Breeding of Vegetable Crops
Course Overview
Official detailed syllabus from the ICAR Sixth Deans’ Committee curriculum.
Course Objectives
i. To make students well verse with the plant genetic resources and their utilization in improvement of vegetable crops ii. To impart knowledge and skill regarding breeding procedures of self-pollinated, often cross pollinated, cross-pollinated and vegetatively propagated vegetable crops
Theory Syllabus
Definition and history of vegetable breeding. Origin, distribution, wild relatives and breeding objective of different vegetable crops viz. tomato, brinjal, chilli, muskmelon, watermelon, cucumber, bitter gourd, pumpkin, squashes, onion, garlic, carrot, radish, cauliflower, cabbage, pea, okra and potato. Plant genetic resources, their utilization and conservation. Breeding procedures of self- pollinated, often cross pollinated, cross-pollinated and vegetatively propagated vegetable crops. Conventional and modern techniques for improvement of vegetable crops. Breeding for biotic, abiotic stress tolerance and quality in vegetable crops. Genetic mechanisms for exploitation of heterosis in vegetable crops.
Practical Syllabus
Study of inflorescence and flower structures. Practice for emasculation and artificial pollination. Distinguished morphological characteristics of released varieties/hybrids. Layout of field experiments. Estimation of heterosis. Handling of germplasm and segregating populations by different methods like pedigree, bulk and single seed decent methods. Visit to vegetable seed production field.
Suggested Readings
1. Allard R W. 1960. Principle of Plant Breeding. John Willey and Sons, USA.
2. Kalloo G. 1988. Vegetable Breeding (Vol. I, II, III). CRC Press, Fl, USA.
3. Kole C R. 2007. Genome Mapping and Molecular Breeding in Plants-Vegetables. Springer, USA.
4. Peter KV and Pradeep Kumar T. 1998. Genetics and Breeding of Vegetables. ICAR, New Delhi, p. 488.
5. Prohens J and Nuez F. 2007. Handbook of Plant Breeding-Vegetables (Vol I - II). Springer, USA.
6. Ram H H. 2019.Vegetable Breeding: Principles and Practices. Kalyani Publishers.
7. Singh B D. 2007. Plant breeding- principles and methods. (8th Edn.). Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
8. Singh Ram J. 2007. Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement- Vegetable Crops (Vol. III). CRC Press, Fl, USA.
9. Swarup V. 2016.Vegetable Science and Technology in India. Kalyani Publishers.