School of Speed Breeding (SoSB),
Speed breeding isn’t just a method, it’s a catalyst for change in the way we grow, improve, and sustain vegetable crops in the decades to come.
Vegetable breeding has entered a new era where the time from initial cross to market-ready variety can be dramatically reduced. Across worldwide, speed breeding is proving to be more than just a tool for cereals, it is becoming a key driver of innovation in vegetable crops.
Speed breeding uses controlled environments, advanced lighting, extended light hours, precise temperature regulation, and optimized nutrient supply to reduce the generation cycle of vegetables. For crops like tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers, can now achieve up to 6 to 8 generations per year, compared to the conventional 1 to 2 generations per year. With this, it has gained momentum worldwide, with research institutions and companies adopting the technique.
Speed breeding in vegetables is now a proven scientific approach
Recent research shows that speed breeding is not only effective in cereals and pulses but is also transforming the way we improve vegetable crops.
- Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
In 2020, University of California, Davis developed tomato variety in 2 years.
Tomato breeding has been one of the early beneficiaries of speed breeding protocols. In controlled environments with extended photoperiods and regulated temperature regimes, breeders have rapidly developed varieties with improved fruit size, taste, nutritional quality, and disease resistance. Research has also demonstrated the value of integrating CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing with speed breeding to quickly incorporate traits like extended shelf life and enhanced lycopene content.
- Brassicas (Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower)
In 2018, University of Sydney, Australia developed broccoli variety
Brassicas, often sensitive to heat stress, have shown strong responses to speed breeding. Studies using marker-assisted selection alongside controlled-environment growth chambers have allowed rapid incorporation of pest resistance and heat tolerance traits. CRISPR-Cas9 edits in broccoli lines have been fast-tracked from lab to seed in just a few accelerated generations.
- Leafy Vegetables (Lettuce, Spinach)
In 2023, UC Davis Plant Breeding Center started speed breeding to shorten spinach generation time and North Carolina State Universitys started for lettuce.
In leafy crops, the focus has been on shelf life, biomass, and fungal disease resistance. Experiments using tailored blue and red LED lighting in hydroponic systems have shown faster maturity while improving nutrient density. For lettuce, this has meant breeding lines that not only grow faster but also keep their post-harvest quality longer.
- Root Vegetables (Carrots, Radishes)
In 2022. Agrophysical Research Institute (St. Petersburg, Russia).
Speed breeding combined with embryo rescue techniques has allowed faster selection of varieties with higher carotenoid content, improved root uniformity, and better drought tolerance. Researchers have also been able to improve root architecture traits that enhance nutrient uptake, critical in water-limited environments.
Potential for Other Vegetables
The success of speed breeding in these crops suggests opportunities for many other vegetables:
- Chillies and Capsicum: Faster development of virus-resistant lines using genomic markers.
- Cucurbits (Cucumber, Melon, Pumpkin): Quick breeding of mildew-resistant varieties for sustainable cultivation.
- Lady Finger; Shortening breeding cycles for heat and drought tolerance in arid regions.
- Onion and Garlic: Integrating speed breeding with vernalization management to overcome their naturally long growth cycles.
- Beans and Peas: Accelerating the selection of disease-resistant and high-quality pod varieties.
For seed companies, research institutes, and progressive breeders, partnering with SoSB for speed breeding in vegetables means:
- Faster variety release to stay ahead in competitive markets.
- Climate-ready crops that can handle heat, drought, and disease pressures.
- Nutrient-rich vegetables to address public health needs.
The School of Speed Breeding, at the Institute of Horticulture Technology we are adapting these research-based methods into practical breeding solutions for a wide range of vegetables.
We are not just accelerating crop breeding, we’re reshaping the future of vegetable production.
To know and explore the power of speed breeding in vegetables crops.
Contact us on
Mobile: +91-8130997511
Email: enquiry@iht.edu.in
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