Is Vegetable Variety Evaluation and Reporting Becoming A Lost Art? An Industry Perspective

Abstract

Is there a more important component to a grower's production practices than the choice of the best variety to plant? Probably not, yet there is less public vegetable variety testing than ever before, despite the increasing introduction of new varieties by the seed industry. This article examines the reasons for fewer vegetable variety trials, discusses the benefits of good variety reporting, and considers the keys to conducting a successful vegetable variety trial. Vegetable variety performance could be interpreted best on a regional basis if a standard format for evaluating each species is developed. One such attempt at standardizing watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) evaluation is presented. Finally, several recent vegetable trial reports are discussed to point out the difference of each and what additional data could have been provided.