UGA Vidalia Onion Variety Trial 2021–2022 Crop Season

The University of Georgia (UGA) evaluates short day onion varieties to determine their performance characteristics in standardized growing practices. Variety entries for the trial are submitted by participating seed companies. These trials are conducted at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center (VOVRC) located in Lyons, GA.

Materials and Methods

There were 52 varieties entered into the 2021–2022 UGA onion variety trial. After seed entries were received, seedbeds were grown for transplant production by UGA staff at the research center. Preplant seedbed treatment included a 75 gallon per acre fumigation treatment of metam sodium for weed and disease suppression.

The seedbeds were planted on September 27, 2021, and the trial was transplanted on December 1, 2021. Upon harvest and grading, yield measurements were taken, and a sample of 10 jumbo onion bulbs per plot were sent to the UGA Crop Quality Laboratory in Athens, GA, to undergo flavor testing. Seedbed and trial fertility, as well as fungicide programs, are listed here.

Each plot was 20 ft long by 6 ft wide, containing 240 bulbs. Treatments were replicated four times, and each variety was harvested based on a committee decision of maturity. The transplant population for the trial was equivalent to 87,120 plants per acre.

Seedbed Fertility

• 400 lb/acre of 10-10-10 applied Sept. 23, 2021 (preplant incorporated)
• 200 lb/acre of 10-10-10 applied Oct. 12, 2021
• 200 lb/acre of 10-10-10 applied Oct. 21, 2021
• 200 lb/acre of 10-10-10 applied Nov. 9, 2021
• 100 lb/acre of calcium nitrate applied Nov. 9, 2021

Total pounds/acre applied: 115.5 (N) – 100 (P) – 100 (K) – 120 (S)

Seedbed Pesticides Applied:

Date	Product Applied
Aug. 11, 2021	Vapam HL (75 gallons/acre)
Sept. 23, 2021	Lorsban (1 quart/acre) preplant incorporated
Sept. 28, 2021	Dacthal (4 pints/acre)
Oct. 29, 2021	Roper (3 lb/acre) + Kocide 3000 (0.75 lb/acre) + Lifegard WG (2 oz/acre)
Nov. 9, 2021	Roper (3 lb/acre) + Kocide 3000 (0.75 lb/acre) + Lifegard WG (2 oz/acre)

Trial Fertility

• 150 lb/acre of 5-10-15 applied Dec. 15, 2021
• 300 lb/acre of 5-10-15 applied Jan. 6, 2022
• 500 lb/acre of 5-10-15 applied Jan. 27, 2022
• 215 lb/acre of calcium nitrate applied Feb. 16, 2022

Total pounds/acre applied: 80.825 (N) – 95 (P) – 142.5 (K) – 28.5 (S)

Note: Soil sample test results called for 125–150 lb/acre nitrogen, 60 lb/acre of phosphorus, 90 lb/acre of potash, and 40–60 lb/acre of sulfur. All fertilizer applications were applied with a First Products brand drop spreader. Two tons/acre of poultry litter was applied and incorporated to the fallow field in the late spring of 2021.

Fungicides Applied:

Date	Fungicide Applied
Jan. 7, 2022	Bravo (3 pints/acre) + Roper (3 lb/acre) + Kocide 3000 (0.75 lb/acre) + Merivon (11 oz/acre)
Jan. 14, 2022	Bravo (3 pint/acre) + Inspire Super (20 oz/acre)
Jan. 27, 2022	Bravo (3 pints/acre) + Pristine (18.5 oz/acre) + Magna-Bon (10 oz/acre)
Feb. 3, 2022	Quadris Top (14 oz/acre) + Kocide 3000 (1.5 lb/acre) + Roper (3 lb/acre)
Feb. 9, 2022	Omega 500 (1 pint/acre) + Miravis Prime (11.4 oz/acre)
Feb. 18, 2022	Bravo (3 pints/acre) + Kocide 3000 (1.5 lb/acre) + Merivon (11 oz/acre)
Feb. 23, 2022	Bravo (3 pints/acre) + Quadris Top (14 oz/acre) + Lifegard (2 oz/acre)
Mar. 4, 2022	Omega 500 (1 pint/acre) + Kocide 3000 (1.5 lb/acre)
Mar. 17, 2022	Miravis Prime (11.4 oz/acre) + Lifegard (2 oz/acre)

