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This book offers a comprehensive and authoritative review of bioactive substances found in plant underground stems, roots, rhizomes, corms, and tubers from all around the world. Tubers and starchy roots are plants that store edible starch content in underground stems, roots, rhizomes, corms, and tubers. They are a key source for both human and animal consumption and are rich in carbohydrates. They are widely used as industrial crops as well. Phytochemicals found in tubers and roots, such as phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids, have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, and antibacterial properties. Except for common potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cassava, the nutritional and health benefits of many tuberous crops have not yet been adequately investigated. This book sheds new insights into these topics by addressing several plant metabolites found in storage organs, which can be seen as scientifically neglected even though they have a high economic relevance as food and pharmaceutical sources. Divided into 6 parts, this book discusses how bioactive chemicals found in plant storage organs are synthesized and how their bioactive principles are specifically expressed in underground stems, roots, rhizomes, corms, and tubers. Additionally, each chapter includes background information on the plant, its parts, its nutritional makeup, chemical components, and biological functions. Given its breadth, the book appeals to a wide readership, from scholars through graduate and post-graduate students to professionals in the industry.

This contributed volume explores the latest breakthroughs in genetic and genomic resources for enhancing biotic stress responses in grain legumes – including minor ones. It covers the advances made to date, including gene identification, transcriptomics, proteomics, transgenics, genome editing, genomic selection, epigenetic breeding, and speed breeding related to different biotic stresses. Authored by crop-specific experts, the chapters in this book are essential resources for those directly involved in improving grain legume crops. Legumes play a vital role in ensuring food and nutritional security, enhancing soil quality, and promoting environmental sustainability. Rich in protein, they are essential in preventing hunger and malnutrition while adding to dietary diversity. However, as these crops are commonly grown in marginal lands with poor inputs, they are highly susceptible to biotic stresses such as diseases and pests, which can cause significant yield losses. This book consolidates all available knowledge about genetic and genomic aspects of biotic stress responses in various grain legumes. It is a must-have resource for all stakeholders involved in grain legume improvement. Whether you are a breeder, pathologist, biotechnologist, seed production specialist, market manager, graduate or post-graduate student, or any other industry professional, this book serves as an excellent guide to help you stay at the forefront of grain legume improvement.

Plants are confronted with various environmental stresses, the most prominent of which is biotic stress, which results in yield losses. Biotic stresses include damage caused by microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, insects, weeds, and native plants. It occurs to variable degrees in almost all agricultural ecosystems globally. Fungi, bacteria, or viruses may not be present in a given year, although they usually reduce output in the majority of years. Due to changing environmental conditions, plants struggle to attain their full genetic potential for growth and reproduction. This book focuses on understanding the physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes in stressed plants and the mechanisms underlying biotic stress tolerance in plants. Key Features: Explains the different molecular mechanisms and genetic engineering strategies which have been developed and adopted to cope with consistent environmental changes and global climate change.It explores the latest developments concerning abiotic and biotic stress response at the molecular level for the improvement of crop quality and sustainable agriculture.It presents an exploration of the challenges and conceivable solutions to improve yields of the staple of food crops using data on agricultural sciences and omics technology.It discovers how the better understanding of molecular mechanisms of plant response to different stress would be used to improve the quantitative and qualitative features of crop plants and allied areas.There will be an inclusion of end-of-chapter problems and case studies.

Bananas are a key food source for millions, whilst their production supports the livelihood of farmers across the globe. However, recent research has identified the vulnerability of particular banana varieties to major pests and diseases, such as the threat of Tropical Race 4 (Panama disease) to the Cavendish variety. With the banana industry under threat of extinction, more research is required into understanding the biology of the pests and diseases that pose this threat so that more effective management strategies can be developed and the risk of future outbreaks reduced. Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas-Volume 3: Diseases and pests provides a comprehensive review of the major pests and diseases affecting global banana production including Tropical Race 4, black Sigatoka, banana streak virus, root knot nematodes, weevil borer and thrips. The collection explores existing methods for pest/disease diagnosis and identification, as well as current management strategies used to control and/or prevent outbreaks, such as cultural, chemical and biological control methods, the development of disease resistant cultivars and integrated pest and disease management.

Plant diseases cause serious threats to the successful cultivation of horticultural crops, resulting in huge losses in their yields. These plant diseases are known to affect horticultural crops at various growth stages and reduce the yield as well as quality of fruits and vegetables. Diseases also cause subsequent postharvest transit and storage losses. This 4-volume set provides the latest diagnostic information along with effective management solutions to the problems of diseases of field crop plants caused by phytopathogens.In volume 1, each chapter includes an introduction, disease symptoms, causal organisms, disease cycles, epidemiology, and management of economically important plants. With contributions from national scientists who are engaged in teaching, research, and extension services who share their experiences here, the chapters explore apples, amla (or Indian gooseberry), avocado, Indian bael, banana, Indian jujube, citrus, grapes, guava, hazelnut, and more.The volumes provide an abundance of information for understanding and managing plant diseases, with emphasis on diagnostic techniques. The collection includes:Volume 1: Fruit CropsVolume 2: Vegetable CropsVolume 3: Ornamental Plants and Spice CropsVolume 4: Important Plantation Crops, Medicinal Crops, and Mushrooms

This book focuses on the conventional breeding approach, and on the latest high-throughput genomics tools and genetic engineering / biotechnological interventions used to improve rice quality. It is the first book to exclusively focus on rice as a major food crop and the application of genomics and genetic engineering approaches to achieve enhanced rice quality in terms of tolerance to various abiotic stresses, resistance to biotic stresses, herbicide resistance, nutritional value, photosynthetic performance, nitrogen use efficiency, and grain yield. The range of topics is quite broad and exhaustive, making the book an essential reference guide for researchers and scientists around the globe who are working in the field of rice genomics and biotechnology. In addition, it provides a road map for rice quality improvement that plant breeders and agriculturists can actively consult to achieve better crop production.

This twelve volume set covers a wide range of topics, including: medical marijuana; bioactive packaging; weed management; and biocontrol agents.

Bananas and plantains are among the most important food and cash crops in the world. They are cultivated in more than 135 countries, across the tropics and subtropics, with an annual global production of ca. 130 million metric tonnes. Though bananas are one of the most important components of food security in many developing countries, banana production is threatened by both abiotic and biotic stresses. These include a wide range of diseases and pests, such as bunchy top virus, burrowing nematodes, black Sigatoka or black leaf streak, Fusarium wilt, etc. In recent years, considerable progress has been made and several biotechnological and genomic tools have been employed to help understand and unravel the mysterious banana genome. Molecular and genomic studies have helped to decipher the Musa genome and its evolution. Genetic linkage map and whole genome sequencing of both Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana (progenitors of cultivated banana) have completely changedthe way of thinking and the approach on banana crop improvement. Whole-genome sequencing has helped to improve the selection of quantitative traits such as yield, as well as the selection of optimal parents for developing required hybrids in breeding programs. Gene isolation and the analysis of mutants have helped in the characterization of genes of agronomic value and the associated regulatory sequences. With the advent of molecular markers and new statistical tools, it is now possible to measure the diversity, identify genes and useful alleles linked to important agronomic traits. Further these alleles can be incorporated into cultivars through marker assisted selection or through transgenic approach. Transgenic approaches are potential tools for direct transfer of these genes into popular cultivars, which are generally not amenable for conventional breeding techniques, in specific with crops such as bananas which are sterile, triploid and heterozygous thereby making itdifficult to reconstruct the recurrent genotypes in banana. Transgenic techniques thus have helped overcome the difficulty of working with sterile, triploid banana crop. In the last five years, enormous amount of new information and techniques have been generated for banana. A comprehensive book entitled “Banana: Genomics and Transgenic Approaches for Genetic improvement” on banana genomics, latest transgenic technologies and tools available for improved crop development in banana will address all these requirements.

