TEXTBOOK OF UNDERUTILIZED VEGETABLE CROPS

Description ABOUT THE BOOK Underutilized vegetable crops have a long history of local consumption, and local people are aware of their nutritional and medicinal attributes. However, cultivation is done mainly by poor farming communities which derive their sustenance and livelihood from such plants in specialized geographical regions. They have immense potential for contribution to particular pocket’s of food production because they are well adapted to existing and adverse environmental conditions and possess resistance towards pests and diseases. The BSMA committee of ICAR has provided a broad outline of underutilized vegetables. It has been placed in the vegetable science syllabus to complete the course requirement for the award of a Master degree in the discipline of Vegetable Science. Underutilized vegetables have not yet received adequate attention from researchers for their genetic improvement, standardizing of production, and protection protocols. Most of our efforts are restricted to widely grown major and exotic vegetables.  A large number of underutilized vegetables have shown good promise for utilization of the marginal soils, vast areas of which otherwise lie barren as wastelands. The use of these marginal lands will help augmenting supplies of vegetables without conflicting with the food priorities. Advances in plant genomics now provide breeders advanced molecular and bioinformatics’ tools that allow the study of the whole genome to accelerate breeding efforts such as genome sequencing. The concerted efforts are needed to tame the technology and capitalize our knowledge to bring underutilized vegetables in domain of common people.  Author has made an arduous task to address more than 35 underutilized vegetables listed in the syllabus under various heads and has a firm belief that it will address the requirement of study materials on these crops in well fitting manner.  It will be very useful for the students of Vegetable Science and different disciplines of botany and medicinal sciences. CONTENT Chapter No. Title Page Preface Foreword Foreword Chapter-1 Introductory Consideration        Underutilized Vegetables: importance, issues and strategies 1 Nutritional and Medicinal Importance of Underutilized  vegetables 2 Nutritionally rich underutilized Brassica vegetables 3 Nutrient rich underutilized  Legume vegetables 3 Nutrient dense underutilized  Cucurbits 5 Health beneficial Underutilized  Leafy Greens 6 Nutritional and medicinal importance of underutilized  root and tuber vegetables 8 Exploitation of underutilized vegetables for Industrial uses 8 Konjac Glucomannan (KGM) based food products of elephant foot yam 8 Adaptability of underutilized vegetables under adverse edaphic and climatic conditions 9 Criteria in prioritizing underutilized  vegetables 10 Climatic adaptability of underutilized vegetables 10 Availability of seeds and planting materials 11 Consumer’s Preference of underutilized Vegetables: 11 Processing and value-addition of  underutilized vegetables 12 Cultural Biodiversity 12 Constraints for the Development of Underutilized Vegetable Crops 12 Genetic Improvement of Underutilized   Vegetable Crops 12 Conclusion 14  Breeding approaches for improvement of Underutilized legume vegetables 15 References 17 UNIT :  I STEM AND BULB CROPS    Chapter-2 Asparagus 24 Area and Production 24 Origin and Distribution 25 Climate and Soil 24 Botanical Description 25 Taxonomic position of  genus Asparagus 26 Morphological Description of  Plant 26 Varieties 26 Propagation 28 Seed Propagation 28 Crown Propagation 28 Sowing and Planting Time 28 Manures and Fertilizers 28 Irrigation and Weed Management 28 Harvesting 29 Post harvest Management 29 Pre-cooling and Storage Conditions 29 Postharvest Disease 30 Physiological Disorders 30 Major Diseases 30 Major Pests 31 Genetic Resources and Improvement 32 Tissue Culture 32 References 33 Chapter-3 Leek 34 Origin and Distribution 34 Botanical Description 34 Taxonomic position of  genus      Allium L 35 Morphological Description of  Plant 35 Cytogenetics 35 Varieties 35 Cultural Practices 36 Harvesting and Yield 36 Major Diseases 36 Major Pests 37 Genetic Resources and Improvement 37 Tissue culture 38 References 38 Chapter-4.  