The South Central Coast’s Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (ASISOV) has successfully conducted research on purple onion seeds that can replace bulbs, resulting in increased productivity and reduced labor costs. Based in Quy Nhon City, ASISOV has developed a method for propagating purple onions using local varieties from Ninh Thuan and Quang Ngai with seeds. These regions are renowned for their purple onion cultivation but the cost and labor of purchasing seeds have been a challenge for farmers.
The institute’s research focuses on using local varieties of purple onions, rather than importing higher cost and risk varieties. ASISOV has developed two main methods for propagating purple onions with seeds: using open-pollinated (OP) seeds and F1 hybrid seeds. The process involves selecting and revitalizing local purple onion lines over several generations, followed by natural pollination and careful care in greenhouse conditions.
Plants grown from seeds have numerous benefits compared to traditional bulb propagation. Dr. Vu Van Khue, Deputy Director of ASISOV, highlights that plants grown from seeds are healthier, have higher survival rates, produce larger onions, and exhibit better resistance to harsh conditions. The technology developed by ASISOV has shown promising results, with OP purple onion varieties yielding 25 tons per hectare and F1 hybrid varieties yielding 30 tons per hectare.
In addition to increased productivity, using seeds in purple onion farming significantly reduces input costs. Traditional bulb propagation requires large quantities of seeds while seed only requires a fraction of the amount. The compact nature of seeds also makes transportation and storage more efficient. Moreover, seeds produced in controlled conditions are cleaner and produce more uniform and larger onions.
After successful research and testing, ASISOV plans to mass-produce purple onion seeds using the new technology starting in 2025. The institute intends to transfer this technology to farmers through seed provision methods such as seedlings or bulbs provision methods. By adopting this innovative approach, ASISOV aims to improve economic efficiency for farmers
