This comprehensive volume brings together cutting-edge research and advancements in the field of horticultural sciences, with a particular focus on vegetable and fruit crop breeding, sustainable crop production, protected cultivation, post-harvest management, and technological innovations. The book serves as a vital resource for students, researchers, academicians, horticulturists, policy makers, and agribusiness professionals striving to enhance productivity, sustainability, and profitability in the horticulture sector.

Divided into thematic sections, the book begins with a focus on demand-led breeding strategies, genomic tools, genome editing (CRISPR/Cas), and biotechnological applications in vegetable and perennial fruit crops. It addresses the critical role of genetic resource management and DUS testing in varietal distinction and conservation efforts.

The next section explores advanced crop production technologies, such as high-density planting, precision farming, natural greenhouses, and pollination management. It highlights modern tools like ICT, sensing technologies, automation, artificial intelligence, and telemetry for climate and soil monitoring—paving the way for smart horticulture practices.

Special attention is given to post-harvest innovation, processing potential, disease and pest management, and the challenges and opportunities in underutilized crops and arid ecosystems. The book also discusses social and economic aspects such as urban horticulture, FPOs in coconut farming, and agrivoltaics, linking modern horticulture to livelihoods, climate resilience, and nutritional security.

By featuring over 30 expert contributions from across India and abroad, this book offers a multidimensional perspective on future-ready horticulture—integrating science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

Crop improvement - I

1. Demand-led breeding opportunities in vegetable crops -- way forward - Sudhakar Pandey Vidya Sagar and Jyoti Devi

2. Importance and Management of Genetic Resources of Vegetable Crops - Praveen K Singh, SP Ahlawat, K Pradheep, Monika Jha & GP Singh

3. DUS testing for distinguishing potato varieties in India - Babita Chaudhary, V.K. Gupta, S.K. Luthra and Dalamu

4. Recent trends in application of molecular tools in horticultural crops - Heena Saheewala

5. Genomics for accelerating breeding in perennial fruit crops - Anuradha Upadhyay

6. Genome editing (CRISPR/Cas) for vegetable crop improvement - Jagesh Kumar Tiwari and Tusar Kanti Behera

7. Evaluation of wild fruit trees of northern Iran with emphasis on wild pomegranates - M. Alizadeh

8. Advances in breeding of Litchi

9. Integration of clonal selection and biotechnology in Citrus improvement - Awtar Singh

10. Tissue Culture in oil palm - Neema M, Kalyan Babu B Anand S, and Somasundaram G

11. Breeding for salt tolerance of vegetable crops for management of saline soils - S.K. Sanwa

12. Genomics for accelerating breeding programme in perennial fruit crops - Anuradha Upadhyay

Crop Production – II

1. High Density Planting in Temperate Fruit Crops for Enhancing Productivity - M. K. Verma, O.C. Sharma, J.I. Mir, W.H. Raja, S.U. Nabi, M.A. Shah

2. Pollination and bunch management in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) - Akath Singh, P.R. Meghwal and Anshuman Singh

3. Scope and challenges in onion and garlic research in India - Vijay Mahajan, A. Thangasamy, Rajiv Kale

4. Floriculture – a profitable and eco-friendly agri-business in Bangladesh - Farjana Nasrin Khan

5. ICT in post-harvest management of horticultural produce - M Feza Ahmad and Deep Lata

6. Sensing technologies for sustainable horticultural production - N.V. Gowtham Deekshithulu, T. Janakiram, L. Naram Naidu, P. Ashok,M. Ravindra Babu and T. Thomson

7. Prospectus and challenges for protected cultivation of seed spices - Ravindra Singh, A K Verma, Ravi, Y, Sharda Choudhary, R. S. Meena,N. K. Meena and Krishna Kant

8. Natural greenhouse: a game changer - Rajaram Tripathi

9. Ornamental edible flowers - S. L. Chawla, Vaidehee Ninama, Sudha Patil and Mallika Sindha

10. Underexploited vegetables: Treasure trove for nutritional and health security - N. Rai and Rakesh K Dubey

11. Exploring processing potential of horticultural crops in Rajasthan - Ranjna Sirohi and Uadal Singh

12. National and export market-driven fruit fly management in mango - Abraham Verghese and M.A Rashmi

13. Disease management in arid horticultural crops - S. K. Maheshwari, B. R. Choudhary, Ramkesh Meena and Ramesh Kumar

14. Bottom-up effect on plant-insect interaction in underutilized horticultural crops for sustainable production - Shravan Manbhar Haldhar

15. Tropical tuber crops for climate resilient and entrepreneurship development - M. Nedunchezhiyan, K. Pati, V.B.S. Chauhan, K.H. Gowda, R. Arutselvan and G. Byju

16. Recent Trends in Biological Disease Management for Horticultural Crops - Bhavya Mishra and Arvind M

17. Wasteland Management Through Semi-Arid Horticultural Technologies - A.K. Singh, D. S. Mishra, Viakas Yadav and Jagdish Rane

18. Introductory telemetry soil and climate monitoring - Akash Sharma and Steven Falivene

19. Role of urban and peri urban horticulture in achieving - T. Janakiram, M. Lakshmi Durga & Varun M. Hiremath

20. Floricultural production through technological intervention - M. K. Singh, Devarai Lava Kumar and Namita

21. Automation in Protected Cultivation - T. Thomson, N.V. Gowtham Deekshithilu, P. Ashok, T. Janakiram

22. Artificial Intelligence in Horticulture - N.V. Gowtham Deekshithulu, T. Thomson, P. Ashok, T. Janakiram

23. Precision Farming Techniques in Fruit Production  - Uday Raj Patial, Anirudh Thakur, Antima Sharma, Nav Prem Singh and Prabhat Kumar

24. Farmer Producers’ Organization (Fpo’s) in Coconut Sector for The Better Livelihood of Coconut Farmers - Prabhat Kumar, Hanumanthe Gowda.B And Mrid Ula.K

25. Agrivoltaics, current status and its future prospects  - J. Suresh Kumar, R. Sarvanan, S. Sunitha, Himani B. Patel, Adarsh A

26. From Challenges to Rewards: Off-Season Vegetable Farming Perspectives - Hare Krishna, Manjunatha T. Gowda, V. Karuppaiah, Vinay Kumar Patel, Shekhar Singh, Manoj Kumar Singh, Shubham Kumar Tiwari and Anant Bahadur

27. Potential of Underexploited Vegetables for Nutritional Security and Economic Prosperity of Bundelkhand Region - Ajeet Singh, Himanshu Singh, M.K. Singh, Ashutosh Rai, A.C. Mishra, Jayshree Singh and S.V. Dwivedi

28. Horticulture: An Integral Component of Arid Ecotourism - Prof. (Dr.) P. L. Saroj

29. Postharvest Treatments of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables – latest trends - Ram Asrey

30. Status and prospects of cultivation of Garcinia species in India - Prakash Chandra Tripathi, R. Senthi kumar, G. Karunakaran, C. Kanupriya and Anuradha Sane

31. Site-specific cultural practices for pomegranate in arid climate - Akath Singh, P.R. Meghwal, Pradeep Kumar and P. Santra