Globe Artichoke 40 Origin and Distribution 40  Climate and Soil 41  Propagation and Planting 41  Seeding 41  Planting 42 Irrigation 42 Use of PGR 42  Interculture 42 Major Pests 43  Major Diseases 43 Harvesting and  Storage 45  In vitro propagation 45 References 45 Chapter-5. Chinese  Chives 48 Origin and Distribution 48 Botanical Description 48 Morphology 48 Climate and Soil 49 Propagation 49 Raising the seedlings and planting 49 Manures and Fertilizers 49  Intercropping 49 Growth and Development 50 Harvesting 50  Packaging and Storage 50 Cultivars 50 Genetic  Resources  and Improvement 51  Micro-propagation 51 References 51 UNIT:  II  COLE AND SALAD CROPS Chapter-6.  Red Cabbage 53 Nutritive value of  red cabbage 53 Botanical Description 53 Cultural Practices 54  Varieties 54 Harvesting and Yield 54  Major Diseases 54  In vitro propagation 56  References 56 Chapter-7.  Chinese Cabbage 57 Origin and Distribution 57 Botanical Description 57 Morphological Description of  Plant 57 Climate and Soil 58  Varieties 58  Cultural Practices 58  Major Diseases 58  Important Pests 59 Harvesting and Yield 60  Seed Production 60  Physiological Disorders 60 Genetic Improvement 60  Biotechnology 61 References 61 Chapter-8. Kale 61 Origin and Distribution 62 Botanical Description 62 The distinguishing characters between kale and collards 63 Climate and Soil 63 Agro-techniques 64 Land preparation 64  Manures and Fertilizers 64 Nursery Raising and Transplanting 64 Irrigation and Inter-culture 64 Harvesting and Storage 65  Plant protection 65 Genetic Resources and Improvement 66 References 67 Chapter-9. Sweet Corn 70 Nutritive value 70 Taxonomic Position of the Genus Zea 70  Varieties 71 Description of Plant 71 Genetics 71 Climate and Soil 73 Seed Rate 73  Method of Sowing 73 Manures and Fertilizers 73  Weed Management 73 Intercropping 74  Harvesting of Cobs 74  Postharvest  Handling 74  Yield 75 Major Pests 75 Major Diseases 76 Improvement 76  References 76 Chapter-10 Baby Corn 77 Nutritional  value  of  Baby corn 77 Production and Export of Baby corn 77 Botanical Description 78 Varieties 78 Climate and Soil 78  Planting Season 78  Manures and Fertilizers 78   Seed rate and Spacing 79  Irrigation 79  Weed control 79 Plant Protection 79  Cross Pollination 79  Detasseling 79  Intercropping 80  Harvesting and Yield 80 Improvement 80 References 80 UNIT: III GOURDS & MELONS   Chapter-11. Sweet Gourd 81 Nutritive value of sweet gourd 81 Origin and Distribution 81 Botanical Description 81 Taxonomic position of Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng 82 Climate and  Soil 82 Propagation 82 Time and method of planting 83 Manures and Fertilizers 83 Intercultural operation and training 83 Anthesis 83 Harvesting, Yield and Processing 83 Major diseases 84  Major Insect-pests 84 Genetic Resources and Improvement 84 References 84 Chapter-12. Spine Gourd 86 Nutritive value of spine gourd 86 Origin and Distribution 86 Botanical Description 87 Taxonomic position of Momordica dioica. 87 Cytogenetics 87 Climate and  Soil 87 Propagation 87  Seed Propagation 87 By tuber 88 By stem cuttings 88 Grafting 88 Manures and Fertilizers 88 Intercultural operation and training 88 Anthesis and Pollen Grain Germination 89 PGR for Sex Alteration 89 Harvesting and Yield 89 Genetic Resources and Improvement 89  Tissue culture 90 References 90 Chapter-13. Teasle Gourd 93 Nutritive value of  teasle gourd 93 Origin and Distribution 94 Botanical Description 94 Taxonomic position of Cucumis dipsaceus 94  Agro-techniques 95 Genetic Resources and Improvement 95  References 96 Chapter-14.  