Abstract
Breeding line B4000-3 is a white-seeded, bush-type snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) developed by the U. S. Vegetable Laboratory (USVL). B4000-3 has several characteristics of value to snap bean breeding programs. It has been tested for several seasons throughout the United States and has shown adaptation to diverse environments.
plant species, only 12 are currently exploited commercially to produce vegetable oil despite the increasing world demand ( Baboli and Kordi, 2010 ; Mabaleha et al., 2007 ). Most of this demand is attributed to novel non-food uses including biofuel
AVRDC–The World Vegetable Center was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit international agricultural research institute whose mission is to reduce malnutrition and poverty among the poor through vegetable research and development. Over the past 30 years, AVRDC has developed a vast array of international public goods. The Center plays an essential role in bringing international and interdisciplinary teams together to develop technologies, empower farmers, and address major vegetable-related issues in the developing world. In its unique role, AVRDC functions as a catalyst to 1) build international and interdisciplinary coalitions that engage in vegetable and nutrition issues; 2) generate and disseminate improved germplasm and technologies that address economic and nutritional needs of the poor; 3) collect, characterize, and conserve vegetable germplasm resources for worldwide use; and 4) provide globally accessible, user-friendly, science-based, appropriate technology. In enhancing and promoting vegetable production and consumption in developing world, AVRDC's research programs contribute to increased productivity of the vegetable sector, equity in economic development in favor of rural and urban poor, healthy and more diversified diets for low-income families, environmentally friendly and safe production of vegetables, and improved sustainability of cropping systems. Recent achievements at AVRDC that greatly impact tropical horticulture in the developing world include virus-resistant tomatoes raising farmers income, hybrid sweet pepper breaking the yield barrier in the tropics, flood-resistant chili peppers opening new market opportunities, broccoli varieties for monsoon season, pesticide-free eggplant and leafy vegetable production systems and fertilizer systems that protect the environment. Beyond vegetable crops, AVRDC is playing an important role in expanding and promoting research and development efforts for high value horticultural crops, including fruit, ornamentals, and medicinal plants through its new Global Horticulture Initiative. AVRDC believes that horticulture crop production provides jobs and is an engine for economic growth. The important role AVRDC–The World Vegetable Center plays in developing and promoting tropical horticultural crops is discussed in this paper.
Abstract
Calcium adsorption on the root exchange sites of 4 vegetables as determined by the isotopic exchange method (Ca40–Ca45) was a function of its concentration in the external solution surrounding the roots. As the Ca concentration was increased over the range 0.2 me–8.0 me Ca/1, there was an increase in the Ca adsorbed on roots of sweet corn, cv. ‘Gold Rush’, garden bean cv. ‘Topcrop’, lettuce cv. ‘Bibb’ and cabbage. The Ca adsorption curve of all 4 vegetables showed a plateau between concentrations of 1 and 2 me Ca/1. Root CEC values obtained at Ca concentrations corresponding to this plateau compare closely with values reported by other methods, and are more representative of established CEC values than those reported where the Ca concentration in the external solution was 0.5 me Ca/1.
Surface area of cucumbers, carrots, parsnips, and beets was determined using the following non-destructive methods: Baugerod's method, Baugerod's method with inclusion of a factor correcting for substitution of weight for volume in the formula, and a novel image analysis method. Accuracy of the methods was ascertained by comparison with a direct shrink-wrap replica method of surface area measurement. Vegetables ranged in shape from cylindrical (cucumber and carrot) to conical (parsnip and beet). No difference in accuracy among methods of surface area determination was detected for carrots or beets. Baugerod's method and the image analysis technique differed significantly from the direct shrink-wrap replica technique for surface area determination of parsnips and cucumbers, respectively. Inclusion of a correction factor in Baugerod's method did not increase the accuracy of this method for any of the vegetables. The precision and repeatability of each method was determined by repeated measures analysis. Baugerod's method lost precision and repeatability for the conically shaped vegetables. Conversely, the shrink-wrap replica method lost precision and repeatability for the cylindrically shaped vegetables. The image analysis technique was precise and highly repeatable over the range of vegetable shapes. The development of a rapid, accurate, and precise non-destructive method of surface area measurement using image analysis techniques will provide a useful tool in the physiological study of vegetable products. Applicability of such a method over a range of vegetable shapes will be of additional value.
