VEGETABLES VARIETAL IMPROVEMENT AND PRODUCTION OF QUALITY SEED IN THAILAND

Three institutions in Thailand have actively involved in varietal improvement since 1966. The initiation started at Department of Horticulture, Kasetsart University and in 1969 Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture also conducted the research in this field and about the same year Department of Plant Science, Khonkhaen University started the varietal improvement project in vegetables.

During the year of 1969 to 1979, these three institutions released 31 kinds of improved varieties of vegetables. Since the technology of seed production, quality testing and control started in 1968, by offering the course works and setting up the seed laboratory at Kasetwart University as a part of the major training programme at B.S. and M.S. level. Therefore the situation of the limitation of improved varieties are still existed in the market.

At this moment about 500 tons of vegetable seeds are imported mainly from Taiwan, China, U.S.A., European countries and New Zealand, which totally worth about U.S. $ 6,250,000. Another 500–600 tons of vegetable seeds were annually produced by Thai farmers, the quality obteined is poor both physical and genetical.

We are aiming to improve our locally produced seeds by strenghtening the research facility and advancing our technology in this field. Several foreign aids and loans have been requested and some of then was garanted. The new environment will permit us to produce good quality seeds with effective certification through qualified staffs, well equipped laboratories, suitable seed processing plants and practicable seed regulations.

Several kinds of vegetables were mentioned and projected for discussion about their potential in commercial production for domestic and foreign markets.