"Total Sulfur and Sulfate Accumulation in Onion Is Affected by Sulfur F" by Dean A. Kopsell, W. M. Randle et al.
 

Total Sulfur and Sulfate Accumulation in Onion Is Affected by Sulfur Fertility

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1999

Abstract

Because sulfate (SO4-2) accumulation patterns were unknown in onion, a study was conducted to determine how three onion varieties accumulated total bulb-sulfur (S) and bulb-SO4-2 in response to increasing S-fertility. Plants were greenhouse grown in pots containing washed river sand and fertilized with five different nutrient solutions possessing SO4-2 concentrations of 5, 25, 50, 75, or 150 mg liter1 until the plants were mature. Bulbs were harvested and analyzed for total-S, SO4-2, and pungency, as measured by enzymatically developed pyruvic acid (EPY). Bulbs accumulated significant levels of SO4-2 and S. The amount of bulb-SO4-2 and bulb-S increased linearly as S-fertility increased. The three varieties differed in total bulb-S, bulb-SO4-2, the percent of total bulb-S accumulated as SO4-2, and EPY. Bulb-SO4-2 ranged from 0.047 to 0.318 % dry mass in response to S-fertility level and variety, while total bulb-S ranged from 0.154 to 0.535% dry mass. Diverse S and SO4-2 accumulation and utilization patterns denoted complex S metabolism for onion in relation to flavor development.

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