Emerging Scenario in Vegetable Research and Development

In recent past, indiscriminate use of fertilizers, water and chemicals in vegetable crops has threatened the environment and ecological balance, which has attracted the attention of vegetable researchers to look into these issues critically and set the agenda for research. The effect of one crop on the other is reflected in cropping sequence, thus the knowledge of allelopathic effects in different vegetable crops is important. Since vegetable crop production is very cost effective, prediction of yield, occurrence of disease, pests etc. are important and now time has come to start research on modelling, especially on the development of decision support systems for the progressive vegetable growers. Above all, the vegetable seed production technology including F1 seed production needs to be reoriented. Hence, to increase production, protect environment and soil, increase profitability, reduce residual effects of chemicals on fresh vegetables, it is imperative to undertake research activities on vegetable production technology including organic farming, integrated nutrient management, off season vegetable production, integrated pest management including biocontrol and residual effects of chemicals, post harvest technology and development of export oriented varieties. The present publication contains the presentations made during various sessions including memorial lectures. Besides several other articles written by the specialists are also included in order to cover all the intended and emerging areas of vegetable research in this country. In the initial four articles, policy issues related to vegetable production and research, post GATT scenario and PGR management have been given. Articles related to discipline of biotechnology cover dimensions of utilization and future uses in specific areas of vegetable research and development through multidisciplinary approach. Vegetable hybrid technology, an important area of research for increasing productivity, needs further refinement with the application of various tools of molecular biology to develop parental lines for multiple resistance hybrids, transgenic to develop male sterility systems and to test hybrid seed purity etc. Vegetables are highly prone to biotic and abiotic stresses and development of multiple resistance vegetable hybrid varieties is one of the current research trends. The challenges we are facing today are much different than the past and this publication has delineated all these issues, which are of importance presently. The articles compiled by various scientists based on critical reviews of the research developments and advances, therefore, will serve as invaluable source of references to the scientists, students and teachers working in public and private sectors in the discipline of agriculture especially on vegetable crops. The publication with such diversified topics will also help the researchers and planners to identify new frontiers in vegetable research.