eChapters

Abstract
The global population is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, with rural youth (aged 15–34) in developing countries of Africa and Asia facing significant challenges like unemployment, poverty, and limited access to resources such as land, credit, and education. Despite agriculture's potential to provide livelihoods and contribute to 32% of global employment, rural youth are increasingly disengaged, perceiving farming as unattractive due to its image of drudgery and lack of profitability. Agri-preneurship, blending agriculture with entrepreneurial skills, offers a solution by fostering innovative, profitable farm businesses. Initiatives like India’s ARYA program and private efforts such as the Green Shoots Foundation promote skill development, encouraging youth to pursue agriculture through training, microfinance, and market linkages. Empowering rural youth with entrepreneurial competencies can enhance food security, reduce rural outmigration, and support sustainable development.
Keywords: Agri-preneurship, Rural Youth, Agriculture, Skill Development, Food Security, Sustainable Development, Rural Outmigration, Entrepreneurial Competencies, Employment, Market Linkagesk

Abstract
Rural women in India play a pivotal role in economic development, particularly through their significant contributions to dairy farming, a key enterprise in rural economies. Despite their extensive involvement in dairy activities such as fodder collection, milking, and animal care, their labour often remains non-monetized, limiting economic empowerment. Dairy farming, bolstered by initiatives like Operation Flood, has made India the world’s largest milk producer, offering profitable opportunities for rural women. Entrepreneurship in dairy farming can economically empower women, granting them decision-making autonomy and social recognition. Government schemes, NGOs, and institutions like KVKs facilitate this through training, formation of Women Dairy Cooperatives, and Self-Help Groups. Success stories from Chittoor, Jajpur, and Valsad highlight women leveraging dairy enterprises for financial independence and community inspiration. Promoting women’s entrepreneurship in dairy farming through skill development and market access is crucial for their socio-economic upliftment.
Keywords: Rural Women, Dairy Farming, Entrepreneurship, Economic Empowerment, Women Dairy Cooperatives, Self-Help Groups, Operation Flood, Socio-Economic Development, Milk Production, Skill Development

Abstract
India, with 70% of its population reliant on agriculture, faces a challenge in rural development due to a modest 3.64% agricultural growth rate against a target of 4%, lagging behind the 7-8% growth in manufacturing and services. This disparity leaves rural communities unable to fully benefit from national economic progress. Promoting agripreneurship is a vital strategy to harness rural resources, enhance livelihoods, and achieve balanced economic development. Opportunities abound in agricultural inputs, farming technologies, output processing, and allied sectors like dairy, poultry, horticulture, and sericulture. However, challenges such as limited awareness, weak entrepreneurial culture, poor infrastructure, and insufficient government focus hinder progress. Strategic interventions in these areas can unlock the potential for sustainable rural growth and economic inclusivity.
Keywords: Agripreneurship, Rural Development, Agriculture, Economic Growth, Farming Technologies, Agricultural Inputs, Dairy Development, Horticulture, Infrastructure Challenges, Sustainable Development
 

Abstract
Sustainable entrepreneurship integrates social and environmental goals with economic viability, aiming to enhance human well-being while preserving ecological systems for future generations. Unlike conventional entrepreneurship, which prioritizes profit, sustainable entrepreneurship focuses on maintaining resources and bolstering socio-ecological systems through innovative, risk-taking ventures. It combines elements of ecopreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and institutional entrepreneurship to address environmental degradation and social inequities, creating value for diverse stakeholders. By realizing sustainability innovations, such enterprises meet unmet demands for environmental and social  improvements, contributing to equitable resource distribution and long-term societal benefits. The growing emphasis on sustainable development as a public policy priority underscores the need for entrepreneurship that supports ecological and social processes, fostering inclusive growth and resilience.
Keywords: Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Ecopreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Development, Socio-Ecological Systems, Innovation, Resource Preservation, Stakeholder Engagement, Environmental Gains, Social Equity

Abstract
Agriculture is still main grindstone for the population in India. Even though the insistence for the agriculture produces expanding constantly due to the rising in the population, Due to this, Indian farmers are not getting assisted in this context. The rate of drop out from agriculture is enhancing from generation to generation. One of the main apprehensions is agriculture which is not becoming effective for the farmers. Thus to preserve their lives many farmers are quitting agriculture and migrating to urban areas ultimately. This will leads to deterioration in supply of food grains to integrated nation. At the same time, the capacity of land is declining due to reduction in the fertility of the land over years. The input cost for agriculture is also increasing steadily. The situation arrived where we have to enhance the income levels of the farmers along with attaining the sustainability in the agricultural practices. Therefore, a shift from agriculture to agribusiness is an important pathway to revitalize Indian agriculture and to make more attractive and profitable venture.
Keywords: Agriculture, Agripreneurship, Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, etc.

Modern fruit and vegetable processing industry is by and large, employing sophisticated machinery and equipment and efficient technique of production. There is still a scope for expansion of the industry by developing and exporting value-added products and on more foreign exchange. The choice of products to be manufactured will depend on the readily availability of raw materials in the area where the Processing Unit is supposed to be set up and the consumer preference in the neighbouring market. Preservation of food has to be established in the developing countries for other reasons also such as to generate both rural and urban employment, improve farmers nutrition by allowing them to consume their own processed fruits and vegetables during the off- season, stimulate agricultural production by obtaining marketable products, reduction of imports and meeting of export demand and to develop new value-added products. The food processing industry has now become more of a necessity than being a luxury. It plays an important role in the conservation and better utilisation of fruits and vegetables. To avoid the glut and utilise the surplus during the season, it is necessary to employ modern methods to extend storage life for better distribution and processing techniques to preserve them for utilisation in the off season on both large scale and small scale. Fruit and vegetable processing was first started in an organised manner in 1857, mainly to make pickles and chutneys with a view to meeting the export requirement.
Mango Processing Technologies
Mangoes are processed at two stages of maturity. Green fruit is used to make chutney, pickles, curries and dehydrated products. The green fruit should be freshly picked from the tree. Fruit that is bruised, damaged, or that has prematurely fallen to the ground should not be used.

Pectin
Pectin is a component of nearly all fruits and vegetables and can be extracted and used in food processing to form the characteristic gel in jams and marmalade. The richest sources of pectin are the peels of citrus fruits such as lime, lemon, orange and passion fruit or the pulp of apple (known as ‘pomace’ after juice has been extracted). Commercially, pectin is available as either a light brown powder or as a dark liquid concentrate. It is stable if stored in cool, dry place and it will lose only about 2 per cent of its gelling power per year.
There are two main types of pectin:
• High methoxyl (HM) pectin that form gels in high solids jams (above 55% solids) in a pH range of 2.0-3.5; and
• Low methoxyl (LM) pectin, which do not need sugar or acid to form a gel, but instead use calcium salts.

