Apogei

The onion variety «Apogey» was bred at the Krasnodar Research Institute of Vegetable and Potato Farming and is intended for growing both as a single-year crop from seeds and as a two-year crop from sets. The bulbs of this variety have a round shape, dense structure, and a weight ranging from 35 to 120 grams depending on growing conditions. The color of dry scales varies from brown-bronze, while juicy ones are white with a greenish tint. The onion has a sharp taste, however, it may become bitter under moisture deficiency. Leaves are dark green with a strong waxy coating, which contributes to the plant's resilience to unfavorable conditions. «Apogey» is distinguished by its early maturity and high yield, which depends on the planting method and region of cultivation. The dry substance content in bulbs is 14.2–15.7%, total sugar is 9.5–11.1%, and ascorbic acid is 5.3–9.5 mg per 100 g of raw material. Yield when growing from seeds in the North Caucasus region reaches 31–56 c/ha, which corresponds to the standards of leading varieties. Bulb maturity before harvest is 59–74%, and after after-ripening is 77–94%, which ensures good storability of the product. The variety is valued for the strength of the protective scales, of which there are 3 to 5, and the thickness of juicy scales of about 4 mm. Bulbs exhibit high resistance to neck rot, which increases their preservation during storage and transportation. The height of the scapes reaches 80–90 cm, and the number of primordia is predominantly two. «Apogey» is versatile in use and suitable for cultivation using industrial technology, which makes it an attractive choice for commercial growing.