Tropical and subtropical vegetables (2+1)

Introduction

• There are more than 240 plants in the world which are used as vegetables. Hence, their classification is essential to understand the nature of vegetable crops and their commonness or distinctness requirement for commercial production. The classification is mainly to show the relationship between the individual vegetables and to avoid repetition while describing their cultural operations. Any method of classification systematizes to some extent the preparation and presentation of the material and eliminates unnecessary repetition of some of the principles of culture.
• Vegetable crops have been classified into various groups, but the classification based on the cultural practices has been proved to be the best adoptable in the field conditions, since it is very convenient to a growers. No single method of classification would serve the purpose for different groups like agronomists, breeders, taxonomists and so on. For convenience the following methods of classification are suggested.