Insecticides Applied:

Date	Product Applied
Oct. 15, 2021	Lorsban (1 quart/acre)
Mar. 4, 2022	Radiant (10 oz/acre)
Mar. 17, 2022	Torac (24 oz/acre)

Herbicides Applied:

Date	Product Applied
Dec. 2, 2021	Goal 2XL (1 quart/acre) + Prowl (1 quart/acre)

Harvest Timing

Each variety was selected for harvest based upon signs of weak tops and/or adequately sized bulbs. A committee of Extension agents determined the harvest/pulling of varieties. Participating seed companies reserve the right to specify when or what characteristics determine the harvest of their variety. Varieties were clipped 7 days after their dig date. Growing degree days (GDDs) aid us in forecasting harvest maturity for onions. A base temperature of 50 °F is used in formulating GDDs accumulated.

Variety	Maturity	Planting date	Dig date	Days after transplanting to digging	GDD 50 °F base
Candy Ann, Candy Joy, Fast Track, Quick Start, DP 1407, Nunhems 1011	Very Early	Dec. 1, 2021	Mar. 29, 2022	118	888
Candy Kim, New Frontier, Early Sweet, Sakata 404, Dulciana, Vulkana, Vidora, OSYF12-7091, OSYF10-4021	Early	Dec. 1, 2021	Apr. 5, 2022	125	994
WI-129, Sweet Agent, Alba Blanca, Red Maiden, Pirate, Tania, Red Marvel, Red Sensation, Maragogi, 369, Timon, Sapelo, Rio Del Sol, Rio Dulce, Sofire, Plethora, Joelino, A1298	Medium	Dec. 1, 2021	Apr. 13, 2022	133	1103
Emmy 55843, Emy 55126, Emy 55455, Emy 55457, PRR, Sweet Magnolia, Century, Sweet Azalea, Alison, Lucille, White Phantom, GA Boy, White Gaspare, Superex, Mata Hari, Sivan	Med-Late	Dec. 1, 2021	Apr. 20, 2022	140	1209
Macon, Nunhems 5901, Chianti	Late	Dec. 1, 2021	Apr. 28, 2022	148	1358

Results and Discussion

The following tables show field weights, marketable yields, colossal yields, jumbo yields, medium yields, and cull yields. For additional information, please contact your Extension agent or the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center. We would like to thank the participating seed companies as well as the Vidalia Onion Committee for their support of this trial.

