CABBAGE BREEDING

Naveen Jakhar

CONTENTS Introduction Breeding objectives Breeding methods Varieties and Achievements References

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Botanical name Brassica oleracea

Family Brassicacae

Cultivar group Capitata

Origin Eastern Mediterranean and Asia minor region (prior to 1000 B.C.)

Cultivar group members

White cabbage (capitata var. alba L.)

Red cabbage (capitata f. rubra)

Savoy cabbage (capitata var. sabauda L.)

Spring Greens – Loose-headed, commonly sliced and steamed.

Green – Light to dark green, slightly pointed heads. This is the most commonly grown cultivar.

Savoy – Characterized by crimped or curly leaves, mild flavor and tender texture.

Red – Smooth red leaves, often used for pickling or stewing White (also called Dutch) – Smooth and pale green leaves

Important vegetable grown throughout the world. Second most important cole crop after Cauliflower. Heads average between 1 and 8 pounds (0.5 and 4

kg), with earlier varieties producing smaller heads. Culinary use- ranging from eating raw and simple

steaming to pickling, stewing, sauteing or braising. Nutrition and health- Cabbage is a good source of

beta-carotene, vitamin C, fibres and anti-carcinogenic (anthocyanins) agents.

As a medicinal herb to prevent the effects of alcohol, as compresses for ulcers and breast abscesses, treatments for rheumatism, sore throat, hoarseness, colic, and etc.

Diseases

Alternaria Blight Black rot

Downy mildew Head rot

Insect pests

White Butterfly Diamond back moth

Cabbage maggot Cabbage Moth

Evolution of cole crops

Top ten cabbage and other brassica producers

Country Production (tonnes) Source

People's Republic of China 25,156,578 FAO estimateIndia 6,356,800 official figure

Russia 2,732,510 official figureJapan 2,247,700 official figure

South Korea 2,035,700 official figureUkraine 1,497,400 official figure

Indonesia 1,384,660 official figurePoland 1,141,200 official figure

United States 1,034,050 official figureRomania 983,648 official figure

World 57,966,986 Aggregate

Breeding Objective Higher yield Longer staying capacity in the field after

head formation Narrow, short, and soft core Shorter stem Cultivars suitable to grow under mild winter Storage ability Head compactness Resistance to diseases- Club root (

Xanthomonas campestris), Downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica), Fusarium yellows, Leaf spots, Leaf Blight (Alternaria brassicola), Ring spot, and Black rot

Insect resistance- From diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae), cabbage root fly (Delia radicum), cabbage maggot (Hylemya brassicae), and cabbage white butterfly(Pieris rapae)

Breeding MethodsOpen pollinated cultivars

Mass selection Inbreeding (in cultivars with low level of

Self incompatability and inbreeding depressions)

Hybrid cultivar The self-incompatability is used to produce

hybrid seeds in cabbage. The individual plants are self-pollinated through bud pollination. Selection is applied for desirable characters and strong level of self-incompatability.

Single cross Cross between two inbreds. They are more

uniform than hybrids produce from double/top crosses.

Double cross Cross between two single crosses. Seeds are

harvested from both the single cross, which themselves are vigorous and therefore cost of hybrid seeds is reduce.

Contd…

Top cross Cross between a single self-

incompatible inbred line as female and good open pollinated cultivars as pollen parents.

Transgenic cabbage

Transgenic cabbage has been developed by the use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transfer of genes

Transgenic cabbage for controlling of Diamond back moth has been developed.

Important varietiesClassification based on maturity, head shape,

head size and leaf colour

Flat Dutch or drumhead group Copenhagen market group Savoy group Danish ball head group Alpha group Volga group Red cabbage group.

Bests of India Copenhagen Market- head weight 1.5-

3kg, and 75- 85 days for head formation. Golden Acre- earliest variety, 1-1.5 kg

head weight, and takes 60-65 days. Pride of India- selection form

copenhagen market, and 1.5-2 kg head weight.

Pusa Mukta- inter-varietal cross of EC 2885 and EC 10109, and black rot resistant.

Pusa Ageti- Tropical variety, 0.6-1.2 kg head weight, and takes 70-90 days.

Pusa Drum Head- 3-4 kg, and takes 70-75 days.

September- solid heads weighs 3-5 kg.

References Ram, H. H and Singh, H. H.

(2003)Vegetable breeding Principles and Practices.Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.

Singh, K (1993) Improvement of vegetable crops in India. Vegetable Science., 20:1-13.

THANK YOU

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