Utilization of Vegetable Germplasm

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Abstract
The germplasm for a cultivated crop is generally regarded as the gene pool of cultivars, species and genera that can be utilized as sources of additional genetic variation for crop improvement. When developing strategies for the optimum use of vegetable germplasm, several problems not found in field crops, ornamentals and fruits should be considered. In vegetables, a part of the immature plant is often utilized. Because it is still physiologically immature, arbitrary judgments concerning time of harvest may greatly affect yield and quality, compared to crops in which the mature seeds are harvested. Second, unlike most ornamentals, tree fruits and small fruits, many vegetables are propagated by seed rather than asexually. An efficient means of stabilizing the commercial genotype(s) must be developed before widespread use is feasible.

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