Vegetable soybean, popularly known as edamame in Japan and mao dou in China is a specialty soybean. Green pods with physiologically mature beans are harvested, and whole pods or shelled beans are used as a fresh or frozen vegetable. Vegetable soybeans are prepared in diverse ways, and they are highly nutritious, with excellent taste properties. Unlike grain soybeans, it is perishable. In this review, the chronological progression of area, production, export, import, and expansion of vegetable soybeans and potential for further expansion is discussed. Available information on current ongoing research and development activities in various countries around the world are presented, and their relevance is discussed. At present, the production and consumption of vegetable soybeans are mainly in East and Southeast Asia, with Japan as the largest importing country that dictates the global market. However, interest and trend in cultivation of this crop in other regions has increased significantly. Lack of germplasm or suitable varieties is a major constraint in vegetable soybean production and expansion in countries outside East and Southeast Asia. Most of the vegetable soybean varieties are genetically related and are susceptible to biotic and abiotic stresses. Extensive research and breeding of vegetable soybeans are still restricted in a few countries such as China, Japan, Taiwan and the USA. The need for focused research and development activities with concern for the environment, farmers’ and processors’ profit, consumers’ preference, quality, and nutrition are emphasized.

Combining ability analysis in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) was studied during rainy season 2011–12 and 2012–13 at Kanpur, India. The ANOVA of combining ability revealed that general combining ability (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) variance exhibited significant to highly significant differences for some important characters. The varieties KS-5623 showed desirable and significant gca effect for four characters, viz. fruit yield, weight of fruit, length of fruit, and cercospora leaf spot, followed by KS-7840, which exhibited desirable gca effects for three characters. Two best cross combinations KS-8204-2 x KS-8822 and T2 x KS-8821 were identified as a promising for yield and positive response for majority of its traits. The desirable crosses derived from high x high, high x low and low x low general combiner.