Round Gourd 98 Nutritive value of   Round Gourd(tinda) 98 Origin and Distribution 99 Botanical Description 99 Taxonomic  status 99 Cultivars 100 Climate and  Soil 101 Manures and Fertilizers 101  Seed Treatment 102 Sowing time 102 Application of PGR 102 Water Management 102 Weed  Management 102 Harvesting and Yield 103 Major Diseases 103 Major Pests 103 Genetic Resources and Improvement 104 References 104 Chapter-15. Ivy Gourd 107 Nutritive value of Ivy Gourd 107 Origin and Distribution 107 Botanical Description 107 Taxonomic position of Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt 107 Climate and  Soil 108 Propagation 108 Planting  Methods 109 Transplanting time 109 Manures and Fertilizers 109 Irrigation and Interculture 109 Harvesting and Yield 109 Improved varieties 110 Major Diseases 110 Genetic Resources and Improvement 110 Tissue culture 112 References 113 Chapter-16.  Snake Gourd 115 Nutritive value of   snake gourd 115 Origin and Distribution 115 Botanical Description 115  Description of important Species 116  Chromosome  Number of important Species 116 Varieties 117 Climate and  Soil 117 Manures and Fertilizers 117 Sowing time, seed rate and spacing 117  Irrigation, weeding and staking 115 Use of PPGR 116 Anthesis 116 Harvesting  and Yield 118  Major Diseases 118  Major  Pests 119 Genetic Resources and Improvement 120 In vitro  regeneration 121 References 121 Chapter-17. Pointed Gourd 124 Nutritive value of  pointed gourd 124 Origin and Distribution 124 Botanical Description 124 Taxonomic position of Momordica dioica. 124 Climate and  Soil 125  Cultivars 125 Propagation 125 Improved varieties of pointed gourd and their attributes 126 Manures and Fertilizers 129  Irrigation 129 Interculture, Pruning and Training 129 Crop Rotation and Intercropping 129 Use of PGR 130 Harvesting, Yield and Storage 130 Plant Protection 130 Genetic Resources and Improvement 131 In vitro Propagation 132  References 132 Chapter-18.   Kachari 135 Origin and Distribution 135 Botanical Description 136 Taxonomic  status 136 Varieties 136 Agro-techniques 137  Anthesis 137  Harvesting and Post harvest Management 137 References 136 Chapter-19.   Long Melon 140 Origin and Distribution 140 Botanical Description 140 Climate and Soil 140 Manures and Fertilizers 141  Irrigation 141  Major diseases 141  Pests and Their control 142 Harvesting 142 Seed Production 142 Genetic Resources and Improvement 143 In vitro Propagation 143 References 143 Chapter-20.  Snap Melon 144   Nutritive value of   snap melon 143 Origin and Distribution 144 Botanical Description 144 Climate and Soil 144 Manures and Fertilizers 145  Irrigation and Interculture 145 Harvesting and Yield 145 Varieties 145 Genetic Resources and Improvement 146 Biotechnology 148 References 148 Chapter-21.  Gherkin 151 Nutritive value of   gherkin 151 Origin and Distribution 151 International Trade 151 Botanical Description 152 Taxonomic position 152 Varieties 153 Climate and  Soil 153 Manures and Fertilizers 152  Seed Rate and Sowing 154 Irrigation 154 Pollination and Fruit set 154 Staking 154 Harvesting and Yield 154 Grade 155 Hydro cooling 155 Salt brining 155 Major Pests 156 Major Diseases 159 Genetic Resources and Improvement 160 References 161 Chapter-22. Oriental Pickling Melon 162 Nutritive value of Oriental Pickling Melon 162 Origin and Distribution 162 Botanical Description 162 Taxonomic position of Oriental Pickling Melon 162 Varieties 163 Preparation of land 164 Manures and Fertilizers 164 Seed Rate 164 Sowing 164 Spacing 164 Flowering, Fruiting and Harvesting 164 Plant Protection 164 Seed Extraction 165 Genetic Resources and Improvement 165 References 166 UNIT:  IV LEAFY VEGETABLES   Chapter-23. Celery 168 Nutritional composition of  celery leaves and  stalk 168 Origin and Distribution 168 Botanical Description 169 Taxonomic position of the genus Apium 169 Morphological Description 169 Cytogenetics 170  Varieties 170 Climate and Soil 171 Nursery Raising and Transplanting 171 Manures and Fertilizers 171  Irrigation 171  Blanching 171  Harvesting  and Yield 171 Controlled Atmosphere  Storage 172 Major Diseases 172 Major Pests 173 Genetic Resources and Improvement 174 Tissue culture 176 References 177 Chapter-24.  