Hybrid onion variety NUN 07206 ON

Abstract

The invention provides a new and distinct hybrid variety of onion, NUN 7206 ON. The invention also provides for parts of such plants, such as bulbs. The invention further provides for methods of making and using hybrid variety NUN 7206 ON.

Claims

1. A whole plant, plant part, or seed of onion variety NUN 7206 ON, wherein a representative sample of said seed has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 42143.

2. The plant part of claim 1, wherein said plant part is a leaf, pollen, an ovule, a fruit, a scion, a cutting, flower, a bulb, a bulblet, a scale, or a part of any of these or a cell.

3. A maternal tissue of a seed grown on the plant of claim 1.

4. A whole onion plant which does not differ from the plant of claim 1 in any physiological or morphological characteristic when measured at the 5% significance level and when grown under the same conditions, or a part of said plant.

5. A tissue or cell culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim 1.

6. The tissue or cell culture according to claim 5, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, hypocotyl, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, petiole, flower, fruit, bulbs, bulblets, scales, seed, stem or stalks.

7. A whole onion plant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of claim 5, wherein the plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of NUN 7206 ON, wherein a representative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 42143, when determined at the 5% significance level, or a part of said plant.

8. A method for producing the plant of claim 1, or a part thereof, said method comprising vegetative propagation of a part of the plant of claim 1, wherein said part is a cell culture, or a tissue culture.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said vegetative propagation comprises regenerating a whole plant from a part of NUN 7206 ON, wherein a representative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 42143.

10. A vegetative propagated plant, or a part thereof, wherein the plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of claim 1 when grown under the same conditions determined at the 5% significance level.

11. A method of producing an onion plant, said method comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with a second onion plant one time, and selecting progeny from said crossing for a desired phenotype and/or genotype and optionally allowing the progeny to form seed.

12. A food or feed product comprising the plant part of claim 2.

13. A method of producing double haploid plants comprising the step of making double haploid cells from haploid cells from the plant of claim 1 or a seed of claim 1.

14. A container comprising a whole plant, plant part, or seed of claim 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) The present invention relates to a Allium cepa variety, referred to as NUN 7206 ON, whichwhen compared to check variety Calibrahas a 1) average bulb diameter; 2) average plant height; 3) average leaf length; 4) typical bulb scale retention; 5) typical leaf bloom; 6) average column height; 7) average column height; 8) average scape length; 9) average scape diameter; and 10) average bulb weight. Also encompassed by the present invention are progeny plants having all but 1, 2, or 3 of the morphological and/ physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON and methods of producing plants in accordance with the present invention.

(2) A onion plant of NUN 7206 ON differs from the most similar reference variety Calibra in one or more characteristics (referred herein to as distinguishing characteristics or distinguishing morphological and/or physiological characteristics (or essential physiological and/or morphological characteristics) selected from: 1) average bulb diameter; 2) average plant height; 3) average leaf length; 4) typical bulb scale retention; 5) typical leaf bloom; 6) average column height; 7) average column height; 8) average scape length; 9) average scape diameter; and 10) average bulb weight.

(3) It is understood that significant differences refer to statistically significant differences, when comparing the characteristic between two plant lines or varieties when grown under the same conditions. Preferably at least about 10, 15, 20, 50 or more plants per line or variety are grown under the same conditions (i.e. side by side) and characteristics are measured on at least about 10, 15, 20 or more randomly selected plant or plant parts to obtain averages. Thus, physiological and morphological characteristics or traits are commonly evaluated at a significance level of 1%, 5% or 10% or evaluated at p0.05 using ANOVA, when measured in plants grown under the same environmental conditions.

(4) Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides a seed of the onion variety designated NUN 7206 ON wherein a representative sample of seeds of said variety was deposited under the Budapest Treaty, with Accession number NCIMB 42143.

(5) In another aspect, the invention provides for a onion plant of variety NUN 7206 ON, a representative sample of seed from said variety has been deposited under the Budapest Treaty, with Accession number NCIMB 42143.

(6) A seed of NUN 7206 ON is obtainable by crossing the male parent of NUN 7206 ON with the female parent of NUN 7206 ON and harvesting the seeds produced on the female parent. The resultant NUN 7206 ON seeds can be grown to produce NUN 7206 ON plants. In one embodiment a seed or a plurality of seeds of NUN 7206 ON are packaged into containers of any size or type (e.g., bags, cartons, cans, etc.). The seed may be disinfected, primed and/or treated with various compounds, such as seed coatings or crop protection compounds.

(7) Also provided is a plant of onion variety NUN 7206 ON, or a bulb or other plant part thereof, produced from a seed, wherein a representative sample of said seeds has been deposited under the Budapest Treaty, with Accession Number NCIMB 42143. Also included is a cell culture or tissue culture produced from such a plant.

(8) In one embodiment the invention provides a onion plant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of NUN 7206 ON, wherein the plant has all or all but one, two or three of of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 when determined at the 5% significance level or evaluated at p0.05 using ANOVA. In another embodiment, the invention provides a onion plant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of NUN 7206 ON, wherein the plant has all or all but one, two or three of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON when determined at the 5% significance level or evaluated at p0.05 using ANOVA.