This book provides insights into the current state of sorghum genomics. It particularly focuses on the tools and strategies employed in genome sequencing and analysis, public and private genomic resources and how all this information is leading to direct outcomes for plant breeders. The advent of affordable whole genome sequencing in combination with existing cereal functional genomics data has enabled the leveraging of the significant novel diversity available in sorghum, the genome of which was fully sequenced in 2009, providing an unmatched resource for the genetic improvement of sorghum and other grass species. Cultivated grain sorghum is a food and feed cereal crop adapted to hot and dry climates, and is a staple for 500 million of the world's poorest people. Globally, sorghum is also an important source of animal feed and forage, an emerging biofuel crop and model for C4 grasses, particularly genetically complex sugarcane.

Major Diseases of Wheat ¨ Diseases of Rice ¨ Diseases of Sorghum ¨ Diseases of Maize ¨ Diseases of Pearl Millet ¨ Diseases of Small Millets ¨ Diseases of Pulse Crops ¨ Diseases of Groundnut ¨ Diseases of Rapeseed-Mustard ¨ Diseases of Castor, Sunflower, Safflower and Sesasum

The book is comprised of more than a dozen chapters on fungi from different substrates including fossilized leaves. It discusses association of fungi occurring on important plants, some animals, and saprophytic substrates. Besides the taxonomic information, some ecological aspects like distribution and substrate/host preferences are discussed.

Seed testing centers exist in almost every country in every corner of the globe. More and more students are enrolling in programs that require knowledge of the complex and fascinating science of seed pathology. The implications of seed pathology for human health remains an important issue. For all of these reasons and more, this book is a necessary

Die 2. Überarbeitete und aktualisierte Auflage des Buches informiert über den neuesten Stand der Wissenschaft auf dem Gebiet der'Grünen Gentechnik'und beschreibt die Methoden zur Erzeugung transgener Pflanzen, die Erkenntnisse über ihre Kultivierung und die Bestrebungen zu ihrem Inverkehrbringen. Die wichtigsten Argumente der Risikodiskussion sowie die gesetzlichen Regelungen zur Gentechnik innerhalb der EU werden übersichtlich dargestellt.Transgene Pflanzen ermöglicht es jedem, sich ein Urteil über die'Grüne Gentechnik'zu bilden. Die Vermittlung von Informationen an eine breitere Öffentlichkeit ist dabei unabdingbar für eine bewusste Wahlfreiheit zwischen Lebensmitteln aus gentechnisch veränderten, konventionell gezüchteten oder ökologisch angebauten Pflanzen.Die umfassende Darstellung der verschiedenen Aspekte der transgenen Pflanzen macht das Buch lesenswert für eine vielfältige Leserschaft und erleichtert den Einstieg in einen Themenkomplex, der im Brennpunkt der öffentlichen Diskussion steht.

Dieses umfassende Lehrbuch wendet sich an Studenten, Fachleute und Wissenschaftler und liegt somit im Niveau deutlich über den üblichen Sachbüchern zur Bionik. In einem umfangreichen allgemeinen Teil zeigt der Autor, was Bionik ist, wie sie sich entwickelt hat, wie man Fragen stellt und was Bionik leisten kann. Darauf folgen detaillierte Darstellungen von 40 ausgewählten Beispielen aus den verschiedensten technolgischen Bereichen. Die vielfältigen Facetten dieser interdisziplinären Wissenschaft fügen sich in diesem anspruchsvollen Werk puzzleartig zu einer'Biostrategie in die Zukunft'zusammen.

Molecular Methods of Plant Analysis Concept of the Series The powerful recombinant DNA technology and related developments have had an enormous impact on molecular biology. Any treatment of plant analy­ sis must make use of these new methods. Developments have been so fast and the methods so powerful that the editors of Modern Methods of Plant Analy­ sis have now decided to rename the series Molecular Methods of Plant Analy­ sis. This will not change the general aims of the series, but best describes the thrust and content of the series as we go forward into the new millennium. This does not mean that all chapters a priori deal only with the methods of molecular biology, but rather that these methods are to be found in many chapters together with the more traditional methods of analysis which have seen recent advances. The numbering of the volumes of the series therefore continues on from 20, which is the most recently published volume under the title Modern Methods of Plant Analysis. As indicated for previous volumes, the methods to be found in Molecular Methods of Plant Analysis are described critically, with hints as to their limi­ tations, references to original papers and authors being given, and the chap­ ters written so that there is little need to consult other texts to carry out the All authors have been chosen because of their methods of analysis described.

