Agricultural management and environmental requirements for production of true shallot seeds – a review

Abstract

Shallots widely grow in very cold to moderate cold temperate climates at high elevations. Due to low seed production rate and the lack of seed producing cultivars, in most cases, shallots are vegetatively propagated by using bulb material. Cultivation of high-quality true shallot seeds (TSS) under suitable environmental conditions and agricultural management have several advantages over bulb materials, such as, smaller quantity of planting materials, easier transportation, long-term storing capacity, production of large and disease-free bulbs, and greater yield. Most studies focus on improving shallot bulb production and understanding the agricultural methods for improving yield and quality of TSS require more attention in the future. Hence, this review discusses the most efficient methods for production of TSS.