(9) Plants of NUN 7206 ON can be produced by seeding directly in the ground (e.g., field) or by germinating the seeds in controlled environment conditions (e.g., greenhouses) and then transplanting the seedlings into the field. For example, the seed can be sown into prepared seed beds where they will remain for the entire production of the crop. Alternatively, the onion seed may be planted or transplanted in prepared mounds.

(10) In other aspects, the invention provides for a bulb of onion variety NUN 7206 ON, or a plant part, such as pollen, flowers, shoots or cuttings of variety NUN 7206 ON or parts thereof.

(11) In one embodiment any plant of the invention comprises at least 3, 4, 5 or more, e.g. 6, 7, 8, 9 or all of the following morphological and/or physiological characteristics (i.e. distinguishing characteristics (average values; measured at harvest or market maturity, as indicated on the USDA Objective description of varietyOnion (unless indicated otherwise), when grown under the same environmental conditions): 1) average bulb diameter; 2) average plant height; 3) average leaf length; 4)typical bulb scale retention; 5) typical leaf bloom; 6) average column height; 7) average column height; 8) average scape length; 9) average scape diameter; and 10) average bulb weight.

(12) In still another aspect the invention provides a method of producing an onion plant, comprising crossing a plant of onion variety NUN 7206 ON with a second onion plant one or more times, and selecting progeny from said crossing. In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in crossing comprises planting seeds of a first and a second parent onion plant, often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediated by insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually. Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without the need for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

(13) In yet another aspect the invention provides a method of producing a onion plant, comprising selfing a plant of onion variety NUN 7206 ON one or more times, and selecting progeny from said selfing.

(14) In other aspects, the invention provides for a progeny of variety NUN 7206 ON such as progeny obtained by further breeding NUN 7206 ON. Further breeding NUN 7206 ON includes selfing NUN 7206 ON one or more times and/or cross-pollinating NUN 7206 ON with another onion plant or variety one or more times. In particular, the invention provides for progeny that retain all the essential morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON or that retain one or more of the distinguishing characteristics of the onion type described further above and when grown under the same environmental conditions. In another aspect, the invention provides for a vegetative reproduction of the variety and a plant having all but 1, 2, or 3 of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON (e.g. as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3).

(15) The morphological and/or physiological differences between a plant according to the invention, i.e. NUN 7206 ON or progeny thereof, or a plant having all but 1, 2, or 3 of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON (as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3); and another known variety can easily be established by growing NUN 7206 ON next to the other variety (in the same field, under the same environmental conditions), preferably in several locations which are suitable for said onion cultivation, and measuring morphological and/or physiological characteristics of a number of plants (e.g., to calculate an average value and to determine the variation range/uniformity within the variety). For example, trials can be carried out in Acampo Calif., USA (N 38 degrees 07261/W 121 degrees 18 807, USA. In an onion trial, maturity, leaf shape, leaf color, flower size and color, bulb type, bulb color, bulb size, bulb shape, onion sweetness and pungency, disease resistance, insect resistance, can be measured and directly compared for species of Allium cepa.

(16) The morphological and physiological characteristics (and the distinguishing characteristics) of NUN 7206 ON are provided in the Examples, in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3. Encompassed herein is also a plant derivable from NUN 7206 ON (e.g. by selfings and/or crossing and/or backcrossing with NUN 7206 ON and/or progeny thereof) comprising all or all but one, two or three of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 as determined at the 5% significance level or evaluated at p0.05 using ANOVA when grown under the same environmental conditions and/or comprising one or more (or all; or all except one, two or three) of the distinguishing characteristics as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under the same environmental conditions.

(17) The morphological and/or physiological characteristics may vary somewhat with variation in the environment (such as temperature, light intensity, day length, humidity, soil, fertilizer use), which is why a comparison under the same environmental conditions is preferred. Colors can best be measured against The Munsell Book of Color (Munsell Color Macbeth Division of Kollmorgan Instruments Corporation) or using the Royal Horticultural Society Chart (World Wide Web at rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Publications/RHS-colour-charts).

(18) In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides for a onion bulb of variety NUN 7206 ON, or a part of said bulb. In another embodiment, the invention provides for a container comprising or consisting of a plurality of harvested onion bulbs or parts of bulbs of NUN 7206 ON, or bulbs of progeny thereof, or bulbs of a derived variety.

(19) In yet a further embodiment, the invention provides for a method of producing a new onion plant. The method comprises crossing a plant of the invention NUN 7206 ON, or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON (as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3), or a progeny plant thereof, either as male or as female parent, with a second onion plant (or a wild relative of onion) one or more times, and/or selfing a onion plant according to the invention i.e. NUN 7206 ON, or a progeny plant thereof, one or more times, and selecting progeny from said crossing and/or selfing. The second onion plant may for example be a line or variety of the species Allium cepa or other Allium species.

(20) Progeny are either the generation (seeds) produced from the first cross (Fl) or selfing (S1), or any further generation produced by crossing and/or selfing (F2, F3, etc.) and/or backcrossing (BC1, BC2, etc.) one or more selected plants of the F1 and/or S1 and/or BC1 generation (or plants of any further generation, e.g. the F2) with another onion plant (and/or with a wild relative of onion). Progeny may have all the physiological and morphological characteristics of onion variety NUN 7206 ON when grown under the same environmental conditions and/or progeny may have (be selected for having) one or more of the distinguishing characteristics of onion of the invention. Using common breeding methods such as backcrossing or recurrent selection, one or more specific characteristics may be introduced into NUN 7206 ON, to provide or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON (as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3).

