysed comprehensively to determine the profiles of volatile and non-volatile onion constituent in the fresh state and after cold storage and to describe thus differences between landraces and hybrids (WP4/5). In collaboration with actors like the Association German Onion and the organic farming associations, a knowledge transfer will be organised to put the acquired knowledge into practice (WP6).
[1] Romo Pérez, M. L., et al. (2018). Quality aspects in open-pollinated onion varieties from Western Europe. Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality 91: 69–78.2] Romo-Pérez, M. L., et al. (2020). "Metabolite profiling of onion landraces and the cold storage effect." Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 146: 428-437.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Vegetable Gardening
- Genetic Resources
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
Funding programme
Excutive institution
MRI - Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables (MRI-OG)