Fruits and vegetables are one of the most consumable commodities globally and also serves as an important ingredient in human dietaries. There are a lot of different varieties of fruit and vegetable and the prices keep fluctuating of the products. The production of fruit and vegetables needs to be handled, processed, or utilized properly. The costs involved in preventing the losses are always cheaper than the cost of production, therefore processing receives higher attention in recent years. The fruits and vegetables processing industry was earlier highly unorganized but due to the increasing demand for processed
food, the industry has started attracting investors. India facilitates the fruits and vegetables processing industry in obtaining its primary resources; India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables. The global fruit and vegetable processing market includes the global fruit & vegetable processing equipment market and processed fruits & vegetables market. There are different methods included in fruits and vegetable processing that helps in increasing the life of seasonal fruits and vegetables are canning, dehydration, freezing, pickling, etc.
Crystallized Fruits
Candied fruit when covered or coated with crystals of sugar, either by rolling in finely powdered sugar or by allowing sugar crystals to deposit on them from dense syrup are called crystallized fruits.

Definition: Food preservation can be defined as the science which deals with the process of prevention of decay or spoilage of food thus allowing it to be stored in a safe condition for future use. All foods gradually undergo deterioration or spoilage from the time they are harvested or manufactured. Some commodities spoil rapidly, while others can keep for longer but limited periods.
Preservation is a set of techniques used to extend the shelf life of perishable fruits and vegetables, maintaining their quality, nutrition, and safety. Proper preservation methods are crucial in post-harvest management to reduce wastage, meet consumer demands, and ensure food security. Let us explore the principles and methods of preservation using easy vocabulary
Principles of Preservation
• Temperature Control: Preservation involves maintaining low temperatures to slow down enzymatic and microbial activity. Lower temperatures can inhibit the growth of spoilage microorganisms and extend the freshness of fruits and vegetables.
• Removal of Air and Moisture: Air and moisture can accelerate deterioration and spoilage. Preservation methods often involve vacuum sealing or drying to remove air and reduce moisture content.

Introduction
With the dynamic change in the pace of human activity and changing life style, the demand for easy-to-prepare drinks is also increasing. Besides being consumed in the household, these drinks are also served in restaurants, clubs, airlines, railways etc. There has been an appreciable increase in the export of processed foods which includes squashes, cordials, and syrups. With the fast pace of growth in the urban sector and the increase in living standards of the Indian people reaching higher levels by the year, there is a good potential to develop this industry in the small-scale sector. To prepare fruits and vegetable juices at commercial level, several equipments are needed. Some of the important equipment required for processing of specific fruit and vegetables are discussed herein.
Pome Fruit and Small Fruit Processing
Generally, most pome fruit (e.g. Apple, Pear, Quince) and small stone fruit (e.g. Plum, Olive, Peach, Cherry) can be used for juice extraction. No peeling is needed. Small stone fruit such as apricots and plums might have to be destoned (pitted) depending on the grinding, extraction equipment selection. Cherries, although containing a pit, may be pressed with the pit intact. Breakage of the pit will release benzaldehyde, the familiar aroma of maraschino- type cherries.

Juice and juice products represent a very important segment of the total processed fruit industry. Juice products are being marketed as refrigerated, shelf-stable, and frozen, in a variety of packages with increased emphasis on functionality, health attributes, new flavors or blends, and in some cases fortified with vitamins and minerals. High-quality juice operations are dependent upon a source of high- quality raw material.
Fruits provide an important source of energy for human beings. But the main drawback is that the availability of majority of fruits is seasonal and they are perishable. Hence, fruits need to be processed and preserved which extends their shelf life and also results in value-addition. India is a producer of many varieties of citrus fruits. Hence, it is sensible if processing industries are set up near the places where the fruits are grown. States like Maharashtra, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and the North-Eastern states are high producers of many fruit verities. Assam is a major producer of fruits such as pineapple, orange, lemon, mango etc. and it is grown in large quantities over here. Hence, fruit squash and cordial making activity in a small scale is highly recommended in these regions.

There is wastage and loss of food during its journey from production to consumption. Approximately one-third of the massive 1.3 billion tonnes of food produced annually goes to waste due to various factors such as poor
handling after harvesting, unfavorable storage conditions, insect infestations, and diseases. To combat these losses, synthetic chemicals have historically been used to control pathogens and pests, but concerns over their potential health risks have led to restrictions on their usage. In response, researchers are now focusing on developing safer and more effective physical treatments for disinfecting and protecting horticultural produce. This chapter specifically explores the advantages of using heat treatment as one such method, discussing how it helps maintain the quality of fruits and vegetables while simultaneously reducing postharvest losses.
Some of the heat processing methods are discussed below:
Fruit juices, RTS and nectars are preserved by pasteurization or by using chemical preservatives. Squashes, crushes, syrups and cordials are preserved by adding chemical preservative like potassium metabisulphite or sodium benzoate.

Minimal processing of fruits and vegetables
The technological development and modernization during recent years have resulted in in organisation coupled with Lifestyle modification and changes in dietary habits. This development and Organisation have made it easier to meet the requirement of processed food. Processing of fruits and vegetables effects shelf life providing ready to eat food with similarities to fresh product. Before the food Industries shoulder a bigger responsibility of utilising a novel technology to produce safe food without detrimental effects on quality. The industries need to who built biological (enzymatic / fomentation and biopreservation and Engineering solutions like non-thermal high-pressure treatment, cook chill, microencapsulation, vacuum impregnation etc. For the adoption of de - constructive culinary techniques such as 3D food printing and Molecular gastronomy as well as developments in nutrigenomics and digital technologies may facilitate novel product format, personalization, and access to niche market. Concretely, e - operating movement from Naresh mint to health improvement in present conditions demand or shift from defensive market oriented offensive market developing strategies including collaborative networks with Research Organization.
It is also defined as any fruit and vegetable that has been subjected to different processing steps (e.g. peeling, trimming, cutting, washing, disinfection rinsing etc.).

1. Peeling: It is one of the integral parts of a food processing, and most agri-cultural crops need to be peeled to remove at the initial stage of food processing Peeling removes inedible portion (peel, seeds, and stalk) of fruits and vegetables. However, the susceptibility to spoilage increases due to acceleration of physiological process and the exposure of the tissues to microorganisms. The shelf-life and quality of fresh-cu produces could be compromised with the peeling.
The goals of optimum peeling operation are i. Minimizing product losses, ii. Types of products e.g., potato products, iii. Minimizing heat ring formation e.g., apple, potato, iv. Minimizing energy and chemical usage, v. Minimizing the environmental pollution.
Peeling operation can be grouped under following categories: Manual peeling (knife or blade), Mechanical peeling (abrasive devices, devices with drums, rollers, knives or blades and milling cutters), Chemical peeling, Enzymatic peeling, and Thermal peeling (Flame or dry heat peeling, steam or wet heat peeling, thermal blast peeling, and vapour explosion or vacuum peeling.