(21) The invention provides for methods of producing plants which retain all the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON. The invention provides also for methods of producing a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON (e.g. as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3), but which are still genetically closely related to NUN 7206 ON. The relatedness can, for example be determined by fingerprinting techniques (e.g., making use of isozyme markers and/or molecular markers such as SNP markers, AFLP markers, microsatellites, minisatellites, RAPD markers, RFLP markers and others). A plant is closely related to NUN 7206 ON if its DNA fingerprint is at least 80%, 90%, 95% or 98% identical to the fingerprint of NUN 7206 ON. In a preferred embodiment AFLP markers are used for DNA fingerprinting (Vos et al. 1995, Nucleic Acid Research 23: 4407-4414). A closely related plant may have a Jaccard's Similarity index of at least about 0.8, preferably at least about 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or more (Ince et al., (2010) Biochem. Genet. 48:83-95). The invention also provides a plant and a variety obtained by these methods. Plants may be produced by crossing and/or selfing, or alternatively, a plant may simply be identified and selected amongst NUN 7206 ON plants, or progeny thereof, e.g. by identifying a variant within NUN 7206 ON or progeny thereof (e.g. produced by selfing) which variant differs from NUN 7206 ON in one, two or three of the morphological and/or physiological characteristics (e.g. in one, two or three distinguishing characteristics), e.g. those listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 or others. In one embodiment the invention provides an onion plant having a Jaccard's Similarity index with NUN 7206 ON of at least 0.8, e.g. at least 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or even at least 0.99.

(22) The present invention also provides a onion seed and a plant produced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent onion plant with a second parent onion plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent onion plants is a plant provided herein, such as from variety NUN 7206 ON. In another embodiment of the invention, onion seed and plants produced by the process are first filial generation (F1) onion seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant.

(23) The present invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F1 onion plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an F1 onion plant and seed thereof.

(24) WO2013182646 which is incorporated by reference, relates to a non-destructive method for analyzing maternal DNA of a seed. In this method the DNA is dislodged from the seed coat surface and can be used to collect information on the genome of the maternal parent of the seed. This method for analyzing maternal DNA of a seed, comprises the steps of contacting a seed with a fluid to dislodge DNA from the seed coat surface, and analyzing the DNA thus dislodged from the seed coat surface using methods known in the art. The skilled person is thus able to determine whether a seed has grown on a plant of NUN 7206 ON (i.e. is progeny of NUN 7206 ON), because the seed coat is genetically identical to NUN 7206 ON. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a seed coat comprising maternal tissue of NUN 7206 ON. In another embodiment the invention relates to a onion seed comprising a seed coat that comprises maternal tissue from NUN 7206 ON.

(25) By crossing and/or selfing also (one or more) single traits may be introduced into the variety of the invention i.e. NUN 7206 ON (e.g., using backcrossing breeding schemes), while retaining the remaining morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON and/or while retaining one or more distinguishing characteristics. A single trait converted plant may thereby be produced. For example, disease resistance genes may be introduced, genes responsible for one or more quality traits, yield, etc. Both single genes (dominant or recessive) and one or more QTLs (quantitative trait loci) may be transferred into NUN 7206 ON by breeding with NUN 7206 ON.

(26) Alternatively, a single trait converted plant or single locus converted plant may be produced by the following steps a. obtaining a cell or tissue culture of cells of NUN 7206 ON; b. genetically transforming or mutating said cells; c. growing the cells into a plant; and d. optionally selecting a plant that contains the desired single locus conversion

(27) The skilled person is familiar with various techniques for genetically transforming a single locus in a plant cell, or mutating said cells.

(28) Any pest or disease resistance genes may be introduced into a plant according to the invention, i.e. NUN 7206 ON, progeny thereof or into a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON (e.g. as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3). Resistance to one or more of the following diseases is preferably introduced into plants of the invention: Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Curly Top Virus, Onion Mottle Virus, Potato Y Virus, Blotchey Ripening, Tobacco Etch Virus, the various Tobacco Mosaic Virus races, Concentric cracking, Onion spotted wilt, Onion yellows, Gold Fleck, Bacterial canker, Bacterial soft rot, Bacterial speck, Bacterial wilt, Anthracnose (Gloeosporium piperatum), Fusarium wilt (F. oxysporum races), Alternaria, Bacterial Spot (Xanthomonas vesicatoria), Nematode (Meloidogyne spp), Late blight (Phytophthora infestans races), Leaf mold (Cladosporium fulvum races), Colorado potato beetle, Spider mites, Whitefly and Verticillium Wilt (Verticillium dahliae). Other resistance genes, against pathogenic viruses, fungi, bacteria, nematodes, insects or other pests may also be introduced.