ParsleY 179 Nutritional composition of   fresh leaves  of parsley 179 Origin and Distribution 180 Botanical Description 180 Taxonomic position of the genus  Petroselinum 180 Morphological Description 180 Climate and Soil 180 Seed Sowing and Planting 180 Interculture 181 Plant Protection 181 Harvesting  and Yield 181 Postharvest Management 181  Controlled Atmosphere  Storage 182 Genetic Resources and Improvement 182 Tissue culture 183 References 183 Chapter-25.  Indian Spinach 185 Nutritional compositional   of  Indian spinach 185 Gomphrenin 185 Origin and Distribution 186 Botanical Description 186 Taxonomic position of the genus   Basella 186 Climate and  Soil 186 Propagation 187 Seed Propagation 187 Vegetative Propagation 188 Manures and Fertilizers 188 Effect of N application on the plant composition 188 Irrigation 189 Weed Management 189 Effect of Photoperiod and Plant Growth Substances 189 Fertilization and Embryogenesis 189  Pests and Diseases 190 Harvesting and   Yield 190  Seed Production 190 Genetic Resources and Improvement 190 In vitro Propagation 190 References 191 Chapter-26. Spinach 193 Nutritional compositional   of spinach 193 Trace element content in amaranth leaves 193 Origin and Distribution 194 Botanical Description 194 Taxonomic position of the genus  Spinacia 195 Morphological Description of Plant 195 Varieties 195 Climate and  Soil 196 Manures and Fertilizers 196 Sowing and Seed Rate 196 Weed Management 196 Growth and Development 196  Irrigation 197 Harvesting and   Yield 197  Seed Production 197 Hybrid Seed Production 198 Isolation Distance 198 Roguing stages 198 Harvesting and Seed Processing 198  Plant Protection 198 Genetic  Resources  and Improvement 199 Breeding for Low Anti Nutritional Factors 199 Breeding for Pest Resistance 200 Tissue Culture 200 References 200 Chapter-27. Chenopod 203 Nutritive value of chenopod leaves 203 Essential amino acid content of chenopod leaf protein 203 Origin and Distribution 204 Botanical Description 204 Climate and  Soil 205 Agro-techniques 205 Varieties 205 Harvesting and Yield 205 Genetic Resources and Improvement 206 References 206 Chapter-28. chekurmanis 207 Nutritive value of Chekurmanis leaves 207 Origin and Distribution 208 Botanical Description 208 Taxonomic position of the genus Sauropus L 208 Climate and  Soil 208  Propagation 208 Planting 208 Interculture and  Irrigation 209 Mycorrhizal Association 209  Harvesting 209 Improvement and Prospects 209  Tissue culture 209 References 209 Chapter-29.  Water Spinach 211 Nutritive value of   water spinach 211 Origin and Distribution 212 Botanical Description 212 Cultivars 213 Climate and  Soil 213 Propagation 214 Spacing 214 Manures and Fertilizers 214 Mulching and  Ratooning 214 Harvesting, Yield and Storage 215 Plant  Protection 216 Seed Production 216 Genetic Resources and Improvement 216 References 216 UNIT: V  YAM AND BEANS   Chapter-30. Elephant  Foot Yam 219 The nutritive value of  elephant foot yam 219 Botanical Description 220 Cytological Studies 221 Description of  A. paenifolius 221 Varieties 222 Climate and  Soil 222 Field Preparation and Planting 222 Rapid multiplication of elephant foot yam 223 Sprout bud culture 223 Manures and fertilizes 223 Irrigation 224 Interculture 224 Harvesting and Yield 224 In vitro Propagation 224 References 224 Chapter-31. Yams 226  List of common and underutilized  Yams 227  Greater yam  (Dioscorea alata L.) 227  Lesser yam  ( Dioscorea  esculenta (Lour) Burk. 229  White yam  ( Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) 231 Potato yam  ( Dioscorea bulbifera L.) 232 Yellow yam (D. cayenesis L.) 233 Bitter yam (D. dumentorum (Kunth.) 