Transgenic Vegetable Crops: Progress, Potentials, and Prospects

Abstract

Vegetables are considered essential for well-balanced diets and are grown worldwide, on large and small farms, on good and marginal land, and by large commercialgrowersandsmallsubsistencefarmers.Theconsumptionandcaloric contribution of vegetables to the diet vary widely with geographical region, nationality, local customs, and cuisine. Vegetable production, due to their cultivation intensity, suffers from many biotic stresses caused by pathogens, pests, andweedsandrequireshighamountsofpesticidesperhectare.Pesticideresidues canaffectthehealthofgrowersandconsumersandcontaminatetheenvironment. This chapter reviews the status of transgenic vegetables to improve vegetable production, emphasizing its place in integrated pest management. Examples are drawn from advances and potentials in transgenic research on tomato, eggplant, potato, cucurbits, brassicas, lettuce, alliums, sweet corn, cowpea, cassava, sweet potato, and carrots. Highlighted are host plant resistance to pathogens and pests, tolerance to herbicide, quality (both fresh and processed), and vaccine delivery