(29) Thus, invention also provides a method for developing a onion plant in a onion breeding program, using a onion plant of the invention, or its parts as a source of plant breeding material. Suitable plant breeding techniques are recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, mass selection, mutation breeding and/or genetic marker enhanced selection. For example, in one aspect, the method comprises crossing NUN 7206 ON or progeny thereof, or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON (e.g. as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3), with a different onion plant, and wherein one or more offspring of the crossing are subject to one or more plant breeding techniques selected from the group consisting of recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, mass selection, mutation breeding and genetic marker enhanced selection (see e.g. Vidaysky and Czosnek, (1998) Phytopathology 88(9): 910-4). For breeding methods in general see Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2007, George Acquaah, Blackwell Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-3646-4.

(30) The invention also provides a onion plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of onion variety NUN 7206 ON, a sample of seed of said variety having been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 42143; optionally further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein said plant has essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of onion NUN 7206 ON. In another embodiment, this single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, pathogen resistance (e.g., insect resistance, nematode resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, and viral disease), environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified protein metabolism improved harvest characteristics, enhanced nutritional quality, increased antioxidant content, improved processing characteristics, high yield, improved characteristics related to the bulb flavor, texture, size, shape, durability, shelf life, and yield, increased soluble solids content, uniform ripening, delayed or early ripening, adaptability for soil conditions, and adaptability for climate conditions

(31) In one embodiment, NUN 7206 ON may also be mutated (by e.g. irradiation, chemical mutagenesis, heat treatment, etc.) and mutated seeds or plants may be selected in order to change one or more characteristics of NUN 7206 ON. Methods such as TILLING may be applied to onion populations in order to identify mutants. Similarly, NUN 7206 ON may be transformed and regenerated, whereby one or more chimeric genes are introduced into the variety or into a plant comprising all but 1, 2, 3, or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics (e.g. as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3). Transformation can be carried out using standard methods, such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation or biolistics, followed by selection of the transformed cells and regeneration into plants. A desired trait (e.g. genes conferring pest or disease resistance, herbicide, fungicide or insecticide tolerance, etc.) can be introduced into NUN 7206 ON, or progeny thereof, by transforming NUN 7206 ON or progeny thereof with a transgene that confers the desired trait, wherein the transformed plant retains all the phenotypic and/or morphological and/or physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON or the progeny thereof and contains the desired trait.

(32) The invention also provides a plant having one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 7206 ON and which otherwise has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON, wherein a representative sample of seed of variety NUN 7206 ON has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 42143. In particular variants which differ from NUN 7206 ON in none, one, two or three of the characteristics mentioned in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 are encompassed.

(33) In one aspect, the the plant having one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 7206 ON and which otherwise has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON differs from NUN 7206 ON in one, two or three of the distinguishing morphological and/or physiological characteristics selected from a 1) average bulb diameter; 2) average plant height; 3) average leaf length; 4)typical bulb scale retention; 5) typical leaf bloom; 6) average column height; 7) average column height; 8) average scape length; 9) average scape diameter; and 10) average bulb weight.

(34) In another embodiment the plant having one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 7206 ON and which otherwise has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON may differ from NUN 7206 ON in one, two or three morphological or physiological characteristic other than the distinguishing morphological and/or physiological characteristics (or essential physiological and/or morphological characteristics) of NUN 7206 ON selected from: a 1) average bulb diameter; 2) average plant height; 3) average leaf length; 4) typical bulb scale retention; 5) typical leaf bloom; 6) average column height; 7) average column height; 8) average scape length; 9) average scape diameter; and 10) average bulb weight.

(35) Onions according to the invention, such as the variety NUN 07206 ONLNUN 7206 ON, or its progeny, or a plant having all physiological and/or morphological characteristics but one, two or three which are different from those of NUN 7206 ON, can also be reproduced using vegetative reproduction methods. Therefore, the invention provides for a method of producing plants, or a part thereof, of variety NUN 7206 ON, comprising vegetative propagation of variety NUN 7206 ON. Vegetative propagation comprises regenerating a whole plant from a plant part of variety NUN 7206 ON (or from its progeny or from or a plant having all physiological and/or morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON but one, two or three, which are different), such as a cutting, a cell culture or a tissue culture.

(36) The invention also concerns methods of vegetatively propagating a plant of the invention. In certain embodiments, the method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting tissue or cells capable of being propagated from a plant of the invention; (b) cultivating said tissue or cells to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots, to obtain rooted plantlets. Steps (b) and (c) may also be reversed, i.e. first cultivating said tissue to obtain roots and then cultivating the tissue to obtain shoots, thereby obtaining rooted plantlets. The rooted plantlets may then be further grown, to obtain plants. In one embodiment, the method further comprises step (d) growing plants from said rooted plantlets

(37) The invention also provides for a vegetatively propagated plant of variety NUN 7206 ON (or from its progeny or from or a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON, or a part thereof, having one or more distinguishing characteristics and/or all the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON (except for the characteristics differing), when grown under the same environmental conditions.

(38) A parts of NUN 7206 ON (or of its progeny or of a plant having all physiological and/or morphological characteristics but one, two or three which are different from those of NUN 7206 ON) encompasses any cells, tissues, organs obtainable from the seedlings or plants, such as but not limited to: an onion bulb or a part thereof, a cutting, hypocotyl, cotyledon, seedcoat, pollen and the like. Such parts can be stored and/or processed further. Encompassed are therefore also food or feed products comprising one or more of such parts, such as canned, chopped, cooked, roasted, fried, in a sauce, in a sandwich, pasted, pured or concentrated, juiced, frozen, dried, pickled, or powdered onion bulb from NUN 7206 ON or from progeny thereof, or from a derived variety, such as a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON.

