Creation and use of the gene pool of onion plants in Siberia

The main results of research on onion crops in the laboratory of seed selection and technology of cultivation of vegetable cultures of SibNIIRS for a 40-year period are given. Collection, study and reproduction of local and varieties from other regions made it possible to create an extensive gene pool of onion plants for various breeding and direct use in production. More than 1500 samples belonging to 52 species of the genus Allium have been studied. The following species are most developed in the selection plan: shallots, shnitt, batoon, slizun, fragrant, Altai. The advantages of cultivation of shallots onions in comparison with onion are shown. The main methods of selection of onion cultures are presented in the historical section. As a result of selection, polycross and interspecific hybridization (A. ascalonicum x A. cepa), 15 sorts of shallots of different maturation period have been created and entered into the State Register. The most productive were the hybrid populations, where the sorts of shallots were used as maternal forms: the bulb weight increased, the number of them in the nest decreased, and they were more evenly sized. The advantage of the landing of the shallows in the nursery of competitive variety testing is shown. A clonal nursery of rhizome perennial onions was created in 5 species, numbering 330 samples (shnitt, Altai, slizun, baton, fragrant). Interest for selection on a set of economic features is 19 (productivity of seeds and green leaves, intensity of regrowth after cut, qualitative composition of leaves, resistance to diseases).