Breeding for low-input cultivars of vegetable crops [Philippines].
1985
Rasco E.T. Jr.
Research at the Institute of Plant Breeding [College, Laguna, Philippines] has shown that it is possible to reduce the cash and labor requirements for growing various kinds of vegetables by modifying the following plant traits: plant habit, earliness, ability to fix atmosphere nitrogen, and resistance to pests. In Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Baguio beans), savings of as much as P8,000 per hectare in production cost is possible with the use of bush types instead of current cultivars which are viny. In Dolichos lablab (batao) and Cucurbita moschata (calabasa) growing period can be reduced by more than 50% by using new early genotypes instead of current cultivars which are invariably late maturing. In Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis (sitao) and batao, ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen can be increased by as much as 300%, thus reducing the need for fertilizers. In a number of vegetable species, resistance to major pests can reduce the need for chemical pest control in many cases, and make it possible to grow vegetables where these have not been successfully grown before in some cases. During the last five years, development of commercial type of cultivars with the above superior traits, has been the focus of varietal improvement work.
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