(39) In one aspect a haploid plant and/or a double haploid plant of NUN 7206 ON, or a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics of NUN 7206 ON, or progeny of any of these, are encompassed herein. Haploid and double haploid (DH) plants can, for example, be produced by cell or tissue culture and chromosome doubling agents and regeneration into a whole plant. For DH production chromosome doubling may be induced using known methods, such as colchicine treatment or the like.

(40) In yet another aspect haploid plants and/or double haploid plants derived from NUN 7206 ON that, when combined, make a set of parents of NUN 7206 ON are encompassed herein.

(41) Using methods known in the art like reverse breeding, it is possible to produce parental lines for a hybrid plant such as NUN 7206 ON; where normally the hybrid is produced from the parental lines. Such methods are based on the segregation of individual alleles in the spores produced by a desired plant and/or in the progeny derived from the self-pollination of that desired plant, and on the subsequent identification of suitable progeny plants in one generation, or in a limited number of inbred cycles. Such a method is known from WO2014076249 or from Nature Protocols Volume: 9, Pages: 761-772 (2014) DOI: doi:10.1038/nprot.2014.049, which are enclosed by reference. Such method for producing parental lines for a hybrid organism, comprises the steps of: a) defining a set of genetic markers that are present in a heterozygous form (H) in a partially heterozygous starting organism; b) producing doubled haploid lines from spores of the starting organism: c) genetically characterizing the doubled haploid lines thus obtained for the said set of genetic markers to determine whether they are present in a first homozygous form (A) or in a second homozygous form (B) ; d) selecting at least one pair of doubled haploid lines that have complementary alleles for at least a subset of the genetic markers, wherein each member of the pair is suitable as a parental line for a hybrid organism.

(42) Thus in one aspect, the invention relates to a method of producing a combination of parental lines of a plant of the invention (NUN 7206 ON) comprising the step of making double haploid cells from haploid cells from the plant of the invention (NUN 7206 ON) or a seed of that plant; and optionally crossing these parental lines to produce and collect seeds. In another aspect, the invention relates to a combination of parental lines produced by this method. In still another aspect said combination of parental lines can be used to produce a seed or plant of NUN 7206 ON when these parental lines are crossed. In still another aspect, the invention relates to a combination of parental lines from which a seed or plant having all physiological and/or of NUN 7206 ON morphological characteristics but one, two or three which are different can be produced or in another aspect, wherein a seed or plant having the distinguishing characteristics 1) -5) or 1)-10) of NUN 7206 ON, as herein defined, can be produced when grown under the same environmental conditions. In still another aspect, the invention relates to a combination of parental lines from which a seed or plant having all the characteristics of NUN 7206 ON as defined in Table 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 when grown under the same conditions can be produced.

(43) In another alternative aspect, the invention provides a method of introducing a single locus conversion or single trait conversion or a desired trait into NUN 7206 ON comprising: a. obtain a combination of a male and a female parental line of NUN 7206 ON, b. introduce a single locus conversion in at least one of the parents of step a; c. crossing the converted parent with the other parent of step a to obtain seed of NUN 7206 ON A combination of a male and a female parental line of NUN 7206 ON can be generated by methods described herein, for example through reverse breeding;

(44) Step b) of the above methodintroduce a single locus conversion in at least one of the parents of step amay be done through the following method: i. obtaining a cell or tissue culture of cells of the parental line of NUN 7206 ON; ii. genetically transforming or mutating said cells; iii. growing the cells into a plant; and iv. optionally selecting plants that contain the single locus conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait.

(45) Step b) of the above method - introduce a single locus conversion in at least one of the parents of step amay be done through the following method: i. crossing the parental line of NUN 7206 ON with a second onion plant comprising the single locus conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait; ii. selecting Flprogeny plants that contain the single locus conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait; iii. crossing said selected progeny plants of step ii with the parental line of step i, to produce a backcross progeny plant; iv. selecting backcross progeny plants comprising the single locus conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait and otherwise all or all but one, two or three of the morphological and physiological characteristics the parental line of step i to produce selected backcross progeny plants; and v. optionally repeating steps iii and iv one or more times in succession to produce selected second, third or fourth or higher backcross progeny plants comprising the single locus conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait and otherwise all or all but one, two or three of the morphological and physiological characteristics the parental line of step i to produce selected backcross progeny plants, when grown in the same environmental conditions.
The invention further relates to plants obtained by this method.

(46) The above method is provided, wherein the single locus conversion concerns a trait, wherein the trait is pest resistance or disease resistance.

(47) In one embodiment the trait is disease resistance and the resistance is conferred to Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Curly Top Virus, Onion Mottle Virus, Potato Y Virus, Blotchey Ripening, Tobacco Etch Virus, the various Tobacco Mosaic Virus races, Concentric cracking, Onion spotted wilt, Onion yellows, Gold Fleck, Bacterial canker, Bacterial soft rot, Bacterial speck, Bacterial wilt, Anthracnose (Gloeosporium piperatum), Fusarium wilt (F. oxysporum races), Alternaria, Bacterial Spot (Xanthomonas vesicatoria), Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), Late blight (Phytophthora infestans races), Leaf mold (Cladosporium fulvum races), Colorado potato beetle, Spider mites, Whitefly and Verticillium Wilt (Verticillium dahliae).

