The bulb onion (Allium cepa L.), one of the most important vegetables worldwide, contains various functional compounds such as quercetin, allicin, and flavonoids. Red onions are rich in anthocyanins, a flavonoid that is a functional phytochemical with antioxidative and anticancer activities. In the previous study, two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) (qAC4.1 and qAC4.2) controlling the anthocyanin content were identified on chromosome 4 in an F₂ population derived from a cross between A. cepa ‘SP3B’ and ‘H6’. In this study, we developed single nucleotide polymorphism-based high-resolution melting (HRM) markers linked to QTLs qAC4.1 and qAC4.2. In addition, we constructed a new genetic linkage map of chromosome 4 using HRM markers and performed a QTL analysis. The QTL qAC4.1 was false, while qAC4.2 was a major QTL. The QTL peak position, logarithm of the odds value, and phenotypic variance explained of qAC4.2 was 53.6 cM, 7.45, and 22.51%, respectively. Four HRM markers (AC4.2_65336.1_1123-HRM, AC4.2_53230.3_454-HRM, AC4.2_11999.1_756-HRM, and AC4.2_14596.1_345-HRM) within the QTL region of qAC4.2 were developed in this study. The average anthocyanin content of B (homozygous paternal) genotypes was higher than that of A (homozygous maternal) and H (heterozygous) genotypes for all markers. Consequently, these markers will be useful for marker-assisted selection to develop onion cultivars with high anthocyanin content.

Red onion cultivar ‘Eumjinara’ with mild taste and early maturation was developed in 2013 by the Allium vegetable crop research team, National Institute Crop Science, Rural development Administration (RDA). ‘Eumjinara’ was originally selected from red onion breeding line, ‘IS1115’, It was preliminarily selected and designated ‘Mon21-31-3’ and advanced yield trial was performed from 2008 to 2009. Regional yield trial test was conducted in six regions from 2010 to 2012. Foliage morphology and leaf color were similar to those of a check cultivar, ‘Cheonjujeok’, but its shape was comparatively broad ovate. Foliage of ‘Eumjinara’ lodged seven days earlier than check cultivar on May 31 and the average bulb weight (234±49.1 g/bulb) was also higher than that of check cultivar. The new cultivar was relatively resistant to clod hardness and downy mildew infection in the field condition. Average yield of ‘Eumjinara’ in three–year the regional yield trials was 6,999 kg/10a. The total soluble solid contents and quercetin concentrations were 41.43 μg/g FW and 556.11 μg/g FW, respectively.

Male sterile line in onion is essential to the development of hybrid varieties. Onion male sterile line 'Wonye30005' was developed by Bioenergy Crop Research Center, NICS, RDA in South Korea in 2010. Lodging date of 'Wonye30005' is May 15^th and it belongs to the early maturing type in Korea. We found the male sterile plants in ‘Hamasodachi’, early maturing open-pollinated variety, and the male-sterile plants were cross-pollinated with male fertile line, ‘M330’, the population of F₁ showed 100% male sterility and the F1 plants were subsequently backcrossed for five generations. 'Wonye30005' was numbered as ‘MMS77’ in 2009 and the corresponding male parent is called MMSB77. 'Wonye30005' has round bulb shape (Bulb index, 97), cold resistance, and excellent storage quality and average bulb weight is 253g. Flowering date is May 25^th and flower bud size is 84 mm in full bloom. The number and length of flower stalks per bulb are 4 and 134 cm, respectively. 'Wonye30005' has been filed in Korea Seed and Variety Service in 2010. Overall, 'Wonye30005' is promising male sterile line for early maturing type hybrid seed production and breeding program. (no 4673)

The production of hybrid onion (A. cepa L.) seed is economically feasible using systems of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Therefore, male sterile (A-line) and maintainer (B-line) is essential to development of F1 hybrids. Male sterile line Wonye30006’ was developed by Bioenergy Crop Research Center, National Institute of Crop Science, RDA in South Korea in 2010. The first cross for introduction of CMS was conducted in 2000. Male-sterile parents which were selected from ‘F2-6’ breeding lines were pollinated with male fertile line ‘HMB’ (inbred line). The fertility test was conducted in 2002 and maintainer line ‘Mo2005’ was selected. The proportion of male-sterility plants of F1 population was 100% for subsequent four backcross generations. ‘Wonye30006’ was named ‘MMS66’ in 2009 and the corresponding male parent was called ‘MMSB66’. As an mid-late maturing type, lodging date is around May 25^th. ‘Wonye30006’ has round bulb and the average bulb weight is 184 g. Plant height and stem diameter are 56 cm and 12.4 mm, respectively. Number and the length of flower stalks per mother bulb are 122 cm and 6, respectively. Flowering date is June 4th and flower bud size is 81.2 mm. Wonye30006 will be used for development of F1 hybrids in breeding program. (no. 4674)