India produces 146 million tons of vegetables (NHB report, 2011) and the total area under vegetable cultivation is around 8.5 million ha. Potato, tomato, onion, cabbage and brinjal account for around 60 per cent of the total vegetable production in terms of quantity. India’s annual fruit production is 75 million tons (NHB report, 2011) and the total area under fruit cultivation is around 6.3 million ha. The major Indian fruits are mango, banana, citrus fruits, apple, guava, papaya, pineapple, and grapes. Fresh fruits and vegetables play a vital role in Indian context and their marketing works as an influencing force in the economy. Though retailing of fresh fruit and vegetables is a low margin business, the market potential is very large in a country like India. This factor has attracted many corporates into this sector. Marketing of agricultural produce is different and more challenging than many industrial products because of the perishability, seasonality, and bulkiness. The very nature of small size of land holdings by the farmers, varied climatic conditions, production spread over wide geographical area, mainly in remote villages, diversified consumption patterns/habits of the Indian consumers and poor Supply Chain (SC) infrastructure makes marketing for fruits and vegetables more complicated. At the same time, Indian consumers demand fresh fruits and vegetables. Thus, Management plays a crucial role in marketing fruits and vegetables. Supply Chain efficiency not only helps in increased production and per capita consumption, but also contributes to economic development of the country. As a result, Supply Chain Management (SCM) throws both challenges and opportunities in marketing of fruits and vegetables. Efficient SCM in marketing, not only increases the profitability and efficiency of retailers, but also adds value to different stakeholders like cultivators (farmers), consolidators and consumers. Traditional Retail Model of fruit and vegetables is predominantly followed in unorganized retail sector. Players involved in this model are commission agents, auctioneers, wholesalers, traditional retailer of all type of formats family run ‘mom and pop’ stores, roadside shops, pavement shops and cart vendors apart from farmers and customers.

Botanically fruits are ripened ovary. It is a plant part that may or may not be purely derived from ovary of the flowers may be fleshy or pulpy in character, often juicy, predominantly sweet. With somewhat acidic taste, fragrance, aromatic flavours, fruits are generally not consumed during principal part of meals. Whereas vegetable is plant part which is less sweet, generally non acidic and consumed either cooked or raw during the principal part of our main meals. Vegetables may be fruit, root, stem flower, or leaf part of a plant or their modification.
Fruits and vegetables are valued in in human diet as an important source of protective nutrients like Minerals and vitamins. Apart from their nutritive value they add variety to the diet and improve acceptability of meal due to presence of different shades of colours, flavours, and texture. However, the major role in food preservation is played by their moisture content. For the same reason they are classified as
1. Perishable: Those which deteriorate quickly after harvesting such as tomatoes, mangoes, papaya, peaches, plums, juicy fruits and vegetables. They have high degree of moisture content and are highly susceptible to spoilage.
2. Semi perishable: These have less moisture content as compared to perishable one’s example 30 carrots, peace, green beans, apple etc. These foods are containing certain natural inhibitors to spoilage.

The term food processing covers an enormous field from simple boiling to the use of irradiation to predict the consequences on the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables. Generally, the food processing methods can be categorized as in intentional processing method (milling, peeling, washing trimming etc.), inevitable processing method (blanching, sterilizing, cooking, shredding, and drying) and accidental (inept processing or system). The nutritional losses associated with fruits and vegetable processing with different processing techniques and conditions employed. For example, the heavily processed products are although safe for human consumption but allied with reduced nutritive value. In this regard access to safe and nutritious food is considered as a basic right of humans as it is one of the ways to prevent various ailments by building better health and enforcing immunity. Escalating help awareness has guided the processes to opt for minimal processing food in recent years.
Food commodities subjected to minimal processing are capturing the market Suring to widespread concept that they might help in meeting the current requirement of vital nutrients. Development of minimally processed commodities especially fruits and vegetables have augmented at both retail and consumer levels during last years. Various organisations WHO, FAO, USDA boost up the utilization of minimally processed perishable commodities including vegetables and fruits to lessen the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Changes occurring in the eating habits have been quoted due to high anxiety for on time availability of these minimally processed fruits and vegetables. Sales of fresh cut fruits and vegetables continue to burgeon and food industries are persistently expanding primary because of consumers’ trend of health realization.

India is known as the food basket of the world. It is the second largest producer of fruit till now after China, but its contribution to the Global market of fruit processing is just 1per cent. This is due to the fact that there is deficiency of skilled manpower, poor cold storage facilities, inefficient post-harvest management and minimal technological interventions.
Deficiency of the skilled manpower: In-spite of market size of US dollar 181 billion, expenditure on food and food products being 21per cent of India’s GDP and more than 31per cent share of wallet by consumers, there is resultant apprehension about the emergency emerging skill shortages due to mismatch between the demand for specific skills and available supply. Shortage of skilled, Semi- skilled and unskilled workers has emerged as a critical factor impacting the competitiveness of Indian food industry. Efficient man-power is one such critical element to improve to foster the growth. As the food industry advances and adopts various levels of automation the demand of skilled manpower will increase phenomenally. Hence if, the Indian food industry must achieve projected growth target set and become globally competitive, the need to develop and train the human resource efficiently would be essential.

Bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria under the family Cucurbitaceae (Chromosome No: 2n = 2× = 22) is commonly grown vegetable crop of India, Africa, Central America and other warmer regions of the world. Tender fruits are widely used as cooked vegetables in a number of ways. Bottle gourd is a good source of vitamin C and zinc that may offer several skin benefits. It also contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Its dietary fibre enhances gastro-intestinal health and promotes bowel movements and prevents constipation.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
It is the only crop known to have been cultivated in pre-Columbian times in both the Old and New World. Bottle gourd is indigenous to the tropical Africa. It has
bihemispheric distribution in Africa, the old world and America, the new World. Its utilization by man is about 16,000 years in the Old World and 12,000 years in the New World. It was independently domesticated in the two hemispheres. It was one of the world’s first cultivated plants grown not primarily for food, but for the use of hardshelled fruit as containers. The apparent wild plant produces thinner-walled fruit that, when dried, would not endure the rigors of use on long journeys as a water container. Today’s bottle gourd may owe it’s tough, waterproof wall to selection pressures over its long history of domestication. The bottle gourd was theorized to have drifted across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to South America.

