Onions in West Africa: state of research and future prospects

The evaluation of local ecotypes has promoted their exploitation in breeding schemes and the creation of lines resistant to thrips and to pink root rot. Promotion of the cultivar Violet de Galmi from Niger has helped to improve onion yields throughout the region. Three distinct groups of ecotypes of onions can be characterized by their yield, their earliness and their storage performance. Improved local varieties have been brought into commercial use. Several onion lines are being used for breeding varieties resistant to bolting and with good storage capability. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd