(IPPM) in Vegetables - Vegetableipmasia.org

Resource Manual on IPPM in Vegetable
World Education Philippines, Inc.
This family of plants has a wide variety of economic uses, most importantly as a
vegetable crop. Most cultivated edible varieties including Brussels sprouts, cabbage,
broccoli, and cauliflower were developed by plant breeders from a single species,
Brassica oleracea. Many crucifers are used as condiments and garnishes such as mustard
and cress. Important crops are propagated from seed. Only minor crops such as
watercress, horseradish and sea kale are vegetatively propagated. Although desired by the
market in the case of crops such as mustard, radish and horseradish, crucifers may also be
responsible for toxic manifestations when used as animal feed or in human nutrition.
Recently, some cultivated varieties such as broccoli have been thought to help prevent
cancer. Cruciferous oil seeds rank fifth in importance behind soybeans, cottonseeds,
groundnut and sunflower seed. Animal feeds are provided by cruciferous crops in the
form of silage, seed meal, forage crops (grazed in the field) and root fodder (used for
winter feeds).
The Brassicaceae or Cruciferae Family contains both annual and perennial herbs but
rarely small shrubs. Leaves are usually alternate, exstipulate, with unicellular, simple or
branched hairs. The basic floral structure is highly characteristic and constant, containing
four sepals, four petals, six stamen (four long and two short, a condition called
tetradynamous), and an ovary with two parietal placenta. The form of the cruciferous
flower unites the group more perhaps than any other character. This is always regular,
perfect, and cruciform, especially for the cole crops such as broccoli. The older family
name "Cruciferae" derives from the Maltese cross shape of the four petals. As in most of
the crucifers, pollination is accomplished by nectar secretions into the bases of the
pouched sepals which attracts insects and promotes cross-pollination; however, selfpollination
of the flowers is a frequent occurrence.
C. CUCURBITACEAE FAMILY
The Cucurbitaceae, commonly known as the gourd
or melon family, includes a number of popular and
important vegetables. The other crops of
Cucurbitaceae are watermelon, summer squash,
winter squash, and pumpkin. Among minor crops are
citron, gherkin, and chayote. The last crop is
propagated by large single-seeded fruits and is of no
importance to the seed trade. The family is
characterized briefly by the rather vigorous leafy
prostrate vine habit, although some, notably the
summer squash, have bush-type plants. The
inflorescence and flowers, although distinct for each
vegetable, are nevertheless similar to each other in
color, general form, and arrangement of their parts.
The Cucurbitaceae are mostly prostrate or climbing
herbaceous annuals comprising about 90 genera and
700 species that are further characterized by
commonly having 5-angled stems and coiled tendrils.
The leaves are alternate and usually palmately 5-
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