The rearing progress and varietal characteristics in new cultivar red bunching onion [Allium fistulosum] 'Hitachi-benikko'

In order to raise a red bunching onion, a thick leaf sheath with stabilized coloring, breeding has been carried out since 1984. 'Hitachi-benikko' was developed in 1997.It was selected from soft X-ray irradiated seeds in 1996, between crossing of ('Chouetsu' x 'A3-middle') x 'Akasyonai-strain'. The color of the leaf sheath in 'Hitachi-benikko' is stabilizes deep and the leaf sheath of 'Hitachi-benikko' is thick, because it has fewer tillers than 'Benizome'. If 'Hitachi-benikko' is planted in autumn, the growth and development increases, and the quality of the leaf shealth is greater than planting in spring. Standard amount of applied fertilizer is the best because a 20% reduction in amount of application slightly decreases the growth and development of 'Hitachi-benikko'. If the spacing between plants is 15 cm or 20 cm, the growth and development increases, and the quality of the leaf shealth is greater than 5 cm or 10 cm in 'Hitachi-benikko'