(48) Also provided are plant parts derived from variety NUN 7206 ON (or from its progeny or from a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 7206 ON, or from a vegetatively propagated plant of NUN 7206 ON (or from its progeny or from a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 7206 ON), being selected from the group consisting of a bulb, a harvested bulb, a part of a bulb, a bulblet, a harvested bulblet, a part of a bulblet, a scale, a part of a scale, a leaf, a part of a leaf, pollen, an ovule, a cell, a petiole, a shoot or a part thereof, a stem or a part thereof, a root or a part thereof, a root tip, a cutting, a seed, a part of a seed, seedcoat or another maternal tissue which is part of a seed grown on NUN 7206 ON, hypocotyl, cotyledon, an anther, and a flower or a part thereof.

(49) In one embodiment, the invention provides for extracts of a plant described herein and compositions comprising or consisting of such extracts. In a preferred embodiment, the extract consists of or comprises tissue of a plant described herein or is obtained from such tissue.

(50) In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of determining the genotype of a plant of the invention comprising the step of detecting in the genome (e.g., a sample of nucleic acids) of the plant at least a first polymorphism or an allele. The skilled person is familiar with many suitable methods of genotyping, detecting a polymorphism or detecting an allele including restriction fragment length polymorphism identification (RFLPI) of genomic DNA, random amplified polymorphic detection (RAPD) of genomic DNA, amplified fragment length polymorphism detection (AFLPD), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, allele specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probes, and hybridization to DNA microarrays or beads. Alternatively, the entire genome could be sequenced. The method may, in certain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality of polymorphisms in the genome of the plant, for example by obtaining a sample of nucleic acid from a plant and detecting in said nucleic acids a plurality of polymorphisms. The method may further comprise storing the results of the step of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on a computer readable medium

(51) The invention also provides for a food or feed product comprising or consisting of a plant part described herein wherein the plant part can be identified as a part of the plant of the invention. Preferably, the plant part is a onion bulb or part thereof and/or an extract from a bulb or another plant part described herein. The food or feed product may be fresh or processed, e.g., dried, grinded, powdered, pickled, chopped, cooked, roasted, in a sauce, in a sandwich, pasted, pured or concentrated, juiced, pickled, canned, steamed, boiled, fried, blanched and/or frozen, etc.

(52) For example, containers such as cans, boxes, crates, bags, cartons, Modified Atmosphere Packagings, films (e.g. biodegradable films), etc. comprising a plant or a parts of a plant (fresh and/or processed) described herein or a seed of NUN 7206 ON are also provided herein.

(53) All documents (e.g., patent publications) are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Cited references: U.S. Ser. No. 12/861,740 U.S. Ser. No. 12/020,360 Dunstan and Short (1977) Physiol, Plant, 41: 70-72 Pike and Yoo, Scientia Horticulturae, 45 (1990) 31-36) Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability, TG/46/7 (Geneva 2009, revised 2015), as published by UPOV (International Union for the Protection of New Varieties and Plants, available on the world wide web at upov.int) and which can be downloaded from the world wide web at edocs/tgdocs/en/tg046.pdf US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Plant Variety Protection Office, Beltsville, Md. 20705 (available on the world wide web at ams usda.gov) and which can be downloaded from the world wide web at /sites/default/files/media/16-Onion.pdf. Vos et al. 1995, Nucleic Acid Research 23: 4407-4414 Ince et al., (2010) Biochem. Genet. 48:83-95. WO2013182646 Vidaysky and Czosnek, (1998) Phytopathology 88(9): 910-4 Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2007, George Acquaah, Blackwell Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-3646-4. WO2014076249 Nature Protocols Volume: 9, Pages: 761-772 (2014) DOI: doi:10.1038/nprot.2014.049

EXAMPLES

(54) Development of NUN 7206 ON

(55) The hybrid NUN 7206 ON was developed from a male and female proprietary inbred line of Nunhems. The female and male parents were crossed to produce hybrid (F1) seeds of NUN 7206 ON The seeds of NUN 7206 ON can be grown to produce hybrid plants and parts thereof (e.g. onion fruit). The hybrid NUN 7206 ON can be propagated by seeds or vegetative.

(56) The hybrid variety is uniform and genetically stable. This has been established through evaluation of horticultural characteristics. Several hybrid seed production events resulted in no observable deviation in genetic stability. Coupled with the confirmation of genetic stability of the female and male parents the Applicant concluded that NUN 7206 ON is uniform and stable.

(57) Deposit Information

(58) A total of 2500 seeds of the hybrid variety NUN 7206 ON were deposited according to the Budapest Treaty by Nunhems B.V. on May 8, 2013, at the NCIMB Ltd., Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, United Kingdom (NCIMB). The deposit has been assigned NCIMB number 42143. A deposit of NUN 7206 ON and of the male and female parent line is also maintained at Nunhems B.V. Access to the deposit will be available during the pendency of this application to persons determined by the Director of the U.S. Patent Office to be entitled thereto upon request. Subject to 37 C.F.R. 1.808(b), all restrictions imposed by the depositor on the availability to the public of the deposited material will be irrevocably removed upon the granting of the patent. The deposit will be maintained for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for the enforceable life of the patent whichever is longer, and will be replaced if it ever becomes nonviable during that period. Applicant does not waive any rights granted under this patent on this application or under the Plant Variety Protection Act (7 USC 2321 et seq.).

