Effects of seed adjuvants on germination and development of onions

Abstract

Onion seeds (cultivar Caledon Globe), and soil into which the seedlings were planted, were treated with various adjuvants including fungicides, a seed disinfectant and a soil sterilant, as well as soil-applied growth stimulants to determine the effect of these on germination of seed, the growth of plants and the storage life of onions obtained. Three sets of germination trials were undertaken in petri dishes, and sets of seed was also sown in deep seed trays. A trial planting was made and the crop graded and stored. Seed was also sown in pots in soil obtained from a commercial undertaking where poor germination had been obtained. A portion of this soil was pasteurised and a portion inoculated with Fusarium spp. Growth of these seedlings was then followed by re-sowing in the same pots using seed of additional cultivars.