Variety Entries in the 2021–2022 Trial

Variety name	Company	Type	Maturity Class
Candy Ann*	Solar	Yellow Granex	Very Early
Candy Joy*	Solar	Yellow Granex	Very Early
Candy Kim*	Solar	Yellow Granex	Early
New Frontier*	Wannamaker	Yellow Granex	Early
WI-129*	Wannamaker	Yellow Granex	Medium
Fast Track*	Vilmorin-Mikado	Yellow Granex	Very Early
Quick Start*	Vilmorin-Mikado	Yellow Granex	Very Early
Emy 55126*	Emerald	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Emy 55455*	Emerald	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Emy 55457	Emerald	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Emy 55843	Emerald	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Sweet Agent*	Seminis	Yellow Granex	Medium
Century*	Seminis	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
PRR*	Seminis	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Sweet Azalea*	Seminis	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Sweet Magnolia*	Seminis	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Maragogi	Bejo	Yellow Granex	Medium
Pirate*	Bejo	Yellow Granex	Medium
Tania*	Bejo	Yellow Granex	Medium
369*	Bejo	Yellow Granex	Medium
Alison*	Bejo	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Macon*	Bejo	Yellow Granex	Late
DP 1407*	DP Seeds	Yellow Granex	Very Early
Early Sweet	DP Seeds	Yellow Granex	Early
Sapelo*	DP Seeds	Yellow Granex	Medium
Georgia Boy*	DP Seeds	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Superex*	American Takii	Yellow Granex	Med-Late
Nunhems 1011	Nunhems	Yellow Granex	Very Early
Vidora*	Nunhems	Yellow Granex	Early
Plethora*	Nunhems	Yellow Granex	Medium
Nunhems 5901	Nunhems	Yellow Granex	Late
404	Sakata	Yellow Granex	Early
A1298	Hazera	Yellow Granex	Medium
OSYF10-4021	Crookham	Yellow Granex	Early
OSYF12-7091	Crookham	Yellow Granex	Early
Timon	DP Seeds	Yellow Grano	Medium
Rio Del Sol	American Takii	Yellow Grano	Medium
Rio Dulce	American Takii	Yellow Grano	Medium
Dulciana	Nunhems	Yellow Grano	Early
Vulkana	Nunhems	Yellow Grano	Early
Joelino	Hazera	Yellow Grano	Medium
Alba Blanca	Seminis	White	Medium
White Phantom	DP Seeds	White	Med-Late
White Gaspare	DP Seeds	White	Med-Late
Sivan	Hazera	Pink/Red	Med-Late
Red Maiden	Seminis	Red	Medium
Red Marvel	Bejo	Red	Medium
Red Sensation	Bejo	Red	Medium
Lucille	DP Seeds	Red	Med-Late
Chianti	DP Seeds	Red	Late
Sofire	Nunhems	Red	Medium
Mata Hari	Nunhems	Red	Med-Late
*Official Vidalia approved variety for 2021–2022 season.

Tables

Table 1. Vidalia Onion Field Weight (40-lb Boxes Per Acre) Measured Before Grading.

Variety	40 lb boxes/acre
Macon	1804	a
Sweet Magnolia	1717	ab
Superex	1713	ab
Sweet Azalea	1686	abc
5901	1682	abc
Century	1645	abcd
Alison	1627	bcde
EMY 55455	1620	bcde
EMY 55457	1591	bcde
Sweet Agent	1579	bcde
EMY 55843	1579	bcde
WI-129	1545	cde
GA Boy	1531	cde
Mata Hari	1521	cdef
PRR	1483	defg
Pirate	1472	efgh
Rio Dulce	1463	efgh
EMY 55126	1457	efgh
Alba Blanca	1432	efgh
Sofire	1432	efgh
Chianti	1428	efgh
Tania	1403	efghi
Lucille	1400	efghi
Plethora	1392	efghi
New Frontier	1361	efghi
369	1361	efghij
A1928	1352	fghij
Vidora	1351	fghij
Sivan	1350	fghij
Maragogi	1336	ghij
Rio Del Sol	1280	hij
Joelino	1271	hijk
Candy Kim	1213	ijkl
404	1213	ijkl
Early Sweet	1210	ijkl
Red Marvel	1200	ijkl
Timon	1198	ijkl
White Gaspare	1196	ijkl
Sapelo	1191	ijkl
Red Sensation	1176	ijkl
Red Maiden	1175	jkl
OSYF10-4021	1145	jkl
Vulkana	1133	jklm
Dulciana	1132	jklm
Fast Track	1116	jklm
Candy Ann	1101	jklm
1407	1099	jklm
OSYF12-07091	1089	klm
Quick Start	1052	lm
Candy Joy	1049	lm
1011	929	mn
White Phantom	859	n
Note. Letters that are the same between varieties indicate that those varieties are not significantly different according to Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).

Table 2. Vidalia Onion Marketable Yield (40-lb Boxes Per Acre) Measured After Grading.

