University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

Seed is the fundamental, crucial and yield enhancing input for sustained growth in crop production. The role of the seed sector is to ensure adequacy, seed quality and varietal diversity. In the significant advances that India made in vegetable production in the last four decades, the role of the seed sector has been substantial.

This text book provides comprehensive information on the basic principles and methods of seed production, heterosis, hybrid seed production and seed technology encompassing most of the important vegetable crops including potato.

This text book has basically been prepared for the graduate and post graduate level students of state and central agricultural universities. Breeders and technical personnel of the private seed companies will also get benefit from this book.

This edition of "Vegetables seed production and hybrid technology" is a revision work which, we believe, will be more acceptable to our students.

Botanical classification of vegetable crops -- Reproduction, seed development and germination -- Climatic factors affecting seed production -- Pollination and fruit set -- Maintenance of genetic purity of a variety -- Principles of seed production -- Open pollinated seed production technology -- Seed tuber and true seed production of Potato -- Multiplication of asexually propagated crops -- Heterosis -- Exploitation of vegetable hybrid in India -- Methodology of hybrid breeding -- Pollination control mechanisms -- Hybrid seed production technology -- Testing the purity of a variety or hybrid -- Post-harvest handling of seeds -- Viability and longevity of seeds -- Seed storage -- References.