"The Science of Horticulture" serves as a comprehensive resource that introduces all key stakeholders, including students, scientists, extension officers, farmers, and policy planners, to the most recent scientific research findings in horticulture. In light of the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the marketing of horticultural products has become a top priority. Over 110 countries have signed various trade-related agreements, with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) specifically demonstrating the commitment of member nations to utilize intellectual property as a means of achieving economic balance and reducing trade barriers. The legislative history of the TRIPS Agreement, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), Madrid Agreement, Chairman's draft, Dunkel draft, general protection under article 22, and certain aspects of TRIPS definition are all elaborated upon. A few notable horticultural crops, such as Malabar Pepper, Alleppy Green Cardamom, Assam Tea, Darjeeling Tea, Nilgiri Tea, and Coorge Orange, have been registered under Geographical Indication (Gi) appellation. This issue of the journal is edited by Latha S. Nair, an Intellectual Property Firm based in Gurgaon.

1. Geographical indications and TRIPS Agreement by Latha R. Nair 2. Principles of Hi-Tech horticulture by Patil A.A., Mantur S.M., Biradar, M.S. and Mannikeri, I.M. 3. Science behind tracer studies in horticulture by S.C. Kotur. 4. Principles of Germplasm conservation by S.D. Doijode. 5. Advances in research on male sterility by R.K. Dhall. 6. The polyembryony.the basics by Kundan Kishore. 7. Principles of food irradiation by P.C. Tripathi. 8. History of plant pathology of horticultural crops by Veena Ashok. 9. History of plant breeding with emphasis on vegetables by Peter K.V. and Pradeep Kumar T. 10. Basics in vegetable seed technology by Kanwar J.S. and Geetha Bassi. 11. Use of plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) in vegetable crops by Sadhan Kumar P.G. and Nirmala Devi S. 12. Methodology for gene sequencing in plants by Jayalakshmy V.G. 13. Molecular tools for characterization of horticultural crops by Behera, T.K. and Sabina Islam. 14. Transgenic ornamentals with reduced ethylene production and perception by Shigeru Satoh, Yusuke Kosugi and Takako Narumi. 15. Tuber crops biotechnology by Sheela M.N. and Rajmohan K. 16. Viticulture in the Napa Valley.a farmers perspective by Richard Mendelson and Robert Steinhauer.