Effects of pre-harvest foliage sprays of maleic hydrzide on the cold-storage behaviour of onions.

Onion bulbs, the tops of which had been sprayed before harvest with 200, 400 and
600 p.p.m. of maleic hydrazide solution, together with a control, were stored at two temperature
ranges, viz. 59-87o F, R.H. 45-78% ; and 32-35o F, R.H. 80-90% . A noteworthy
feature brought out by the data on physiological losses in weight, rooting, sprouting and
respiration rates was that maleic hydrazide produces more pronounced inhibitory effects
at the higher temperature range than at the lower one. Pre-harvest foliage sprays of
maleic hydrazide reduced the wastage due to fungus diseases in onion bulbs stored at both the
temperature ranges investigated, although the effect was greater in the lower range.