Role of Hybrids in Vegetable Production Om Prakash Meena1* and Nirmal Kumar Meena2
1Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab-141004 2Division of Food Science & Post Harvest Technology, IARI, New Delhi
Introduction Due to ever-increasing demand of vegetables in our country, the use of hybrids become popular to fulfill the recommended consumption level of 300g vegetables per capita per day. In the past two decades, in most of vegetable crops such as tomato, cabbage, okra, capsicum, gourds and melons, the open pollinated varieties are being replaced with the hybrids ones. The introduction of hybrids in public and private sector has greatly boosted up the vegetable production in our country (De and Bhattacharjee, 2011). In India, the first report of hybrid vigour was reported in chillies during 1933 from IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute). Choudhury and Singh (1971) first developed the breeding of the F1 hybrid in India and first vegetable hybrid was developed in bottle gourd viz. Pusa Meghdoot from IARI in 1971. In 1973, IARI regional station at Katrain developed an F1
hybrid in summer squash named Pusa Alankar followed by one in cucumber namely Pusa Sanyog. In 1981, IIHR, Bangalore released first F1 hybrid in brinjal named Arka Navneet. The credit of popularizing F1 hybrids in India, however, goes to the private sector. The first F1 hybrid of tomato, ‘Karnataka’ and capsicum, ‘Bharat’ were released for commercial cultivation in 1973 from private sector by a private seed company M/S Indo-American Hybrid Seeds (IAHS). Later in 1980, IAHS released another two hybrids Vashali and Rupali in tomato. According to Chadha (1997) growing of hybrids became popular with the introduction of new seed policy declared in 1988, which liberalized seed imports under open general licence (OGI) with the objective to provide the farmers best quality planting materials. The economic utility has been exploited commercially in several vegetable crops like onion, sweet corn, tomato, brinjal, capsicum, cabbage, broccoli, carrot, spinach, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, watermelon and muskmelon. Realizing potentialities of vegetable hybrid technology, ICAR initiated a network project entitled, ‘Promotion of Hybrid
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Hybrid varieties play a vital role in increasing vegetable production due to their high yield potential, early maturing, superior quality, disease and pest resistance attributes. Hybrid varieties are of recent origin in India whereas in many developed countries they are being grown for many years. Tomato, eggplant, pepper, cucumber, muskmelon, watermelon, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, etc. are important crops for which hybrids are available and are being adopted by many Indian farmers.
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Research in Vegetable Crops’ during 1995-96 in nine vegetables (tomato, brinjal, chilli, capsicum, okra, onion, cabbage, cucumber and bitter gourd) with the following objectives:
� To increase the productivity of vegetables, � To incorporate biotic stress resistance in the hybrids, � To strengthen hybrid seed research and hybrid seed production technology, � To test the proven hybrids for their potentialities, � To establish their production technology.
Current Status of Hybrids Vegetable production of our country is still dominated by the locally available genotypes or open pollinated varieties. This is mainly due to farmer’s ignorance and poor extension activities. Hybrid varieties in India are of recent origin. Presently, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the leading producing states of hybrid tomatoes. The entire cabbage production in southern parts of Maharashtra and West Bengal is under F1 hybrids. However, it is estimated that presently only about 10 per cent of vegetable area is under hybrids, of which tomatoes cover 36 per cent, cabbage 30 per cent, brinjal 18 per cent, okra 7 per cent, melons and gourds 5 per cent each, cauliflower 2 per cent and chilli 1 per cent. With awareness of advantages for cultivation of F1 hybrids, the area is bound to extend (Singh, 2004). Hybrid Varieties Development Tremendous progress has been made by public and private sectors in the development of hybrids in several vegetables including tomato, brinjal, chilli, capsicum, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, muskmelon, watermelon, carrot, onion etc.
Table 1: Vegetable Hybrids Developed by Public and Private Sectors Crops Hybrids in Public Sector Hybrids in Private Sector
Tomato Pusa Hybrid-1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 11, NDTH-1, 2, 4, 6, Pusa Divya, Arka Vishal, Arka Vardan, Pant Hybrid- 1, 2, 10, KT-4, Phule Hybrid-1, Arka Ananya, Arka Abhijit, Arka Samrat, Arka Shreshta, Arka Rakshak, COTH-1, 2, Co-3, TH-2312, TH-802, Solan Shagun, Vasundhara (hybrid-28), Swarna Sampada
Sri Ganesh Gol, Quisto, Cabbage No.8, Nath-401, 501, BSS-32, Krishna, Vishesh, Hari Rani, Bahar, Pragati, Kaveri, Ganga, Yamuna, Green Express, Kanchanjunga, Kalyani, Green Challenger, Gloria, Runa, Rotan, Green Boy, Herculis, Stone Head, Green Cornet.