Variety	Total yield 40 lb boxes/acre
Macon	1740	a
5901	1627	ab
Superex	1620	ab
Sweet Magnolia	1604	ab
Sweet Azalea	1568	ab
EMY 55455	1538	b
Century	1528	b
EMY 55457	1511	bc
EMY 55843	1493	bcd
Alison	1488	bcd
Sweet Agent	1461	bcde
WI-129	1459	bcde
GA Boy	1454	bcde
Mata Hari	1451	bcde
Rio Dulce	1432	bcdef
Alba Blanca	1416	bcdef
Pirate	1411	bcdefg
EMY 55126	1395	bcdefg
Chianti	1388	bcdefg
Sofire	1368	bcdefg
PRR	1361	bcdefg
Plethora	1354	bcdefgh
Tania	1350	bcdefgh
369	1332	bcdefghi
Vidora	1311	defghi
Maragogi	1309	defghi
Lucille	1295	defghi
Sivan	1257	efghi
Rio Del Sol	1248	efghi
Joelino	1241	efghi
Timon	1193	fghij
New Frontier	1173	ghij
Red Sensation	1170	ghij
404	1148	hij
Red Maiden	1139	hij
White Gaspare	1121	hij
Red Marvel	1101	hijk
Candy Kim	1087	hijk
Vulkana	1079	hijk
Sapelo	1075	ijk
Dulciana	1075	ijk
Early Sweet	1069	ijk
Candy Ann	1048	ijk
Fast Track	1025	ijkl
OSYF10-4021	1021	ijkl
Candy Joy	987	jkl
1407	980	jkl
OSYF12-07091	964	jklm
Quick Start	914	klm
1011	830	lm
White Phantom	767	m
Note. Letters that are the same between varieties indicate that those varieties are not significantly different according to Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).

Table 3. Vidalia Onion Colossal Yield (40-lb Boxes Per Acre) Measured After Grading.

Variety	Total yield 40 lb boxes/acre
Macon	517	a
Sweet Magnolia	309	b
Sweet Azalea	297	bc
Sweet Agent	270	bcd
Century	218	bcde
Superex	216	bcde
EMY 55126	196	bcde
EMY 55455	195	bcde
5901	172	cdef
GA Boy	149	defg
WI-129	157	defg
EMY 55457	141	efgh
EMY 55843	123	efgh
Alison	116	efgh
PRR	100	efgh
Lucille	100	efgh
Chianti	95	efgh
Pirate	93	efgh
Vidora	91	efgh
Red Sensation	73	efgh
Sofire	64	efgh
Mata Hari	63	efgh
OSYF10-4021	59	efgh
Maragogi	54	efgh
Plethora	50	efgh
Sivan	48	efgh
New Frontier	45	efgh
Rio Dulce	41	efgh
404	41	efgh
Early Sweet	34	efgh
Candy Kim	27	efgh
Quick Start	27	efgh
Rio Del Sol	27	efgh
Timon	25	efgh
369	24	ef
Joelino	23	fgh
OSYF12-07091	23	gh
1407	20	gh
A1298	20	gh
Sapelo	18	gh
Red Marvel	17	gh
White Phantom	14	gh
Tania	9	gh
Candy Ann	7	h
Fast Track	7	h
Alba Blanca	5	h
Red Maiden	5	h
White Gaspare	5	h
Candy Joy	2	h
Dulciana	0	h
Vulkana	0	h
1011	0	h
Note. Letters that are the same between varieties indicate that those varieties are not significantly different according to Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).

Table 4. Vidalia Onion Jumbo Yield (40-lb Boxes Per Acre) Measured After Grading.

Variety	Total yield 40 lb boxes/acre
5901	1402	a
Superex	1388	ab
Rio Dulce	1359	ab
EMY 55843	1350	abc
Alba Blanca	1345	abc
Alison	1341	abc
EMY 55457	1329	abcd
Mata Hari	1327	abcd
Tania	1309	abcd
EMY 55455	1305	abcd
Century	1298	abcd
Pirate	1282	abcd
GA Boy	1266	abcde
WI-129	1259	abcde
Sweet Magnolia	1259	abcde
Plethora	1254	abcdef
Sweet Azalea	1252	abcdef
Sofire	1248	abcdef
Chianti	1223	abcdef
PRR	1216	abcdef
Maragogi	1212	abcdefg
369	1211	abcdefgh
A1298	1198	bcdefgh
Macon	1191	bcdefgh
EMY 55126	1143	cdefgh
Sweet Agent	1132	defgh
Lucille	1121	defgh
Vidora	1121	defgh
Joelino	1096	defghi
Rio Del Sol	1062	efghi
Sivan	1055	fghi
New Frontier	1039	fghi
Red Sensation	1014	fghij
Red Marvel	998	ghij
404	978	hij
Sapelo	966	hij
Red Maiden	957	hijk
Timon	954	hijkl
White Gaspare	942	hijkl
Candy Kim	939	hijkl
Vulkana	913	hijkl
Dulciana	912	hijkl
Fast Track	883	ijkl
Early Sweet	876	ijkl
Candy Ann	871	ijkl
OSYF10-4021	808	jkl
Candy Joy	785	mjkl
1407	774	mjkl
OSYF12-07091	762	mkl
Quick Start	726	ml
White Phantom	608	mn
1011	517	n
Note. Letters that are the same between varieties indicate that those varieties are not significantly different according to Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).

