The Origin, Distribution and Classification of Cultivated Broccoli Vari

The Origin, Distribution and Classification of well-bred Broccoli VarietiesOf the many different vegetable crops now under market-gardening in both the U.S. and abroad, one that has gained increasing importance is that of broccoli. Although it does not wee a significant portion of most peoples diets, it has nevertheless experienced a kind of revival in recent years and has become more and more popular (Schery, 1972 Heywood, 1978). It may even be said that broccoli has emerged from coition obscurity and attained the status of a worthwhile garden vegetable,(Talbert, 1953). The botanical family to which broccoli belongs is the Brassicaceae, also known as the Mustard family. The Brassicaceae is a large family comprised of approximately 3,000 described species apportioned among 350-380 genera. The precise number of genera go away vary depending on the authority(Heywood, 1978 Keil & Walters, 1988). The classification scheme for broccoli and indeed on the whole of the other brassica s is clear and straightforward until one reaches the species level. At that point the auxiliary of numerous subspecies, varieties, and cultivars results in a rather complex and confusing order of-the taxa in question. For example, the scientific name for broccoli, Brassica oleracea (L.), is also shared by cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, collards, brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, and tronchuda kale, to name a few. Despite the fact that each of the aforementioned varieties are similar to one another and to broccoli, and are thusly referred to as B. oleracea, they are nevertheless separate entities. Most authorities at once consider there are two major varieties of broccoli, B. oleracea (L.) var. botrytis or cauliflower broccoli and B. oleracea ... ...Heywood, V.H. 1978. Flowering Plants of the World. Mayflower Books, New York. Narain, A. 1974. Rape and mustard. pp. 67-70. In J. Hutchinson (ed.), evolutionary Studies in World Crops Diversity and Change in the Indian Subcont inent. Cambridge University Press, London.Schery, R.W. 1972. Plants for Man. second ed. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs. Snogerup, S. 1980. The Wild Forms of the Brassica oleracea Group and Their Possible Relations to the cultivate Ones. pp. 121-132. In C. Gomez-Campo, K. Hinata & S. Tsunoda (eds.), Brassica Crops and Wild Allies Biology and Breeding. Japan scientific Societies Press, Tokyo. Talbert, T.J. 1953. Growing Fruit and Vegetable Crops. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia. Terrell, E.E. 1977. A Checklist of Names for 3,000 vascular Plants of Economic Importance. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook No. 505, pp. 21-22.