Abstract:
The development of high yielding cluster onion varieties is required to increase annual production
while saving foreign exchange by minimizing importation. The experiment was conducted at
Grain Legume and Oil Crop Research and Development Centre, Angunakolapelessa. Nine
germplasm were employed with the recurrent parent selection procedure in a crossbreeding
program. Selection was based on adaptation, self-pollination, and purification. Station trials were
conducted in 2017 Yala and 2017/18 Maha seasons. Significantly high yields as 12.1t/ha (2017
Yala), 17.5t/ha (2017/18 Maha) were recorded in CLO-2015/1 and 11.4t/ha (2017 Yala),
18.3t/ha (2017/18 Maha) in CLO-2015/2. National Coordinated Varietal Test (NCVT) was
conducted during 2018/19 Maha and 2019 Yala seasons. In 2018/19 Maha CLO-2015/1 line
showed adaptability rank 1, according to the ranking and variance component methods. In 2019
Yala the CLO-2015/2 line showed adaptability rank 1 according to the above both analysis
methods. Variety Adaptability Trials (VAT) was conducted 2019/20 Maha and 2020 Yala two
seasons. According to the variance component method CLO-2015/2 showed adaptability rank 1
while CLO-2015/1 showed adaptability rank 2. Quality evaluation was done for two promising
lines with three check varieties. Significantly higher pungency was recorded in CLO-2015/2 (17.7
μmol pyruvate/ ml) with TSS 20.8%. Significantly lower pH value (4.89) was recorded in
promising line CLO-2015/2. Considering the above results promising line CLO-2015/2 was
released with the name of “ANKCLO 1” at the variety releasing committee meeting held at the
Department of Agriculture in 2021.
