OUTSTANDING QUALITIES

• VIGOROUS PLANTS
• WIDELY ADAPTED – FLEXIBLE SOWING PERIOD
•  SUPERIOR BULB QUALITIES
• ATTRACTIVE GOLDEN BROWN TUNIC
•  FIRM BULBS WITH MULTIPLE TOUGH TUNICS LEADS TO AN EXCELLENT STORABILITY

 Ayoba is an early to mid-maturing, early intermediate day brown onion variety.  Ayoba produces very uniform, globe shaped bulbs with small basal plates and medium sized necks.  Ayoba’shigh quality bulbs are firm and each bulb has multiple tough tunics which results in an excellent skin retention, contributing to Ayoba’s exceptional and well-known storage ability.  Furthermore, the tunics are characterised by a strikingly beautiful tan to golden brown colour.  The storage potential along with tough and attractive tunics are advantageous for later marketing of the bulbs.  Ayoba has a vigorous growth habit, well developed root system and has high resistance to Fusarium basal plate rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae), which altogether contributes to the variety’s wide adaptability in the field.  Ayoba is suitable for direct seeding as well as seedling transplants.

SPECIAL VARIETAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Contact a Sakata area representative for a local onion sowing guide.

DESCRIPTION

CHARACTERISTIC*: AYOBA
KIND AND TYPE: F1 hybrid, early season, intermediate day brown onion (Allium cepa L.)
MATURITY: Early to medium, 21 to 25 weeks after direct seeding. Maturity depends on sowing date, production location and seasonal variations (photoperiod and temperature).
BULB SHAPE: Globe to high globe
BULB SIZE: Medium to large-medium (50 – 80 mm) – bulb size is influenced by the plant population
BULB UNIFORMITY (SHAPE AND SIZE): Very good
BULB NECK SIZE AND QUALITIES: Medium to small (thin) and neat
BULB FIRMNESS: Excellent: very firm
BULB TUNIC (SKIN/SCALE LEAF) COLOUR: Excellent colour: tan to straw/golden brown
TUNIC RETENTION AND QUALITY: Excellent, tough and tight – mutiple outer scale leaves reduce bruises during transportation
STORABILITY/SHELF LIFE: Excellent, long (4 to 5 months) – enables producers to market bulbs over an extended period. Storage potential depends on the storage conditions (temperature and relative humidity)
FLESH COLOUR: White
TASTE: Pungent
LEAF/FOLIAGE HEALTH AND GROWTH HABIT: Moderate and flagging to upright
LEAF/FOLIAGE COLOUR: Green
BOLTING REACTION: Slow – Good tolerance (depends on/related to the sowing date)
DISEASE RESISTANCE (SCIENTIFIC): High resistance: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cepae (Foc)
GROWING AREA: Grown between 27 – 35° latitude. Suitable for the Free State, Northern Cape, Western Cape and Koue Bokkeveld. Refer to the sowing guide for the recommended sowing period in different production areas.
AVERAGE SEED COUNT: 220 – 320 seeds per gram or 220 000 – 320 000 seeds per kilogram
SUGGESTED SOWING DENSITY: Density depends on the size requirement of the bulbs and the target market/uses of the final product, however we suggest: Final population of 750 000 – 950 000 plants per hectare
SEED REQUIREMENT PER HECTARE: Direct sowing: 900 000 to 1 200 000 seeds per hectare / 3.5 – 4.0 kg seed per hectare
Transplant: 5.0 – 5.5 kg seed per hectare
MARKET USES: Bunched, pre-pack and processing
SPECIAL FEATURES, BENEFITS AND REMARKS: Very wide and flexible sowing window. Earliest maturity in class with good bolting resistance and excellent storability. Allow earlier market penetration with high quality bulbs. Seed is available in a range of different seed sizes.