Table 5. Vidalia Onion Medium Yield (40-lb Boxes Per Acre) Measured After Grading.

Variety	Medium yield 40 lb boxes/acre
1011	313	a
Timon	216	b
Candy Joy	200	b
1407	186	b
OSYF12-07091	179	b
Red Maiden	177	bc
White Gaspare	175	bc
Vulkana	171	bc
Candy Ann	170	bc
Dulciana	163	bc
Quick Start	161	bc
Early Sweet	159	bc
Rio Del Sol	159	bc
Sivan	154	bc
OSYF10-4021	154	bc
White Phantom	145	bcd
Fast Track	136	bcde
404	129	bcde
Joelino	123	bcdef
Candy Kim	120	bcdef
A1298	104	bcdef
Vidora	100	bcdef
369	94	bcdefg
Sapelo	93	cdefg
New Frontier	88	cdefg
Red Marvel	84	cdefg
Red Sensation	84	cdefg
Lucille	75	defg
Chianti	70	defg
Alba Blanca	66	efg
Mata Hari	60	efg
Sweet Agent	59	efg
Sofire	57	efg
EMY 55126	56	efg
5901	52	efg
Plethora	50	efg
PRR	45	fg
WI-129	43	fg
Maragogi	43	fg
EMY 55457	41	fg
EMY 55455	39	fg
Sweet Magnolia	36	fg
Pirate	36	fg
Tania	32	fg
Macon	32	fg
Alison	32	fg
Rio Dulce	32	fg
GA Boy	29	fg
EMY 55843	20	g
Sweet Azalea	18	g
Superex	16	g
Century	12	g
Note. Letters that are the same between varieties indicate that those varieties are not significantly different according to Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).

Table 6. Vidalia Onion Cull Weights (40-lb Boxes Per Acre) Measured After Grading.

Variety	Cull weights 40 lb boxes/acre
New Frontier	188	a
Early Sweet	142	ab
Alison	142	ab
Quick Start	137	ab
Candy Kim	126	ab
OSYF12-07091	125	ab
OSYF10-4021	124	ab
PRR	121	ab
1407	119	ab
Sweet Agent	118	ab
Sweet Azalea	118	ab
Century	117	ab
Sweet Magnolia	113	ab
Sapelo	113	ab
Lucille	104	ab
1011	99	ab
Red Marvel	96	ab
Superex	93	ab
Sivan	93	ab
White Phantom	92	ab
Fast Track	91	ab
WI-129	86	ab
EMY 55455	82	ab
EMY 55457	81	ab
EMY 55843	78	ab
GA Boy	77	ab
White Gaspare	75	ab
Mata Hari	66	ab
404	65	ab
Macon	64	ab
Sofire	64	ab
EMY 55126	62	ab
Candy Joy	62	ab
Pirate	61	ab
Vulkana	57	ab
Dulciana	57	ab
Tania	56	ab
5901	56	ab
Candy Ann	53	ab
Chianti	40	ab
Vidora	40	ab
Red Maiden	36	ab
Plethora	34	ab
Joelino	34	ab
Rio Del Sol	32	ab
Rio Dulce	32	ab
A1298	29	ab
Maragogi	27	ab
369	25	ab
Alba Blanca	16	b
Timon	9	b
Red Sensation	8	b
Note. Letters that are the same between varieties indicate that those varieties are not significantly different according to Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05).