Plant breeders continue to make significant advances in developing high yield ing, adaptable, disease-free crops. These advances, however, are not realized until an efficient seed production system is in place that rapidly increases geneti cally superior crops and makes them available to the consumer in large quantities at a reasonable cost. Successful seed production requires seed to be genetically pure, free of admixtures, and able to establish rapidly a uniform stand. Seed production is a complex process. Rigorous production criteria are followed by both seed producer and seed companies to ensure that high-quality seed is produced and marketed. These criteria become even more stringent in hybrid seed production. This volume identifies the factors most critical in a successful seed production operation. The fundamental considerations common to all seed crops are established in Part I, Principles of Seed Production. From this founda tion, the practices of seed production are provided in detail in Part II, Seed Production of Specific Crops.

This third edition includes summaries at salient points within the first six chapters, dealing with the principles and practice of vegetable seed production. A suggested further reading list is provided at the conclusion of each of the 16 chapters. The general updating of this third edition has included more detail on 'organic' seed and its production, and also considerations on genetically modified organisms. The increased links between vegetables produced from true botanical seed and those predominantly propagated vegetatively (i.e. the resulting planting material which is often referred to as 'seed') have been added to this edition in Appendix 1.

Quality seed is the fore most and most cost effective input for crop production. It is time for researchers as well as policy makers to reorient the strategy of vegetable seed production in India. Now it is not only a question of providing enough vegetables for a balance diet, but also to produces good quality seeds that are acceptable and competitive in the international market. The book Seed Production Technology of Vegetables is intended as a reference for all concerned with the basic vegetable seed production technologland requirements, field inspection, field and seed standards, brief cultural practices, important varieties/hybrids, classification history, climatic factors affecting seed production, botany and floral biology, mode of reproduction, principles of seed production, techniques for hybrid seed production, quality of seed, seed germination, seed policy, seed certification, seed act and seed rules. This book may be of great utility and intend to be a better guide to the students, teachers, research scientist, extension worker Policy makers, various seed companies, horticulture department, vegetable seeds producers and farming community as a whole who directly and indirectly are engaged in the production of quality seeds. Contents Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: Classification of Vegetables; Chapter 3: History of Vegetables Seed Production; Chapter 4: Climatic Factors Affecting Vegetable Seed Production; Chapter 5: Botany and Floral Biology of Vegetable Crops; Chapter 6: Modes of Reproduction in Vegetable Crops; Chapter 7: Principals of Vegetable Seed Production; Chapter 8: Tehniques for Hybrid Seed Production; Chapter 9: Seed Production of Vegetables, Family-Solanaceae, Brinjal, Tomato, Chilli and Bell Pepper, Potato, Family-Malvaceae, Okara, Family-Cruciferae, Radish , Cauliflower, Cabbage, Turnip, Family-Alliaceae, Onion, Family-Legunminosae, Pea, Fenugreek, French bean, Cowpea, Family-Chenopodiaceae, Spinach Beet (Palak), Family-Umbelliferae, Coriander, Carrot, Family-Cucubitaceae, Cucumber, Muskmelon, Watermelon, Bitter Gourd, Family-Compositae, Lettuce; Chapter 10: Quality of Seeds; Chapter 11: Seed Germination and Seed Dormancy; Chapter 12: Economics of Hybrids Seed Production;Chapter; Chapter 13: Biotechnology in Vegetable Seed Production; Chapter 14: National Seed Policy; Chapter 15: Certification of Seeds; Chapter 16: Seed Act and Seed Rules