Argentina: Tonada, the onion developed by INTA that promises to revolutionize agricultural production in Argentina.

This is Tonada INTA, a cultivar developed by INTA La Consulta, Mendoza, which stands out for its spherical bulbs, low pungency (mildness), and excellent adaptation to production areas such as Cuyo, southern Buenos Aires, and the valleys of the Río Negro. Primarily intended for fresh consumption, this  onion  has already been registered in the National Registry of Cultivar Ownership.

Thanks to the arduous work of genetic improvement, a team from INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology) in Mendoza developed Tonada INTA, a new onion variety that is now part of the National Seed Institute’s National Registry of Cultivar Ownership. This material offers a superior-quality alternative to the production sector, with characteristics that make it especially suitable for diversifying the domestic market and boosting exports.

“Tonada INTA is an intermediate-day onion, harvested between late December and early January. It is characterized by its low pungency, low soluble solids content, and spherical, bronze-colored bulbs with white flesh; its development took more than 14 years of work,” explained Claudio Galmarini, head of the onion breeding program at INTA La Consulta.

This new variety is optimally adapted to cultivation in various regions.

This new variety is optimally adapted to cultivation in diverse regions, including Cuyo, the south of Buenos Aires province, and the Middle and Lower Valleys of the Río Negro, significantly expanding the opportunities for its productive implementation.

“Tonada INTA comes from a recurring selection program that began with torrentina-type onions harvested in the Cuyo region, and the Navideña INTA cultivar, to which it most resembles in shape and behavior,” explained Héctor Fuligna, a specialist at INTA La Consulta.

This development is an integral part of the onion genetic improvement program that INTA carries out at its La Consulta Agricultural Experimental Station.

In Argentina, annual onion production reaches approximately 700,000 tons on approximately 16,000 hectares, positioning the country as one of the leading exporters of fresh and dehydrated onions in Latin America. It is worth noting that INTA is responsible for approximately 60% of the varieties currently planted in the country.

In Argentina, annual onion production is around 700,000 tons.

Currently, INTA is inviting seed companies interested in multiplying Tonada INTA to establish technological linkage agreements for its evaluation and future commercialization.

INTA Tonada has been successfully tested in experimental fields in Mendoza, San Juan, Buenos Aires, and Río Negro. Its distribution was subject to registration with INASE, a process that has now been completed.

"We have great expectations. Tonada INTA could fill an important niche in the production of Torrentina onions, which are harvested, depending on the region, from December to the end of January. The potential is estimated at around 1,500 hectares, and there is the possibility of it also being marketed in Chile and Uruguay," the breeders anticipated.

Among its main advantages over other varieties intended for fresh consumption, the INTA team highlights its higher yield, the spherical shape of the bulbs, and a better post-harvest life, characteristics that consolidate it as a highly competitive option in the market.