Sep 17, 2025

BASF introduces new short-day onion varieties

BASF’s vegetable seeds business, operating in the market under the Nunhems brand, has introduced three short-day onion varieties.

The varieties – Adhora, Rosefire and Isidea – address many of the needs of onion and sweet onion farmers in Georgia, Texas and California by providing superior quality and uniformity, according to a news release. 

More than a decade of research, strategy and commitment to farmers helped bring three distinct and unique varieties to market. 

“Our strategic planning and excellent breeding program has enabled us to deliver onion varieties that provide consistent quality and meet growers’ market needs effectively,” Kaitlyn O’Neal, regional crop lead for BASF/Nunhems USA, said in the release. “Adhora, Rosefire and Isidea are bred to enhance market potential through robust quality and uniformity.” 

• Adhora, a yellow sweet onion designed for Vidalia, Georgia and Texas, is characterized by its early maturity, excellent yield potential and distinctive sweet flavor. Its reliable granex shape and market quality make it a top choice for growers looking for competitive advantage. 
• Rosefire is a short-day red onion developed for California and Texas growers. It includes improved bolting tolerance and leaf health, maintaining high uniformity and enhancing market appeal with its consistent performance. 
• Isidea is a short-day white onion for farmers in Mexico and Texas with early maturity and robust disease resistance. By providing consistent bulb size and superior color, it aids farmers in reducing variability while offering high yield potential. 

The uniformity of each of the varieties means farmers may experience less waste. Adhora is proven to reduce waste to only 1% to 2% versus the industry average of 8% to 10%. All varieties offer high efficiency and market viability above other onion offerings, according to the release. 

BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division is part of the Germany-based BASF Group, which also works in chemicals, materials, industrial solutions and nutrition & care segments.