Long-term goals of reducing environmental impacts associated with agricultural activities must include economic sustainability as well as production feasibility. This study compared the potential economic and environmental impact of two specific cropping systems [wheat/soybeans (w/s) vs. selected vegetable crops with wheat/soybeans (veg/w/s)]. Profitability of w/s was lower than the veg/w/s system but demanded a smaller, less extensive resource base of labor and machinery with fewer conflicts in resource utilization rates. The PLANETOR computer program (Univ. of Minnesota) was used to analyze the potential negative environmental effects of growing a particular crop mix within these two systems. Although some of the vegetable crops exceeded the targeted soil loss tolerance value (T-value) of 3 t/ha, the weighted average of the veg/w/s system was below the target T-value for soil erosion. Analyses suggest that the profits from vegetables in the veg/w/s production more than offset the negative impacts on soil erosion and the veg/w/s system would be more economically feasible than w/s. Potential impact of pesticide leaching and runoff from vegetable production as calculated by PLANETOR was less than that from w/s. Specific cultural practices, including soil/tissue testing to manage nutrient applications, could reduce nitrogen/phosphorus movement. The veg/w/s system may offer the necessary profit margins to allow adoption of more environmentally friendly production alternative.
Abstract
People unaware of the great differences among horticultural crops often regard fruits and vegetables each as a homogeneous group when considering requirements for implementation and support of breeding programs. Each fruit and vegetable crop is different enough, and of sufficient importance, to merit individual consideration. Although the total dollar value or hectarage grown are measures of economic worth of a crop, other factors must be considered when determining the importance of horticultural crops either singularly or as a group. Generally horticultural crops require more intensive culture than field crops, and thus are grown with greater risk which is rewarded by a higher per acre value. The contributions of the horticultural crops to our daily diets are far greater than economic values indicate. The USD A task group (Senti Committee) on GRAS status of new plant cultivars pointed out that fruits and vegetables provide 90% of the Vitamin C, 50% of the Vitamin A, 30% of the B6, 25% of the magnesium, 20% of the thiamin, and 18% of the riboflavin and niacin in the United States food supply. Research support for horticultural crops must reflect, in part, their dietary importance rather than solely their dollar value.
Vegetable crops supply esseential vitamina and minerals for human nutrition and survival. However, most scientists concentrated their effort on crops low in nutrition value, causing much health problem in the developing world. In Asia alone, 300,000 children blind each year due to vitamin A deficiency and 40% population suffered from iron-deficient anemia. Their health and social consequence was unmeasurable. A practical remedy was to increase consumption of DGLVs through home garden program.
Field experiment conducted in East-West Center in Hawaii documented that a 200 sq. ft. small garden could yield vegetable fulfilling RDA of 5 people 200% of vitamin A value and ascorbic acid, 27% iron and 9% protein. Promotion of home garden program requires research, training and education, codination, and policy support. Horticulturists should play important role on all these aspects.
Seeds for Peace Project and proposal for establishing home garden training centers at different levels will be reported.
Abstract
Measurements of the respiratory heat production of potatoes, carrots, cabbage, celery, onions, parsnips and rutabagas at 0°C (32°F), 5°C (41°F) and 16°C (61°F) after 1 to 2 and 4 to 6 months of refrigerated storage showed that heat of respiration generally increased with temp (Q10 values generally between 2 and 4), except for some cultivars of potatoes early during storage. Heat of respiration generally decreased with storage time for carrots and parsnips at all temp and for potatoes at 5°C; for the other vegetables it tended to increase with storage time, particularly at 16°C. The rates of heat production were in many instances substantially lower than often used published values for several kinds of vegetables.
Abstract
Minnesota 266 is an early maturing, andromonecious, short-internode breeding line of muskmelon, Cucumis melo L., from the vegetable improvement program of the Departments of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture, and Plant Pathology. It has value for the home garden and, in addition, it should be useful as a germplasm source for selection as well as for the development of commercial hybrids and/or types for mechanical harvesting.