(59) The most similar variety to NUN 7206 ON is referred to as REFERENCE VARIETY, a variety from Bejo B.V. with the commercial name Calibra. In Table 1 a comparison between NUN 7206 ON and Calibra is shown based on a trial in the USA. Trial location: N46.08258, W119.46304, elevation 1275 ft. Planting date: 25 Mar. 2014.

(60) Two replications of 50 plants each, from which 15 plants or plant parts were randomly selected, were used to measure characteristics. In Table 1 the USDA descriptors of NUN 7206 ON (this application) and REFERENCE VARIETY Calibra are listed.

(61) In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant having the physiological and morphological characteristics of onion variety NUN 7206 ON as presented in Table 1.

(62) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison of USDA descriptors between varieties NUN 7206 ON and REFERENCE VARIETY Calibra Application REFERENCE Variety VARIETY USDA Descriptor NUN 7206 ON Calibra 1. TYPE: 1 = Bulb 2 = Bunching 1 1 1 = short day; 2 = long day 2 2 Adaptation range (degree mean latitude) n.r. n.r. Maturity (days): 1 = early (75-90); 2 = medium (100- 2 2 120); 3 = late (>130) 2. PLANT: Height above soil line to highest point of any foliage 102.9 cm 95.6 cm Taller than comparison variety 7.2 cm Plant 1 = erect (Spartam Gem); 2 = intermediate; 3 = 1 1 floppy (Epoch) 3. LEAF: Length (before maturity yellowing begins) 85 cm 77 cm Width 34 mm 36 mm Thickness (at mid-length of longest leaf) 3 mm 2.7 mm Color: 1 = light green (Early Grano); 2 = medium 3 2 green (Yellow Bermuda); 3 = blue green (Australian Brown U.C. No.1) Color Chart Code (RHS Color Chart) Greyed green 189A Yellow green 147B Bloom: 1 = none-glossy; 2 = light (Early Grano); 3 = 3 2 medium (Crystal Wax); 4 = heavy (California Early Red) 4. SHEATH: Column length (height from soil line to base of 11 cm 9 cm lowest succulent leaf) Diameter (at mid-length) 20 mm 24 mm Scape: (From soil line to base of inflorescence) 80 cm 103 Scape: (diameter at mid-length) 18 mm 25 mm 5. INFLORESCENCE: 6. BULB: Average number bulbs per meter NA NA Size (harvested): 1 = small (Red Creol); 2 = medium 2 2 (Australian Brown U.C. No. 1); 3 = large (Early Grano) Shape: 1 = Globe (White Sweet Spanish); 2 = Deep 1 1 Globe (Abundance); 3 = Flt. Globe (Australian Brn. U.C. No. 1); 4 = Top Shape (Texas Grano 502); 5 = Deep Flat (Granex); 6 = Thick Flat (Ebenezer); 7 = Flat (Crystal Wax); 8 = Torpedo-Long Oval (Italian Red) Height: 8 cm 7.6 cm Diameter: 9.3 cm 9.0 cm Shape Index 0.86 0.84 1 = invaginate; 2 = evaginate n.r. n.r. Color (skin): 01 = Brown (Australian Brn. U.C. No. 03 03 1); 02 = Purplish Red (Italian Red); 03 = Buff Red (RHS Greyed (RHS Greyed (Red Creole); 04 = Pinkish Yellow (Ebenezer); 05 = Orange 167A) Orange 164A) Brownish Yellow (Mt. Danvers); 06 = Deep Yellow (Brigham Yellow Globe); 07 = Medium Yellow (Early Yellow Globe); 08 = Pale Yellow (Yellow Bermuda); 09 = White (White Sweet Spanish); 10 = Other (Specify) ____________ Color (interior): 1 = Pink; 2 = Red; 3 = Purplish Red; 6 6 4 = White; 5 = Cream; 6 = Light Green-Yellow; 7 = Dark Green-Yellow Scales: 1 = Few (Crystal Wax); 2 = Medium n.r. n.r. (Australian Brown U.C. No. 1); 3 = Many (Sweet Spanish) Scales: 1 = Thick (Australian Brown U.C. No. 1); n.r. n.r. 2 = Medium (Red Creole); 3 = Thin (Crystal Wax) Scale retention: 1 = Very Good (Australian Brn. U.S. 2 1 No. 1); 2 = Good (Ebenezer); 3 = Fair (Red Wethersfield); 4 = Poor (Crystal Wax) Pugence: 1 = Mild (Early Grano); 2 = Medium 1 1 (Crystal Wax); 3 = Strong (White Creole) Storage: 1 = Good (Ebenezer); 2 = Fair (Yellow 1 1 Globe Danvers); 3 = Poor (Crystal Wax) 7. DISEASE RESISTANCE 0 = not tested; 1 = susceptible 2 = resistant 8. INSECT RESISTANT 0 = not tested; 1 = susceptible 2 = resistant
Table 1 and 2 contain typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention. N.A.=not applicable; n.r.=not recorded.

