Formation of onion bulblets in vitro and viability during medium-term storage

The influences of light conditions, sucrose and ethylene on in vitro formation and storability of onion (Allium cepa L.) bulblets were studied in various accessions. Light, sucrose and ethylene influenced bulb formation. Storability was primarily enhanced by a high sucrose concentration (100 g/l) in the culture medium. The bulbing process was characterised by changes in bulbing ratio, leaf length, number of leaves and leaf development time. The viability of bulbs after 1 year of in vitro storage at low temperatures was determined by their growth reaction in subsequent subcultures, growth after transfer into the greenhouse and tetrazolium staining. Sufficient sprouting of bulblets previously stored at -1  °C demonstrated the possibility of storing them in a low-temperature, slow-growth culture.