234 Chinese yam (D. opposita Thunb.) 234 Buck yam (D. pentaphylla L.) 235 Cush-Cush yam (D. trifida L.) 235 Dioscorea japonica Thunb.) 236   Dioscorea nummularia Lam.) 237 Dioscorea belophylla Voight) 237 D. anguina Roxb. Syn. D. puber. 237 References 238 Chapter-32. Yam Bean 239 Nutritive value of   yam bean 239 Origin and Distribution 240 Botanical Description 240 Climate and  Soil 241  Propagation 241 Time of Planting 241 Manures and Fertilizers 241  Flowering and Root Growth 242  Harvesting and Yield 242  Major diseases 243  Cultivars 243  Genetic Resources and Improvement 244 References 245 Chapter-33. Lima Bean 248 Nutritive value of Lima bean 248 Origin and Distribution 248 Botanical Description 249 Important  Species under the genus  Phaseolus 249 Description of Plant 250 Cultivars 250 Climate and  Soil 251 Seed Sowing and Germination 251  Nitrogen Fixation 251 Harvesting and Yield 251  Seed Production 251 Major Diseases 252 Genetic Resources and Improvement 253 References 254 Chapter-34. Winged Bean 257 Nutritive value of  Winged Bean 257 The amino acid composition of winged bean pods and seeds 257 Nutritive value of winged bean tuberous root 258 Origin and Distribution 258 Botanical Description 258 Embryology and Seed Development 259 Climate and  Soil 259 Sowing and Seed Rate 259 Manures and Fertilizers 260 Nodulation 260 Staking 260 Flowering and Photoperiod 260  Harvesting and Yield 261  Major diseases 261 Major Pests 257 Improvement 261 In- vitro  propagation 262 References 262   ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. A.K. Pandey is Dean, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi.  Prior to join RLBCAU, Jhansi, Dr. Pandey served as Dean, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh under Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur. Before entering Central University service, Dr. Pandey worked as Principal Scientist at Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi. He is ARS Scientist of 1985 batch. Dr. Pandey obtained his M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. degree in Horticulture from C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. Dr. Pandey participated in the Ist International Post Graduate Course on Protected Agriculture in Arid and Semi-arid Region at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. He has published more than 87 research papers, 172 popular articles and review articles in journals of national and international repute. Dr. Pandey till date has authored 15 books, and out of his many books, Underutilized Vegetable Crops ,  Aquatic vegetables, Velvet bean   (Mucuna prureins L. DC.),  Exotic Vegetables,  Curry leaf and  and  The wealth of Perennial Vegetables are most referred text. Dr. Pandey’s contribution towards utilizing the underutilized vegetable crops in addressing the nutritional security is considered one of the most notable achievements in enriching the food diversity and inviting the attention of researchers to lesser known vegetables of the country. Dr. Pandey has been conferred several awards and honours for his distinguished academic contributions. Hon’ble President of India has conferred on him the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Gyan-Vigyan Purskar.  Apart from these, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India honoured him  thrice for his significant contribution. Dr. Pandey is a prolific writer and for his significant contribution, Scientific and Applied Research Centre, Meerut. UP has conferred on him the Outstanding Authorship in Science and Technology Award, 2010 and Life Time Achievement Award, 2016 by BSRD, Allahabad. Dr. Pandey is a Member on Board of a number of Scientific Societies and Academic panels. He is a fellow of Indian Society of Vegetable Science (ISVS), Varanasi and Society of Biological Sciences and Rural Development, Allahabad.