Quality and storage of onion seed as influenced by maturity and drying of umbels

The umbels of onion cultivar Nasik Red were harvested in June at four maturity stages viz M1: completely dry umbels, M2: partially dry umbels, M3: physiologically mature umbels and M4: physiologically mature umbels+curing and two conditions of umbel drying viz D1: sun drying and D2: shade drying at Seed Research Farm of Seed Technology and Production Centre, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni 173230 Solan, HP. From the present studies it was concluded that umbels harvested at completely mature stage and then further dried in sun before threshing gave the maximum germination and seed vigour in terms of shoot length, root length, seedling fresh and dry weight and 1,000 seed weight after three months in September ie at the time of sowing and after fifteen months ie at the time of next year's sowing when stored in polypet jars kept under ambient conditions.