Bitter gourd or Bitter melon, Momordica charantia L under the family Cucurbitaceae (Chromosome no. 2n = 2× = 22) is widely grown in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan, East Africa, the Caribbean and South America for its edible fruit. Tender fruits are widely used as cooked vegetables in a number of ways. Bitter gourd is an excellent source of vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium and ß carotene. The fruits contain non-toxic glycoside momordicin, which gives it bitterness and also health benefits. It also contains an insulin-like compound called Polypeptide-p or p-insulin and steroidal compound “Charantin” having hypoglycemic property.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Wild or semi-domesticated variants spread across Asia in prehistorical period, and it was probably domesticated in Southeast Asia. It has probably originated in eastern India or Indo-Burma area or southern China. Uncarbonized seed coat fragments have been tentatively identified from the spirit cave in northern Thailand however, there have been no archeological reports of bitter gourd remains in China (Marr et al, 2004).Population resequencing revealed the divergence between wild and South Asian cultivars about 6,000 years ago, followed by the separation of the Southeast Asian cultivars about 800 years ago, with the latter exhibiting more extreme trait divergence from wild progenitors and stronger signs of selection on fruit traits.

Ridge gourd, Luffa acutangula and sponge gourd, Luffa cylindrica under the family Cucurbitaceae (Chromosome number: 2n = 2× = 26) is an important warm season fruit vegetable crop. Ridge gourd is widely cultivated in India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Egypt and other parts of Africa. Sponge gourd is now cultivated in all tropical regions of the world. It was an important crop used for industrial filters until World War II and Japan cultivated the best crop for this purpose. The main commercial production areas of sponge gourd today are China, Korea, India, Japan, Central America and Brazil. Immature fruits of ridge gourd and sponge gourd are eaten as a vegetable and at maturity both become very fibrous. The word luffa or ‘loofah’ is of Arabic origin and the sponge characteristic of the crop has been described in old Egyptian writings.
Fruits are good sources of vitamin C, riboflavin, zinc and antioxidants. It is effective in balancing blood sugar levels, help eliminate toxic waste and prevent fat accumulation. Ridge gourd also helps reduce excessive body heat during summers which can prevent many ailments.
 

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) Duch. ex Poir. and summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) under the family Cucurbitaceae (Chromosome No. 2n = 2× = 40) are important tropical vegetable crops grown all around the world. The term “squash” is generally employed to designate the forms of C. pepo for immature fruits, all baking cultivars of C. maxima and the cushaw-type cultivars of C. mixta whose matured fruits are consumed. The term “pumpkin” is normally applied to the edible fruit of Cucurbita moschata, C. maxima and C. argyrosperma utilized when ripe as boiled or cooked vegetable or in pie. However, pumpkin is mostly associated with Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir. Pumpkin cultivars are generally more tolerant to hot, humid weather than cultivars of C. maxima or C. pepo. It is extensively cultivated in India, Africa, Latin America, Southern Asia and United States. Among the five  domesticated cucurbita species, C. moschata, C. pepo and C. maxima are economically most important and among them summer squash, C. pepo is the most important in the world. However, of the different species of Cucurbita, pumpkin (C. moschata) is the most popular and grown throughout India.
Pumpkin fruits are rich in ß carotene, flavonoid, polyphenolic antioxidants such as lutein, xanthin and different minerals viz., calcium, potassium and magnesium. Pumpkins help in keeping the heartbeat regular and blood pressure low. The fibre in pumpkin can also play a part in lowering blood pressure as well as cholesterol. Pumpkin occupies a prominent place among the vegetables owing to its high productivity, nutritive value, good storability, long period of availability and better transport potentialities.

Watermelon, Citrullus lanatus under the family Cucurbitaceae (Chromosome number: 2n = 2× = 22) is an important and popular summer season crop of the USA, Middle east, Japan, Africa and India. Watermelon is primarily consumed fresh for their sweet, juicy and slightly grainy flesh and are often eaten as desserts. Watermelon is actually a nutrient dense food. It provides high levels of vitamins, minerals, andantioxidants particularly lycopene and relatively low in calories.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
The origin of watermelon was in tropical Africa perhaps in Kalahari Desert, now in Botswana. The progenitor species, Citrullus colocynthis is endemic to Africa. Wide variation of this progenitor species is also found in Rajasthan and Gujarat in India. Wild watermelon seeds have been found in Uan Muhuggiag, a prehistoric site in Libya that dates to approximately 3500 BC. Watermelon was domesticated in Africa and later it was introduced in India. From India it spread to Near East and Asia. The watermelon which was domesticated in Egypt by 2000 BC were not the sweet modern variety. The fruit flesh of wild watermelons is watery, but typically hard-textured, pale-coloured and bland or bitter. The familiar sweet dessert watermelons, C. lanatus, featuring non-bitter, tender, well-coloured flesh have a narrow genetic base, suggesting that they originated from a series of selection events in a single ancestral population.

Cucumber, Cucumis sativus under the family Cucurbitaceae (Chromosome No: 2n = 2× =14) is grown throughout the world for consumption of fresh and tender fruits as slicing cucumber, and for pickles as pickling cucumber. Slicing cucumbers are usually larger and have thicker skins, while pickling cucumbers are usually smaller and have thinner skins. The flesh of cucumbers is rich vitamin C, and folic acid, fibre and a range of minerals including magnesium, molybdenum and potassium.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
The genus Cucumis, which includes cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and melon (Cucumis melo), has numerous wild African species, and it has therefore been assumed that
melon originated in Africa. For cucumber, this seemed less likely because wild cucumbers exist in India and a closely related species, Cucumis hystrix is available in the Eastern Himalayas. Using DNA sequences from plastid and nuclear markers for some 100 Cucumis accessions from Africa, Australia, and Asia, Sebastian et al (2010) concluded that melon and cucumber are of Asian origin and have numerous previously overlooked species-level relatives in Australia and around the Indian Ocean.

Muskmelon, Cucumis melo under the family Cucurbitaceae (Chromosome number: 2n = 2× = 24) is a highly relished crop because of its attractive flavour, sweet taste and refreshing effect. It is an important crop of Africa, Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Japan, USA, South and Central America, France, Spain, Israel and many eastern European countries. Mature fruits are eaten fresh as a dessert fruit, canned or used for syrup or jam. Muskmelon is quite rich in ß carotene, vitamin B9, vitamin C and minerals like potassium and low in calorie content.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
The genus Cucumis, which includes cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and melon (Cucumis melo), has numerous wild African species, and it has therefore been assumed that melon originated in tropical Africa in eastern region, south of Sahara Desert. This proposition is supported by the presence of true wild melons which can still be found in some African countries. Some botanists consider melons native to the Levant and Egypt, while others place their origin in Iran, India, Afghanistan or Central Asia. Sebastian et al (2010) reported that the wild progenitor of C. melo occurs in India, and they confirmed that the Southeast Asian Cucumis hystrix is the closest relative of cucumber and most surprisingly, the closest relative of melon, Cucumis picrocarpus was from Australia. The wild forms of muskmelon reported from India are feral escapes derived from local cultivars.

Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus under the family Malvaceae (Chromosome No.: 2n 126, 130, 132, 144) is an important vegetable in the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. Okra is mainly used for its tender green fruits as vegetable in many countries. In India, tender fruits are used as fried and boiled or in curry and sambar. It is also frozen, dehydrated and canned. Tender fruit contains appreciably high potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid and calcium. It is a popular vegetable crop of low in calories and high in dietary fibre and protein contents, rich in essential amino acids, lysine and tryptophan.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Okra has been regarded as of African origin. Perhaps it has been originated in Ethiopia and upper Nile region of Sudan. However, according to Zeven and Zhukovsky (1975), the genus Abelmoschus is considered to be of Asiatic origin. In fact, its cytotaxonomy confused that Abelmoschus might be of Asiatic origin and at least part of the cultigen. Joshi and Hardas (1976) believed that either the cultigen might have originated in Asia or it was present in Africa and India as a polyphyletic species. Significant native diversity of okra and its allied species in India points towards its secondary diversity here. Indian geneticists and cytologists reported that the wild relative A. tuberculatus which grows wild in India is one of the ancestors of cultivated okra, A. esculentus which is considered to be a natural amphidiploid species. Okra has been mentioned in ancient Sanskrit literature in the name “tindisha” and “gandhamula” which indicated very old association of this genus and its different species with India.

Palak or spinach beet or beet leaf, Beta vulgaris var bengalensis under the family Amaranthaceae (previously under Chenopodiaceae) (Chromosome No. 2n = 2x = 18) is one of the most common leafy vegetables of the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Its tender, soft and succulent leaves are used as a leafy vegetable. It is a rich and cheap source of β carotene, iron, essential amino acids, ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, minerals like, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and zinc and fibre. It is very common vegetable in India, particularly in eastern and northern plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. It is also grown in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh however, it is not common in southern states.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Palak originated from Indo-Chinese region. The Romans used this crop as food for humans and animals. The crop was introduced to USA in 1800 AD (Campbell, 1976). However, it is not known when it was introduced into India. Mentioning of palak in the medical treatise, Charak Samhita, c. 600 BC is the testimony of its long history of cultivation in India. Perhaps it was first cultivated in Bengal. In India, earlier improvement through natural selection by the farmers might have been in the direction of larger succulent leaves, late bolters and ability for regeneration after repeated cuttings. However, despite such a long history of cultivation genetic variability recorded in this species is not wide enough, commensurate with outcrossing breeding behaviour.

The genus Amaranthus is rather unique in having species which are used for vegetable, grain and ornamental purposes. Vegetable amaranth, Amaranthus spp. under the family Amaranthaceae (Chromosome No.: 2n = 2x = 32, 34) is the most common tropical leafy vegetable in Southeast Asian countries especially India, Malaysia, Indonesia, southern China and hot and humid regions of Africa. It is an excellent source of β carotene, vitamin C, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, folic acid and dietary fibre. Its protein content (20-38% based on dry matter) includes methionine and other sulphur-containing amino acids. It is cultivated throughout India however, it is a common leafy vegetable in southern states viz., Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
The phylogenetic relationship and taxonomic delimitation in the genus Amaranthus under the family Amaranthaceae are still not resolved with extreme clarity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed clear separation of vegetable and grain amaranths. The derivation of grain and vegetable amaranths represent two lines of descent from the weed progenitor. Amaranthus hybridus L. This species has spread to different tropical countries like Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Amaranthus is a cosmopolitan genus of annual or short-lived perennial plants collectively known as amaranths. Vegetable amaranth is the most common leafy vegetable crop grown in India. Several kinds of vegetable amaranths under the genus Amaranthus and belonging to different species are grown in India.

Dolichos bean or Hyacinth bean, Lablab purpureus (L).Sweet. (Syn. Dolichos lablab Roxb.) under the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) and having Chromosome No.: 2n = 2x = 22 is one of the most ancient among the cultivated plants. Young, immature pods are cooked and eaten like green beans. It is grown throughout the tropical regions of Asia, Africa and America. In India, it is grown extensively in the cool season in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra. The pods are one of the rich sources of protein and it also provides fair amount of carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus sodium, magnesium and iron, b-carotene, riboflavin, thiamine and nicotinic acid.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Dolichos bean or Hyacinth bean has been originated in India as wild forms of this bean are found in this country. From India, it was introduced to China, Western Asia, Egypt and other tropical countries of South and South-east Asia and Africa. Vegetable and pulse type dolichos bean belong to two distinct botanical varieties under Lablab purpureus viz., Lablab purpureus var. typicus and Lablab purpureus var. lignosus, respectively. Various forms and cultivars of both the cultivated types are available in India.

Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata under the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) and having chromosome no. 2n = 2x =22 is in cultivation from ancient times in the tropics of old world. Cowpea is grown for green edible pods, immature seeds, dry grains and edible leaves as leafy greens. The immature pods and seeds as well as dry seeds besides being widely used as fresh vegetable and pulse are also frozen and canned. Immature pods are good source of protein, fibre, minerals, calcium and vitamins particularly vitamin A, B and C. It covers large areas in South Asia including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka besides Southeast Asian countries, like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines. It is also grown extensively in Brazil and other countries of Latin America. In Africa, it is commonly eaten as a pulse along with sorghum and millets while in India it is used both as pulse and vegetable almost throughout the country. Cowpea is also grown for hay or forage and green manure crop.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Cowpea is one of the most ancient human food sources and has probably been used as a crop plant since Neolithic times. All evidence points to its originating in Africa because of the presence of conspecific wild forms, although where the crop was first domesticated is uncertain. Among the African countries, Ethiopia, Central and South Africa and West Africa are considered to be the probable centre of origin. Although, there is no archaeological evidence for early cowpea cultivation in the centre of diversity, there was early consensus regarding West Africa being the centre of origin and place of early domestication. However, later research using molecular markers has suggested that domestication may have instead occurred in East Africa and currently both the theories carry equal weight.

French bean, Phaseolus vulgaris under the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) and having chromosome No.2n = 2x = 22 is an important leguminous vegetable crop grown worldwide for its tender fruit (pod) as vegetable and dry seeds as pulse. French beans are unique among plant foods due to their high protein content. It is a highly variable species that has a long history of cultivation. Most of the bean varieties for processing (canned, frozen, and freeze-dried) are round podded, while fresh market cultivars are often flat or oval shaped. French bean is a valuable source of the amino acids lysine and tryptophan; minerals likes, iron, copper and zinc; and beneficial phytochemicals, antioxidants and flavonoids.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
French bean is thought to have been originated in South and Central America. Southern Mexico and Central America are considered to be the primary centre of origin, while secondary centres lies in Peru-Bolivia-Ecuador region of American continent. It was actually domesticated in Mesoamerica first and travelled south, probably along with squash (Cucurbita species) and maize. Multi-locus sequence data have indicated that the domestication of common bean was initiated 8000 years ago. Cultivation of French beans started by the American Indian tribes settled in Tehuacan Valley of Mexico and in Callejon de Huaylas, Peru. When Christopher Columbus returned from his second voyage to the New World in the year 1493 he brought French beans with him in the Mediterranean region. French beans were considered to be rare to find and expensive but soon became one of the commonly used beans in the 19th century. In France, French beans were introduced in the year 1597 by the Conquistador (Spanish explorers). In Europe, the French bean spread rapidly in the 16th and 17th centuries and reached England by 1594.

Garden pea, Pisum sativum var. hortense under the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) having chromosome No. 2n = 2x = 14 is an all-time favourite vegetable in the world. As a cool season crop, it is extensively grown in early spring season in temperate zone and winter season in the tropics and subtropics. The immature/green peas are used as fresh vegetable as well as frozen or canned. Green peas are quite nutritious and contain high amount of protein and a fair amount of vitamin C, zinc, fibre and antioxidants. Diet containing green pea may improve the functionality of the gut.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Discovery of the carbonized pea seed remains indicated that the smooth-seeded field pea was cultivated in the Near East and Europe as early as 7000 B. C. The earliest archaeological finds of peas come from Neolithic Syria, Turkey and Jordan. In Egypt, evidence of peas dates from ca. 4800–4400 BC. The wild pea was restricted to the Mediterranean basin and the Near East. Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tazikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan), Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and the Mediterranean basin are the primary centres of origin of pea with the near-east (Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordon) as the secondary centre of origin. In another view, Pisum is
considered to have been originated in Ethiopia and from where it spread during prehistoric times to Mediterranean region, Central Europe, the Near East and subsequently to rest of the world. The wild progenitor of Pisum sativum is unknown.

Radish, Raphanus sativus under the family Brassicaceae (Crucifereae) having chromosome No. 2n = 2x =18 is grown mainly for fleshy taproot roots in both tropical and temperate regions throughout the world. Radish is cultivated widely in China, Japan, Korea, India, Europe and USA. It is grown throughout India and particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Gujarat. Radish is mostly eaten raw as a crunchy salad or cooked as a vegetable. Leaves are sometimes eaten as cooked leafy vegetable. Immature pods of rat-tail radish, Raphanus sativus var. caudatus are also consumed as vegetable. Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Radish, one of the ancient root vegetables was domesticated in Asia prior to Roman times. Varieties of radish are now broadly distributed around the world, but almost no archeological records are available to help determine their early history and domestication. However, different research works have tentatively located the origin of Raphanus sativus in Southeast Asia, as this is the only region where truly wild forms have been discovered. This radish might be Oriental or Asiatic radish. India, Central China, and Central Asia appear to have been the secondary centers where different forms were developed. However, according to other hypothesis, eastern Mediterranean region, China and middle Asia are considered to be the origin of radish where wild radish still exists.

Carrot, Daucus carota L. under the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) having chromosome numbers 2n = 2x = 18 is a root vegetable, grown in spring, summer and autumn in temperate regions and during winter in tropical and sub-tropical regions all over the world. It is important root crop of the European countries, USA, China, Japan, Korea and India. It is grown in almost all parts of India, both in plains and hills. Most of the carrots are typically orange in colour, though purple, black, red, white and yellow cultivars are also available. It is consumed fresh as salad or cooked as vegetable. It is also used for fresh juice, pickles and for the preparation of sweets. Leaves are used as fodder. Essential oil from the seeds is used for flavouring liquors and foods. It contains highest amount of β carotene (pro-vitamin A) among the common vegetables. It is also a good source of vitamin K, and vitamin B6.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Carrot probably originated in Afghanistanin, the region where the Himalaya and Hindukush mountains are confluent. The secondary centres of diversity are probably Ehiopia and north America. Its domestication occurred in Afganistan and adjacent regions of Russia, Iran (previously called Persia), India, Pakistan and Anatolia (Van der Vossen and Sambas, 1993). From its centre of origin in Afghanistan, it was taken by the Arabs to eastern Mediterranean and Spain in 12th century. It was introduced in China in 13th or 14th century, in England during 15th century, in Japan in early 17th century and in the USA in 1620 AD.

Onion, Allium cepa under the family Alliaceae (Amarylidaceae) having chromosome No. = 2n × 2x = 16 is an important vegetable cum spice crop grown in almost all parts of the world. The four major onion growing countries in the world are China, India, USA and Turkey. Other important onion growing countries are Iran, Italy, Egypt, The Netherlands, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Japan and Brazil. Onions are the fundamental ingredient in many dishes of the Asian countries. In India, important onion growing states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. In India, onions are cooked for the preparation of stews, curries and as a base for rice pilafs or pilau or used fresh as salads. Onions are widely used in American cuisine, from burgers and sandwiches to soups and stews. Fried onion rings are a popular side dish. Onions are healthy whether consumed as raw or cooked however, raw onions have higher levels of organic sulfur compounds that provide many health benefits.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
The geographic origin of the onion is uncertain because the wild onion is extinct andancient records of using onions span western and eastern Asia. However, it is presumed that domestication of onion likely took place in Southwest or Central Asia comprising Iran, Afganistan, western Pakistan Tadzhikistan and Uzbekistan. Its secondary centre of origin is in the Mediterranean region. Its cultivation has spread in Western Asia from Palestine to India. It entered northern Europe through Italy and north Africa during 500 AD. It was introduced in the USA by the early Spanish explorers around 1625 AD.

Cauliflower
Cauliflower, Brassica oleracea L var. botrytis under the family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) having chromosome No. 2n = 2x =18 is the most popular vegetable among the cole crops, particularly in Asia. It is grown in all continents of the world,= of which Asia is the leading one followed by Europe and covers small acerages in North America, South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. India and China together have about 60 % of total cauliflower area of the world. Cauliflower is used in different curry and fry preparations with potato, garden pea, sweet pepper and other vegetables. It contains high quality proteins and good in stability of vitamin C after
cooking. Frozen products are also prepared from cauliflower. It is rich in minerals such as potassium, sodium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, etc.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
The cole crops have originated from the wild diploid species Brassica oleracea var. sylvestris mainly by mutation, human selection and adaptation. This wild species, a leafy kale-like plant which occurs in the northern shore of the Mediterranean Sea an along the lime cliffs in north-eastern England and North Sea is the progenitor of th cultivated kale and leafy non-heading cabbage. Probably kale was the first cole crop to have selected and adapted by man. From this leafy kale-like plant (Brassica oleracea var. sylvestris), other cole crops viz., kale, collard, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage have been descended.

Sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas under the family Convolvulaceae (Chromosome No. 2n = 6x = 90) is an important tuber crop grown mostly in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Latin America, the Pacific islands, Papua New Guinea and Africa. India and China are the leading sweet potato growing countries in the world. In India, it is largely grown in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Its large, swollen, starchy, sweet-tasting, adventitious roots are used as tuberous vegetable. Orange-fleshed sweet potato, in particular, with high β carotene content has become a prominent example of the effectiveness of biofortified staple crops to combat vitamin A deficiency. Sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fibers and are also known for improving gut health and digestion. It also contains a high amount of phytosterol that has a protective effect on the digestive system. Sometimes, tender leaves and shoots are consumed as a green leafy vegetable. Sweet potato tubers are used in agro-industry for the preparation of starch, alcohol and animal feed.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Sweet potato has probably been originated between the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and the mouth of the Orinoco River in Venezuela.

Potato, Solanum tuberosum L. under the family Solanaceae (Chromosome No. 2n = 4x = 48) is the world’s most important vegetable crop and the fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat and maize. They contain a wealth of health benefits that make them essential as a staple dietary item for much of the world’s population. It is valuable both as a fresh product and as a processed product, and the current trend is for rapid growth in processed forms, mainly chips and French fries. It is now grown in nearly 150 countries. It is extensively cultivated in China, Russia, Ukarine, Poland, Ireland, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, South America, India and USA.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Potato is a native of tropical South American region where it grows wild in nature and presents the widest diversity of forms like, tuber shape, size, colour, taste, etc. Cultivated diploid potatoes are believed to have originated in the high plateau region of Peru and Bolivia in South America, more specifically the Lake Titicaca basin in the Peru-Bolivian region (Simmonds, 1976).

Sweet pepper or bell pepper, a cultivar group of the species Capsicum annuum under the family Solanaceae (Chromosome No. 2n =2x =24) is grown worldwide as green vegetable for its thick and fleshy fruits having delicate taste, pleasant flavour and colour. Sweet pepper requires slightly cooler climate than hot chillies. The fruits are generally non-pungent hence, it is commonly known as sweet pepper. It is also popular as bell pepper because of blocky fruit shape. China is the largest producer of sweet pepper in the world.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Hot chillies and sweet pepper have originated from the wild and weedy species Capsicum annuum var. minimum whose domestication occurred in Mexico and distributed from the southern United states to northern south America. Domestication, cultivation and human selection brought about changes in fruit size and shape and fruit position from erect to pendant. It also resulted in more self-pollinating character due to inserted stigma unlike the exserted stigma in the wild types.

Chilli or hot pepper, the Capsicum species (principally Capsicum annuum) under the family Solanaceae (Chromosome No. 2n =2x =24) is a tropical vegetable-cum spice crop commonly used throughout the world as spice for its pungency and red colour of ripe dried fruits and also for its green fruits for pungency and flavour.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
It is generally accepted that the Capsicum genus belonging to the family Solanaceae was originated in Bolivia which consists of 25–30 species. Five of these Capsicum species viz., C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, and C. pubescens were domesticated. The largest group of varieties is found under C. annuum which is grown worldwide. Both hot pepper and sweet pepper belonging to the same species Capsicum annuum originated from the wild and weedy Capsicum annuum var. minimum distributed from the southern United States to the northern South America. The primary centre of origin of chilli is in southern and central America and secondar centre in Guatemala.

Brinjal is the fifth most economically important Solanaceous crop after potato, tomato, chilli, and tobacco. Apart from the well-known brinjal species (Solanum melongena L.), two other under-utilized species, the scarlet eggplant (S. aethiopicum L.) and the gboma eggplant S. macrocarpon are also cultivated. Brinjal, also known as aubergine or eggplant, under the family Solanaceae (Chromosome No.: 2n = 2x =24) is one of th important vegetables of the tropical countries particularly India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Japan, Indonesia, Thiland, Malaysia and the Philippines. Brinjal is the most common, popular and principal vegetable crop grown widely in India for its various shape, size and colour of fruits. Brinjals are rich sources of potential antioxidants: anthocyanin and phenolic compounds.
Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Brinjal (Solanum melongena) is believed to have been originated in Indo-Burma region and perhaps China is the secondary centre of origin of this crop. Various data indicate, that from the several species that evolved in Africa, one (S. insanum), gave rise to a distinct species which spread to South-East Asia as the wild ancestor of S. melongena (Lester 1998; Ranil et al., 2017). This wild progenitor of the cultivated species has wide distribution in at least 10 habitats in India which amply suggests India being the centre of origin of brinjal.

Origin, domestication and adaptation in India
Tomato was classified under Lycopersicon for several years although, initially Linnaeus (1753) classified it in the genus Solanum. Recently, molecular studies provided new data on the relationships of tomato-potato and based on these results, tomato has been again assigned to the genus Solanum. Solanum section Lycopersicon includes the cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and its wild relatives, Solanum lycopersicum being the only domesticated species. The wild cherry tomato, Solanum lycopersicum var cerasiforme, the ancestor of the modern cultivated tomato has been originated in Peru-Ecuador-Bolivia region of the Andes. The Veracruz-Puebla region of Mexico is the centre of domestication of the cultivated tomato. From Mexico, tomato was taken to Italy, Spain, Portugal and other European countries, Africa and Middle East by the explorers in the 16th century. It was taken to Philippines after its discovery by Magellan in 1521, and from there it was taken to other Asian countries. Tomatoes did not have an easy passage even in Europe. The fruit got tagged as the “poison apple” in Britain, France, Spain and other European countries. Tomato moved to the USA from northern Europe around 1781 where it was first grown by Thomas Jefferson in Virginia.

