SEED PRODUCTION OF SELECTED ONION CULTIVARS IN SANTA-CATARINA STATE, BRAZIL

Purification and selection of 4 onion cultivars have been carried out for seed production, with natural vernalization, from 1977/78 to 1985/86, in highlands of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Onion seeds yielded between 363 and 506 kg/ha with 89 to 93% of germination rate; relation of seeds to bulbs of 11,1 to 13,8%; 2,1 to 2,9 g of seeds/inflorescence; 4,4 to 5,7 of inflorescences/bulb; medium planting date between 21 and 28 July, and beginning harvest between 6 to 9 January. The results indicate that the highlands of Santa Catarina present high potential for onion seed production in Southern Brazil, without artificial vernalization.