Problem/Constraints in Hybrid Industry High cost of F1 hybrid seed is one of the major handicaps of successful hybrid vegetable technology. This is because under-utilization of available genetic tools for economic F1 seed production. In the entire country, mostly hand emasculation and hand pollination technique is being followed (with very little exception) to develop F1 hybrid seeds in most of vegetable crops. Besides, there are several other constraints prevailing, which act as barriers in the rapid spreading of hybrid vegetable technology in our country (Rai and Yadav, 2005). Some of these constraints are:
• Non availability of infrastructure facilities in Government institutions, • Inadequate research emphasis in vegetable hybrid production, • Lack of promising inbred lines in most vegetable crops, • Costlier affair for production of hybrid seeds, • There are many vegetable crops which do not show hybrid vigour, • Lack of advanced production technology with adequate inputs, • Increased costs of hybrid seeds along with expensive production technologies limit the
spread of hybrids, • Highly specialized technical knowhow requires highly qualified person or labour.
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Advantage of Hybrids Although cost of F1 hybrid seed production is very high, the vegetable growers raise crops through these seeds due to the following advantages:
� Hybrids (F1) are early in maturity e.g. cabbage, onion, tomato, watermelon, muskmelon etc. � Better yield and productivity: F1 have better weight of fruits (tomato), bulbs (onion) and
heads (cabbage); and number of fruits (cucumber, tomato, eggplant, okra, pumpkin etc.). � Better quality (compactness of head in cabbage, thick skinned fruit, high TSS, ascorbic
acid content in tomato, high carotene in carrot etc.). � Hybrids have uniform size of produce e.g., onion (bulb), cabbage (head), tomato (fruits). � Adaptable to adverse climatic conditions. � Resistance to several biotic and abiotic stresses.
Vegetable Hybrids: A Comparison Presently, the commercial vegetable growers are quite aware about the importance of hybrid varieties as they are high yielding, for example, hybrid tomatoes can yield 75-85 t/ha compared to the best open pollinated varieties (20-35 t/ha). Similarity cabbage hybrids can yield 55-75 t/ha as against 25-35 t/ha by commercial cultivars like Golden Acre or Pride of India. Uniform in maturity is of great importance of hybrids, as they can tolerate the impact of biotic and abiotic stresses and have better quality produce as compared to standard varieties/cultivars. Different ICAR research institutes have contributed considerably to develop hybrid varieties. In India, more than 100 hybrid varieties of 15 vegetables have been developed in the public sector at present. The private seed companies have done commendable work in popularizing the hybrid varieties in India. In the present scenario, there is a very tough competition amongst the private seed companies (both national and multinational) due to liberalization of seed policy. The hybrids developed and released by public sector have not gained popularity among the farmers either due to weak seed production or due to poor seed marketing infrastructures at the Government level. In contrast, private sector establishments are rather prompt and well planned from quality seed production to seed distribution network. For this reason, hybrid varieties of vegetables developed by private sectors have made a significant impact in the grower’s fields in India (Sumathi and Vanangamudi, 2010).
Some Success Stories In spite of several constraints, there are some success stories of hybrid vegetable technology in certain specific region of our country. These achievements were made possible by utilization of genetic male sterile lines produce more economic F1 seeds and adoption of improved agro-techniques for hybrid seed production of vegetable crops. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has taken lead in developing muskmelon hybrid ‘Punjab Hybrid’ from cross MS-1 x Hara Madhu. In Punjab, many farmers are trained for utilization of male-sterility for F1 hybrid seed production. Punjab Agricultural University and National Seed Corporation supply seeds of both male and female lines to the farmers and F1 seeds are then produced. This programme is highly successful in muskmelon and gaining momentum in case of chilli hybrid ‘CH-1’ developed from cross MS-12 x ELS. MS-12 is a genic male sterile line in the back ground of ‘Punjab Lal’, developed by incorporating male sterile gene introduced from France. ‘CH-1’ hybrid exhibited 160
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per cent heterosis for yield besides having tolerance to some diseases. Utilizing self-incompatibility and gene cytoplasmic male sterility system, two hybrids viz., ‘BRH-5’ and ‘H-64’, respectively have been developed in cabbage at Katrain and are being evaluated under monitoring of Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi at several centres. In cucumber ‘Pusa Sanyog’ (Japanese Gynoecious line x Green Long) has been developed at IARI and recommended for cultivation through All India Coordinated Vegetable Improvement Project. Gene cytoplasmic male sterility system has been used to develop ‘Arka Pitambar’ and ‘Arka Kirtiman’ hybrids in onion at Indian Institute Horticultural Research, Bangalore. In carrot cytoplasmic male sterility and in muskmelon genic male sterility is being used to develop low cost hybrid seeds at many places (Kalloo et al., 2001; Rai and Rai, 2006).
