Germplasm Introduction in Tropical and Sub-tropical Vegetables in South Asia-Achievements and Opportunities

Abstract

It is well understood that while adaptability is a set
of characters specific to a particular region or agroclimate,
the attributes related with yield and sustainability
(stress resistance) have to be pooled from diverse sources
which highlights the need of introductions. Among South
Asian countries, India is the most privileged nation
having almost all sorts of agro-climates, a large area
under undisturbed / partially disturbed forests as reservoir
of variability, and a large group of tropical and subtropical
vegetables having maximum diversity and
distribution. The existing variability is getting depleted
irrespective of the national boundaries with the adoption
of only few high yielding genotypes most suited to
present day conditions of a particular region. The ill
effects of this are now well known, due to fast narrowing
of genetic base of varieties getting prone to biotic and
abiotic stresses fast. This situation warrants for continued
interchange and recombination of plant improvement
material, particularly in South Asian countries where
a good number of vegetables are grown and farmers