(63) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison of non-USDA descriptors between NUN 07206 ON and REFERENCE VARIETY Calibra Application Reference Variety Variety Descriptor NUN 07206 ON Calibra Bulb weight in grams 388.93 337.6
Table 1 and 2 contain typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention. N.A.=not applicable; n.r.=not recorded.

(64) Results for other trials wherein various UPOV descriptors of NUN 07206 ON (this application) have been recorded are shown in Table 3. These trials were done over several years in several locations.

(65) TABLE-US-00003 UPOV Descriptor ApplicationVariety NUN 07206 ON Plant: number of leaves per pseudostem 1 very few/3 few/5 medium/7 many/9 very many 5 Foliage: attitude 1 erect/2 erect to semi-erect/3 semi-erect/4 semi- 1 erect to horizontal/5 horizontal Foliage: waxiness 1 absent or very weak/3 weak/5 medium/7 7 strong/9 very strong Foliage: intensity of green color 1 very light/3 light/5 medium/7 dark/9 very dark 7 Foliage: cranking 1 absent or very weak/2 intermediate/3 strong 1 Leaf: length 1 very short/3 short/5 medium/7 long/9 very 5 long Leaf: diameter 1 small/5 medium/7 large 5 Pseudostem: length (up to highest green 3 short/5 medium/7 long 5 leaf) Pseudostem: diameter (at mid-point of 1 small/5 medium/7 large 5 length) Seed-propagated varieties only: Bulb: 1 absent or very weak/3 weak/5 medium/7 1 Tendency to split into bulblets (with dry strong/9 very strong skin around each bulblet) Bulb: degree of splitting into bulblets 1 absent or very weak/3 weak/5 medium/7 1 (with dry skin around each bulblet) strong/9 very strong Bulb: size 1 very small/3 small/5 medium/7 large/9 very 5 large Bulb: height 1 very short/3 short/5 medium/7 fall/9 very tall 5 Bulb: diameter 1 small/5 medium/7 large 5 Bulb: ratio height/diameter 1 very small/3 small/5 medium/7 large/9 very 5 large Bulb/Bulblet: position of maximum 1 towards stem end/2 at middle/3 towards root 2 diameter end Bulb/Bulblet: width of neck 1 very narrow/3 narrow/5 medium/7 broad/9 5 very broad Bulb/Bulblet: shape (in longitudinal 1 elliptic/2 medium ovate/3 broad elliptic/4 5 section) circular/5 broad ovate/6 broad obovate/7 rhombic/8 transverse medium elliptic/9 transverse narrow elliptic Onion varieties only: Bulb: shape of 1 depressed/2 flat/3 slightly raised/4 rounded/5 3 stem end (as for 18) slightly sloping/6 strongly sloping Bulb/Bulblet: shape of root end 1 depressed/2 flat/3 round/4 weakly tapered/5 3 strongly tapered Bulb/Bulblet: adherence of dry skin 1 very weak/3 weak/5 medium/7 strong/9 very 5 after harvest strong Bulb/Bulblet: thickness of dry skin 3 thin/5 medium/7 thick 5 Bulb/Bulblet: base color of dry skin 1 white/2 grey/3 green/4 yellow/5 brown/6 pink/ 4 7 red Excluding varieties with white dry skin: 3 light/5 medium/7 dark 5 Bulb/Bulblet: intensity of base color of dry skin Bulb/Bulblet: hue of color of dry skin 1 absent/2 greyish/3 greenish/4 yellowish/5 5 (in addition to base color) brownish/6 pinkish/7 reddish/8 purplish Bulb/Bulblet: hue of coloration of 1 absent/2 greenish/3 reddish 2 epidermis of fleshy scales Bulb/Bulblet: number of growing points 1 very low/3 low/5 medium/7 high/9 very high 1 per kg Bulb/Bulblet: dry matter content 1 very low/3 low/5 medium/7 high/9 very high 5 in percentage % 9-11 Tendency to bolting in spring sown trials 1 absent or very weak/3 weak/5 medium/7 3 strong/9 very strong Time of beginning of bolting in spring 3 early/5 medium/7 late 7 sown trials Time of harvest maturity for spring sown 1 very early/3 early/5 medium/7 late/9 very late 5: 112 trials (foliage fall-over in 80% of plants) days (comparable with the variety) Infinity Time of sprouting during storage 3 early/5 medium/7 late 7 Male sterility 1 absent or very weak/2 weak/3 strong 3 % 100 Relative maturity of the variety 112 Special conditions for the examination 1 = YES; 2 = NO 1 of the variety if yes provide details Best adapted to spring sowing at 45 degrees latitude. Day length conditions which favour full 1 short day/2 semi short day/3 semi long day/4 4 bulb development long day Suitability for storage 1 none/2 short term/3 long term 3 Type 1 onion set production/2 silver skinned/3 normal 3 sowing onion/4 overwintering/5 other Main use 1 fresh market or garden/2 industrial processing 1 Main use 2 1 seed/2 forage/3 garden plant/4 pot plant/5 cut- 6 flower/6 other When 6 other please provide details Commercial production of onion bulbs. Other information 1 = YES; 2 = NO 2