Old and Modern biotechnology
Agriculture has evolved since the dawn of human civilization, first as a means to guarantee food supply and then, as a source of family income and improved profitability. Domestication of plants and animals that were found in the wild combined with gradual, long-term changes in their quality and quantity were the first signs of what is now collectively termed “Agriculture”. At that time, agriculture replaced the former nomadic habit of food collection for immediate consumption. Domestication of plants and animals, followed by food storage, coincided most probably unintentionally, with the growth of microorganisms. Thus, was born the classical food fermentation, the earliest known application of biotechnology, focusing on the use of microorganisms to produce food products.
Gradual improvements in agricultural techniques, domestication of additional plant and species from the wild, step-by-step selection of better performing and more adapted genotypes, along with intuitive breeding continued at a slow pace. Mendel’s discoveries and laws revolutionized genetics, and led at the beginning of the 20th century, to planned and controlled breeding experiments. Breeding or the “old biotechnology” was harnessed as a most successful tool, resulting in better crops and farm animals, and “Green Revolution” of the 1960s was achieved. Many achievements are still being successfully implemented since then.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
There are two types of properties viz., i) Tangible, physical or material property and ii) Intangible or intellectual property. Intellectual property (IP) pertains to any original creation of the human intellect such as artistic, literary, technical or scientific creation. The tangible or physical properties are protected by the laws of land. In contrast, intellectual property is an idea, a formula, an invention, a design, a variety, etc. which= may give rise to a useful product. For obvious reasons the inventors would like to be rewarded and their inventions be protected from imitation. Such a right of an inventor to obtain economic benefit and protection of the invention from imitation is known as Intellectual Property Right (IPR). Thus, Intellectual property rights (IPR) refers to the legal rights given to the inventor or creator to protect his invention or creation for a certain period of time (Singh, 2008).
Why Intellectual Property needs to be protected?
Intellectual property rights (IPR) encourage innovation and protect the rights of the inventors in legalized form. It is an inevitable tool in today’s globalized economy. The invention of such things would require intellectual capacity, innovativeness and creative ability of the concerned person(s).

Introduction
Improved varieties, hybrids and quality seeds are considered as the basic and key inputs for the development of agriculture and horticulture. High quality seed production has been the major concern in the Indian sub-continent till 1960s. Before that, India was mostly dependent on USA for food grain. After 1960, Government of India established State Agricultural Universities in different states following “Land grant model” of USA, different ICAR Research institutes and All India Coordinated Crop Research Projects in a systematic manner to give the boost to develop large number of improved varieties with assured seed quality in all major agricultural and horticultural crops. The ultimate intention was to introduce the newly developed high yielding varieties for broad spectrum cultivation in the area of their adoption.
Importance of variety and system of its release
There are several ways and means to increase the crop production and productivity, however using genetically pure and high-quality seed is first and prime objective in agriculture/ horticulture. Govt. of India acknowledged seed as an essential commodity under essential commodities Act, 1955.

Concept of Ideotype breeding
In the breeding programme, elite crop varieties are developed through combination of relatively low-frequency alleles which are of known agronomic / horticultural importance (Lyu et al., 2013). During breeding programme, these elite varieties are developed targeting different main objectives, such as yield, product quality, resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses and agronomic suitability.
A crop ideotype is defined as an idealised structural model, combining both morphological and physiological traits, with the potential to maximise yield and quality within a defined environment (Donald, 1968). Ideotype generally include factors that increase the survivability of the plant such as drought resistance, resource use efficiency, root architecture and disease resistance (Arraiano et al., 2006; Rezzouk et al., 2022). Definition of “Ideotype” may be broadened through combination of morphological and physiological traits (or their genetic bases) conferring to satisfying adaptation of a crop to a particular biophysical environment, crop management and end use.

High temperature stress
Abiotic stresses either individually or in combination cause morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes that adversely affect plant growth and ultimately yield. The major forms of abiotic stress plants are exposed to in nature are heat, drought, cold and salinity. Of these abiotic stresses, heat stress has an independent mode of action on the physiology and metabolism of plant cells. High temperatures above optimal have generally damaging effects on plant development which has led to the prediction that Global warming have a negative effect on plant growth. High temperature regimes may cause severe yield reduction leading to even famine. High temperature stress has wide range of effects on plant in terms of physiology, biochemistry and gene regulation pathways. The susceptibility to high temperatures in plants varies with the stage of plant development and genotype.
Mechanisms of heat tolerance
Heat tolerance is generally defined as the ability of the plant to grow and produce economic yield under high temperature conditions. Several plant physiological parameters and mechanisms that contribute to heat tolerance in the field include:

Basic concepts of plant stress, acclimation and adaptation
Energy is the absolute requirement for the maintenance of structural organization over the lifetime of the organism. Maintenance of such complex structural organization over time requires a constant flow of energy through all biological organisms, which provides the dynamic driving force for the performance of important maintenance processes (the processes which are essential for an organism to remain alive and continue as the species) such as respiration, assimilation, nutrition, cellular biosyntheses and transport to maintain its characteristic structure and organization as well as the capacity to replicate and grow. Maintenance of such steady-state results in a meta-stable condition called homeostasis. Thus, “Homeostasis” is defined as a selfregulating process by which a living organism can maintain internal stability while adjusting to changing external conditions. It is the state of balance among all the living systems needed for the organism to survive and function properly.
Plant stress
Any change in the surrounding environment may disrupt homeostasis. Environmental modulation of homeostasis may be defined as biological stress. Thus, plant stress implies some adverse effect on the physiology of a plant induced upon a sudden transition from some optimal environmental condition where homeostasis is maintained to some suboptimal condition which disrupts this initial homeostatic state.

Vegetable crops are highly susceptible to biotic stresses incited by different diseasecausing micro-organisms (fungi, bacteria, phytoplasma, virus), insect pests, nematodes, arachnids and weeds. In contrast to abiotic stresses caused by the environmental factors such as drought, heat, soil salinity, alkalinity, etc., biotic stress-causing agents directly deprive their host of its nutrients leading to reduced plant vigour and, in extreme cases, death of the host plant. In vegetable crops, different biotic stresses are the major cause of pre- and post-harvest losses.
Indiscriminate use of chemicals for the control of diseases, insect pests and nematodes has several disadvantages particularly, increasing cost involved in chemical control, residual toxicity of the chemicals (fungicides, antibiotics, insecticides) in food chain and development of resistance against pathogens and insect pests to different chemicals. Management of diseases and insect pests involve the use of resistant varieties and integration of cultural and chemical control measures.

In the changing Global scenario, food, nutrition, healthcare and livelihood security are the matter of great concern to human, social and economic development. The global community is increasingly looking towards finding means of sustainable nutrition for the growing population across all countries. The emphasis is on identifying lowresource strategies acceptable to the communities that do not put an unnecessary burden on the environment (FAO, 1993).
Nutritional security denotes the consumption and equitable access to adequate quantities of healthy, safe, affordable and nutritious food by every member of the family essential for optimal health and well-being. Concern for improvement of nutritional quality of vegetables has arisen in the context of providing nutritional security to our everincreasing population because poor nutrition is linked with increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease as well as broader impacts including higher health care costs and decreased productivity.
More than 1.0 billion people globally are hungry due to food insecurity problem and about 3.0 billion people are malnourished due to poor nutrition causing mainly micronutrient deficiency.