BP Singh

114 Pratiblta BrahmiCucumber: Even though India is credited as centre of origin forthis crop, breeding and improvement have been very meagreespecially in native varieties suitable for hot and wet weatherconditions. There is also tremendous scope with gynoecious linesin breeding programmes.Pumpkin: A good amount of variability in Cucurbita moschata willhave to be screened for fruit set under long day and short dayconditions and resistance to virus and powdery mildew in exoticcollections from Central and South America. Similarly, in bottlegourd, germplasm needs to be enriched from African sources.Bitter gourd: Resistance to virus and fruitfly will be of importancein evaluation while new collections from South East Asia may beintroducedOnion: Primitive onion cultivars from Asian, African and CentralAmerican countries with photoinsensitivity must be augmented.Allium sp. with resistance to thrips, purple blotch, blight andstorage diseases, also need to be introduced and evaluated.Garlic : There is strong need to introduce garlic cultivars fromsubtropical countries and Europe to test their export potential.French bean: French bean cultivars tolerant to high temperatureconditions especially for the plains of north India and high levelof pest and disease resistance from central and south Americancountries are required.Cabbage: Apart from high temperature, black rot, soft rot anddiamond back moth are some of the important problems limitingproductivity in cabbage. Tropical cabbages developed in Taiwanand Philippines will have to be introduced and evaluated forIndian conditions so that new varieties can be developed.Okra: New material possessing resistance to yellow vein mosaicfrom Africa, should be introduced for intensive resistance breedingprogramme. Varieties with export potential should also be tested.These are only brief outlines for future programmes. Breedersshould emphasize the need in vegetable workshops and other foraso that NBPGR can be guided for future programmes.