Tips for Hybrid Vegetable Production • The seeds of hybrids should be produced every year and the selfed seeds of F1 hybrids should
not be used. • The packaging and leveling should be checked properly while purchasing of seeds. • It is advisable to select the best hybrid one under the guidance of Scientist/Agricultural officer
of SAU/ ICAR/ other Govt. departments. • The cost of hybrid seeds is very high and so the hybrid seeds should be used only when they
exceed at least 30-40% in total yield than the already existing varieties. • The seed rate of hybrid vegetables should be used judiciously to maintain proper spacing. • Before sowing of seeds, the nursery beds should be sterilized with 2-5% formalin. • Hybrid vegetables respond higher doses of nutrients and therefore, balanced use of NPK and
proper methods of their application should be followed. • Proper training and pruning should be followed in indeterminate types of tomato hybrids. • The vegetable crop/ hybrid of an area should be chosen suited to the agro-ecological
conditions of that particular site to obtain more yields. • To minimize the risk of epidemic incidences of diseases, weeds and insect-pests, the
recommended plant protection schedule should be followed strictly.
Future Strategies In the coming year, aim should be to increase vegetable production not only to meet requirement of our population but also increase per caput income of marginal farmers. In the context of decreasing land holding of Indian farmers and liberalized economic policy of Indian Government, hybrid vegetables seem to be most remunerative. By growing F1 hybrids, production of quality vegetables can be increased many folds which will ensure surplus production for fresh export and post-harvest industry. Therefore, on following areas where, there is urgent need to take attention for vegetable hybrids (Kalloo et al., 2001).
� A proper linkage is necessary between the public and private sector and the actual hybrid grower in the specific areas/ zone of the country.
� A close network development is needed with the private companies within the country or outside at the international market, engaged in hybrid seed production, in the Asiatic countries including India.
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� The Government should give emphasis on the hybrid seed production within the country to maintain the prescribed standards/ limits fixed by Govt. agencies from time to time under the lows and legislation.
� The public and private sectors should exchange the inbred lines in liberal way to develop elite hybrids and their seed multiplication at cheap rate.
� The Govt. should support financially to the SAUs/ Institutions/ vegetable growers to strengthen teaching, research and extension activities.
� A minimum support price or crop insurance covering is to be provided to the hybrid vegetable growers to get reliefs from natural hazards like drought, hail storms, floods etc. and other biotic and abiotic factors.
� Application of biotechnological approaches for production of high yielding and disease resistant hybrid vegetables.
� Development of infrastructure facilities like glasshouse/ polyhouse for production of hybrid seeds of high value vegetables under vagaries of climate.
� Development of sound post-harvest management techniques and established network of local chains and cold rooms will be a boon for the vegetable growers.
� Training programme on hybrid seed and crop production for the state government officer and farmers needs to be strengthened. On the pattern of Punjab farmers, hybrid seed production in farmer’s field is feasible in many region of this country by imparting training to the vegetable growers. Techniques for emasculation, pollination, proper bagging and tagging, identification of proper stage of hybridization, male sterile plants, harvesting and extraction of F1 seeds and testing of genetic and physical purity of seeds by recent tools should be important aspect for the training programme.
Table 3: Research Priorities for Hybrid Seed Production System and Specific Traits (Kalloo et al., 2001)
Crop F1 Seed Production System Heterosis Breeding Aims Tomato Use of genetic cytoplasmic male sterile (cms)
and genic male sterile lines. Tolerant to high temperature (off-season), high TSS and high lycopene content.
Chilli Use of cytoplasmic male sterile (cms) or genic male sterile lines.
High oleoresin.
Capsicum Standardization of techniques for plains (use of protected infrastructure).
Adapted to the plains of North India.
Cauliflower Use of strong self-incompatible or cytoplasmic male sterile lines.
Heat tolerance (Off-season).
Cabbage Use of strong self-incompatible or cytoplasmic male sterile lines.
Tolerant to high temperature (tropical cabbage).
Onion Development and use of short day cytoplasmic male sterile lines.
Photoperiod insensitive (off-season).
Carrot Use of cytoplasmic male sterile lines. High carotene content.
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Reference
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Peter KV and Pradeepkumar T. 2008. F1 hybrids identified under AICRP. In: Genetics and Breeding of Vegetable Crops. ICAR, New Delhi. pp. 415-418.
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