Methods of predicting the long-term storage of onions

SummaryCertain biochemical and physiological factors have been shown to be related to the time that onions can be kept in long-term cold storage. The amounts of fructose in freshly harvested onions were directly related to the storage duration of the crop, and the weights of their buds (innermost leaf initials and scales) at harvest were inversely related to their storage potential. The activity of alkaline invertase present in the stored bulbs measured in February was directly related to their storage longevity. It was possible from regression lines to predict the storage potential of cv Robusta onions. The inverse relationship of bud weights to storage longevity is less precise for prediction than the direct relationship of the biochemical parameters. Measurements of fructose at harvest and, if necessary, the alkaline invertase in February would yield confirmatory information of the duration of crop storage.