Plant adaptation is a fundamental process in plant breeding. It was the first criterion in the initial domestication of plants thousands of years ago. Adaptedness is generally a quantitative complex feature of the plant, involving many traits, many of which are quantitative. Adaptation to stresses like cold, drought or diseases are among the most central problems in a world grappling with global food security. Modern plant breeding, based on mendelian genetics, has made plant improvement more effective and more precise and selective. Molecular genetics and genetic engineering has considerably increased this selectivity down to single genes affecting single traits. The time has come when plant breeding efficiency may cause loss of genetic resources and adaptation. In these proceedings an effort is made to merge modern plant breeding efficiency with ecological aspects of plant breeding, reflected in adaptation. It is hoped that this merger results in more sustainable use ofgenetic resources and physical environments. The book is based on 10 keynotes addressing a wide spectrum of themes related to adaptation. In addition each subject is further elaborated in up to three case studies on particular plant species or groups of plants. The keynotes do in fact overlap to some degree and there are articles in this volume that seemingly contradict each other, a common aspect in advanced fields of research. The keen reader may conclude that, in a world where climates and environments are under continuous change and where human society is more and more polarized into a developed and a developing part, adaptation of our cultivated plants has different constraints on yields depending on ecology, and indeed economy.

Using the clearly structured protocols given in this manual, it will be easy to apply the latest techniques in plant biotechnology in order to create new plant varieties or varieties with altered and optimized characteristics.Direct gene transfer into plant cells or protoplasts by the use of microinjection, electroporation or biolistic systems, or mediated by Agrobacteria is described in detail for various plant species, including relevant crops and cereals. Also included are protocols of the standard molecular techniques for the analysis of transgenic plants as well as a section on biosafety considerations and regulations.

If I had to nominate an area of food production in which science has played a major role in addressing product quality to meet market needs I would not pass by the intimate rela­ tionship of cereaI chemistry with cereaI plant breeding programs. In Australia, cereaI chemistry and product quality labs ha ve long been associated with wheat and barley breeding programs. Grain quality characteristics have been principal factors determining registration of new cultivars. This has not been without pain in Australia. On the one hand some cultivars with promising yield and agronomic characteristics have been rejected on the basis of quality characteristics, and for a period our breeders imposed selection regimes based on yield which resulted in declining quality characteristics. In the end the market provides the critic al signals. For many years Australia held a commanding market position on the basis of a single quality image, initiaHy based on bulked wheat of fair/average quality (FAQ). Later this was improved by segregation into four broad classes• based around Australian Standard White (ASW). This is no longer a viable marketing strategy. We were probably a little slow in rec­ ognising the mosaic of present day wheat markets, but now have up to 18 different grades available. Around the world wheat is a grain with many end uses. Its use in bread is expanding.

Die 2. Überarbeitete und aktualisierte Auflage des Buches informiert über den neuesten Stand der Wissenschaft auf dem Gebiet der'Grünen Gentechnik'und beschreibt die Methoden zur Erzeugung transgener Pflanzen, die Erkenntnisse über ihre Kultivierung und die Bestrebungen zu ihrem Inverkehrbringen. Die wichtigsten Argumente der Risikodiskussion sowie die gesetzlichen Regelungen zur Gentechnik innerhalb der EU werden übersichtlich dargestellt.Transgene Pflanzen ermöglicht es jedem, sich ein Urteil über die'Grüne Gentechnik'zu bilden. Die Vermittlung von Informationen an eine breitere Öffentlichkeit ist dabei unabdingbar für eine bewusste Wahlfreiheit zwischen Lebensmitteln aus gentechnisch veränderten, konventionell gezüchteten oder ökologisch angebauten Pflanzen.Die umfassende Darstellung der verschiedenen Aspekte der transgenen Pflanzen macht das Buch lesenswert für eine vielfältige Leserschaft und erleichtert den Einstieg in einen Themenkomplex, der im Brennpunkt der öffentlichen Diskussion steht.

