Effect of different modes of pollination on yield parameters of Allium cepa L.

Investigations on the effect of different modes of pollination on yield parameters of Allium cepa L. showed that maximum seed were set per umbel under open-pollination + hand-pollination (1430 seeds) followed by open-pollination (1247 seeds), bee-pollination (1217 seeds) and hand-pollination (959.6 seeds). The least number of seed set (90) was observed in those plants from which the pollinators have been excluded by covering the umbels with the help of cage (Self-pollination). Per cent relative seed setting per umbel depicted a contribution of 29, 25, 25, 19 and 2 per cent with open-pollination + hand-pollination, open-pollination, beepollination, hand-pollination and self-pollination, respectively. Average seed weight was maximum (28.37 g/5 umbels) under hand-pollination + open-pollination. The number of germinated seeds showed more number of seeds (109 seeds) under hand-pollination + open-pollination. The average seedling length and root length were highest in bee pollination.