Wild Genetic Resource in Vegetable Improvement: Applications and Strategies

Domestication of feral types of the present-day cultivated types was in vogue in earlier days of farming followed by the selection and hybridization that led to many improved varieties. Expression of traits faded due to the development of homozygosity due to repeated interventions in the same set. Relying on wild relatives that are found to be the source of many target genes is found significant. While, this is not so easy, because of the barriers that reside in distant hybridization, consequences like failure in zygote and embryo formation, embryo death, linkage drags, and incompatibility within wild and cultivated groups, etc are need of concern. Strategies like bridge crosses, somatic hybridization, grafting, embryo rescue, etc., techniques are solely or in combination can combat these issues. Vegetables are the group of crops that are mainly cultivated for their high returns and quality aspects for the healthy food routine of the consumer. This review will spotlight the recent advances in vegetable improvement through their wild relatives and available strategies to overcome the barriers to the usage of wild relatives in vegetable improvement, meanwhile the conservation of these resources for the future utilization in vegetable improvement.