Contents: I. Recent trends in vegetable seed production: 1. Cent per cent seed germination-a myth/R. Umarani, K. Vanangamudi and K. Natarajan. 2. Vegetable seed industry - an overview/P. Srimathi, K. Malarkodi, K. Natarajan and K. Vanangamudi. 3. Importance of vegetables in food security and nutrition/K. Kannan, R. Arun Kumar, K. Kamal Kumar, K.R. Vijayalatha and D. Veeraragavathatham. 4. Current scenario of vegetable production in India/M. Venkatesan, T. Saravanan, K.R.V. Sathyasheela and G. Kayalvishi. 5. Floral and fruit structures in vegetables/V. Thirumalmurugan, R. Arun Kumar, K. Kannan, K. Latha and S. Nanthakumar. 6. Pollination mechanism in vegetables/T. Saravanan and S. Nanthakumar. 7. Pollination agents and isolation distances for vegetables/T. Saravanan and S. Nanthakumar. 8. Integrated pest management in vegetable seed production and storage/G. Thilagavathi, H. Savidha and R. Renuka. 9. Integrated disease management in vegetables- an innovative approach/R. Renuka, S. Karpagavalli, V. Ravichandran and G. Kayalvizhi. 10. Post harvest processing of vegetable seeds/T. Saravanan and K. Vanangamudi. II. Quality seed production: i. Solanaceous vegetables: 11. Tomato/T. Eevera and K. Vanangamudi. 12. Brinjal/K. Malarkodi, P. Srimathi and G. Sasthri. 13. Chilli/C. Menaka and K. Vanagamudi. 14. Capsicum/C. Menaka and K. Vanangamudi. 15. Potato/A. Sabir Ahamed and K. Vanangamudi. 16. Okra/P. Murugesan and K. Vanangamudi. ii. Peas and beans: 17. Peas/P. Srimathi, S. Sasikala G. Kayalvizhi and T. Saravanan. 18. French bean/K.R.V. Sathyasheela, S. Nanthakumar and V. Balamurugan. 19. Cowpea/V. Palanisamy, K.R.V. Sathyasheela and V. Balamurugan. 20. Cluster bean/A. Bharathi, K.R.V. Sathyasheela, S. Nanthakumar and V. Balamurugan. 21. Lablab/K.R.V. Sathyasheela, S. Nanthakumar and V. Balamurugan. iii. Cucurbitaceous vegetables: 22. Cucumber/S. Nanthakumar, A. Ramesh Avula and V. Palanisamy. 23. Water melon/A.S. Ponnusamy and V. Saravanakumar. 24. Musk melon/A.S. Ponnusamy, V. Saravanakumar and G. Thilagavathi. 25. Summer squash/A.S. Ponnusamy and V. Saravanakumar. 26. Pumpkin/C. Geetha, K. Vanagamudi and E. Sujatha. 27. Ash gourd/R. Umarani, C. Geetha and K. Vanagamudi. 28. Bitter gourd/A. Vijayakumar, A. Muniraj and G. Thilagavathi. 29. Snake gourd/P. Natesan, A. Muniraj and R. Renuka. 30. Ribbed gourd/S. Nanthakumar, A. Ramesh Avula and R. Renuka. 31. Bottle gourd/S. Kavitha, K. Vanangamudi and R. Renuka. 32. Sponge gourd/S. Kavitha, K. Vanangamudi and K. Latha. iv. Cole vegetables: 33. Cabbage/T. Ramanadane and A.S. Ponnuswamy. 34. Cauliflower/K. Raja and A.S. Ponnuswamy. 35. Knol khol/P. Srimathi and A. Shenbaganathan. v. Root vegetables: 36. Carrot/P. Srimathi, R. Sudha and G. Sasthri. 37. Radish/P. Srimathi, R. Sudha and K. Malarkodi. 38. Beet root/R. Vigneshwari, P. Natesan and A. Bharathi. 39. Turnip/P. Srimathi and A. Shenbaganathan. vi. Tuber vegetables: 40. Cassava/R. Vijayan and P. Natesan. 41. Sweet potato/R. Vigneshwari, P. Natesan and V. Ravichandran. 42. Yam/R. Vigneshwari, P. Natesan and V. Ravichandran. 43. Taro/R. Vijayan and P. Natesan. viii. Bulb vegetables: 44. Bellary onion/K. Natarajan, P. Srimathi and G. Sasthri. 45. Aggregatum onion/K. Natarajan, P. Srimathi and G. Sasthri. ix. Leafy vegetables: 46. Amaranthus/A.S. Ponnusamy, G Somasundaram and J.C. Ragini. x. Salad vegetables: 47. Lettuce/T. Jayaraj and R. Renuka. xi. Perennial vegetables: 48. Annual moringa/N. Natarajan, P. Srimathi and A. Shenbaganathan. III. Special topics: 49. Production and yield improvement in oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.)V. Ravichandran, M. Muthusamy, E.G. Ebenazer, R. Renuka and S. Karpagavalli. 50. Micro array/R. Arun Kumar, K. Kannan, V. Thirumalmurugan and N. Chezhiyan. 51. Microbial dynamics in the spermosphere/M. Senthilkumar and D. Gopalakrishnan. 52. Agricultural biodiversity/D. Gopalakrishnan, M. Senthilkumar and K. Vanagamudi. 53. Edible vaccines/D. Sabarinathan and T. Saravanan. 54. Hydroponics - a technology for urbanization/R. Arun Kumar, A. Anand, K. Vijayaragavan, K. Kannan, K. Latha and V. Thirumalmurugan. 55. Establishment of commercial biofertilizers unit/E. Sujatha, K. Latha, G. Kayalvizhi and R. Renuka. Index.

"The unique feature of this book is the inclusion of chapters explaining the recent trends in vegetable seed production apart from the techniques of quality seed production in vegetables.

Part I of this volume includes chapters explaining the recent trends in vegetable seed production like importance of vegetables in food security and nutrition, seed industry, vegetable production, botany, pollination and isolation mechanisms, integrated disease and pest management and  post harvest technology.

Part II of this volume provides an understanding of all the aspects of quality seed production in vegetables like solanaceous vegetables, potato, bhendi, peas and beans, cucurbitaceous vegetables, Cole vegetables, root vegetables, tuber vegetables, bulb vegetables, leafy vegetables, salad vegetables and perennial vegetables. The important aspects covered under the afore mentioned vegetable crops includes but not limited to crop origin, uses, nutritive value, area and production, botany, propagation, various seed production techniques, certification requirements, seed standards, harvest and post harvest techniques, storage, plant protection, seed pathology, storage entomology and pre sowing treatments.

Chapters with general topics related to vegetables are given in part III, which includes mushroom production, microarray, microbial dynamics in spermosphere, edible vaccines, hydroponics and establishment of commercial biofertilizers units.

This volume would be useful as a textbook to undergraduate and postgraduate students of agriculture, majoring in seed science and technology and plant breeding and genetics as well as students of horticulture. Also, it would serve as a reference book to the scientists involved in seed production and crop improvement programmes." (jacket)