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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Nov 23, 2012 17:18:39 GMT -5
I am starting this thread to document my attempts to breed new cultivars of Egyptian Onions.
Genetic analysis has shown Egyptian Onions to be an inter-species hybrid between bunching onions and common bulbing onions, [Allium fistulosum X Allium Cepa].
Last spring I planted seeds for as many cultivars of A. fistulosum and A. cepa as I could get my hands on. Today I re-planted the bulbs as a mixed population. I intend to let them go to seed and then to plant the seeds and screen for anything that resembles Egyptian onions.
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Post by richardw on Nov 24, 2012 0:02:34 GMT -5
Good luck Joseph  |
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Post by templeton on Nov 24, 2012 6:58:50 GMT -5
Joseph
Do you have a particular objective? Are you dissatisfied with the currently available material?
I've been de-bulbiling my topset onions which are producing flowers at the moment - I think I posted this on another thread. I'll try and get some pics tomorrow. They are growing in close proximity to my bunching onions which are also madly flowering, and both are getting visits from honeybees. I've even spotted one bee moving between them, so here's hoping.
My objective is purely speculative - I wonder what might turn up, and also to see if i can get some seeds out of the topsets, and then see if they shed virus load, and produce me some bulbs. Mine are great, supplying green onions throughout the year except when they flower and get tough. Never satisfied, are we? ;D
T
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Nov 24, 2012 11:40:17 GMT -5
My current Egyptian Onions are pretty much perfect for my garden. They are winter hardy, and produce the first spring harvest among all species, and continue producing edible food until snow cover arrives in the fall. They are not visibly bothered by any pest or disease. They are easy to propagate. They sell very well as scallions at the farmer's market. The only negative against them is that they are clones. (I might have up to three cultivars, but they are still clones.)
I am intensely curious. I love a good challenge, and I love genetic diversity. I love the prestige that comes from writing about my breeding projects, and I really love sharing new landrace varieties.
Templeton: Looking forward to reading about the results of your Egyptian Onion flowering experiment... Last year when I tried the same thing, there was not any other Allium pollen available, and I didn't find any seeds. This time, I am doing my experiment beside the mother Egyptian Onion patch, hoping that the flowering times will overlap, and that some back-crossing will occur. If Egyptian Onions are male-sterile, but female fertile, then a nearby pollen donor may do the job.
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Post by templeton on Nov 24, 2012 17:20:27 GMT -5
a pic of my topset flowers - they look like they have both working parts. Anyway, in the background are the bunchers, which are setting heaps of seed - I can't believe how quickly they develop once pollinated. This is just a stroke of luck really, I didn't plan to do any crosses, just shoved all the alliums in one big bed for management purposes, and presto they flower together - couldn't let the opportunity pass. Even got some generic leeks just bursting at the moment a few feet away. If seed turns up, I'll send you some. T Attachments:
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Post by richardw on Nov 25, 2012 4:18:26 GMT -5
Is that the flower of the Egyptian Onion T??
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Post by templeton on Nov 25, 2012 4:50:26 GMT -5
Yep
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Post by richardw on Nov 25, 2012 13:26:34 GMT -5
Oh ok, i post a photo of a flower head on mine once they appear in a few weeks because i'm sure they dont have any of those ' working parts'.
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Post by templeton on Nov 25, 2012 15:20:09 GMT -5
I'll start another thread and leave this for J to document his stuff.
T
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