Plant diseases and pests are a major constraint to agricultural production despite the various measures used to control them. Chemical control, although often e~~ective, may pose environmental hazards and is relatively expensive, especially in developing countries where it may be completely uneconomic. Control through genetically mediated resistance to diseases and pests, is both cheap and environmentally sa~e and at present most diseases and pests o~ staple ~ood crops are controlled through some form of resistance. One of the basic problems in the use of resistance is its ~re­ quent lack of durability; very often a type of resistance is used that'breaks down'after a certain period. The temporary nature of this resistance, due to the development of new strains of pest or pathogen able to overcome it, has seriously hindered the improvement o~ the yield potential of many crops as a continuing effort is needed to replace old cultivars who resistance has failed, with new ones. Following Vanderplank's now classical publications (1963, 1968) which differentiated horizontal and vertical resistance, studies on several host-parasite systems have shown that di~ferent types of resistance can be distinguished genetically and epidemiologically, and on the ability o~ the pests or pathogens to adapt to them. A knowledge of how resistance operates at the population level has also opened up possibilities of'managing'relatively simple resistance types in such a way that a stable host-pathogen system can be pro­ duced with a minimum of crop loss.

Achievements today in plant biotechnology have already surpassed all previous expectations. Plant biotechnology, integrated with classical breeding, is now on the verge of creating the `evergreen revolution'to solve the world's envisaged tripled demand for food, agricultural commodities and natural products. New biotechnologies are being continuously adapted to agricultural practices, opening new vistas for plant utilization. Plant biotechnology is changing the plant scene in three major areas: (1) growth and development control (vegetative, generative and propagation), (2) protecting plants against the ever-increasing threats of abiotic and biotic stress, (3) expanding the horizons by producing specialty foods, biochemicals and pharmaceuticals. The potential for improving plant and animal productivity and their proper use in agriculture relies largely on newly-developed DNA biotechnology and molecular markers. These techniques enable the selection of successful genotypes, better isolation and cloning of favorable traits, and the creating of transgenic organisms of importance to agriculture. These areas were extensively discussed at the 9th international congress of the International Association of Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology, `Plant Biotechnology and In Vitro Biology in the 21st Century', which was held in Jerusalem in June 1998. The present book of proceedings contains the variety of scientific achievements and techniques that were presented: Basic and Applied Aspects of Growth, Development and Differentiation; Genetic Manipulations: Transformation and Gene Expression, Hybridization, Haploidization and Mutagenesis; Genetic Stability and Instability, Selection and Variability; Regulation of Primary and Secondary Metabolism; Model Systems: Cell Cycle, Transport and Signal Transduction; Biotechnology for Plant Protection: Abiotic and Biotic Stress; Biotechnology for Crop Improvement: Yield, Quality and Production of Valuable Substances; Novel Micropropagation Methods; New Markets and Commercial Applications; Intellectual Property Rights.

Aspects of genetic engineering research emphasized in this volume are applications to plants (crop plants and grass, both important for human needs) and new methodologies, such as Tar cloning, which make it much easier to isolate specific regions from complex genomes. Another subject discussed is linear DNA replication of prokaryotes.

A range of novel techniques is available to the plant breeder today to complement classical breeding methods. The new options are based on the integration of advances in plant cell biology with those in plant molecular biology. Plant cell, tissue and organ cultures provide efficient systems for transformation, for the achievement of wide crosses and for the production of variation through spontaneous and induced mutation, while permitting effective isolation of desired genotypes by in vitro selection. This book presents a critical appraisal of the methodologies of plant genetic manipulation for advanced undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and plant breeders, and provides guidance on the choice of breeding options. The latter depends on the breeding system of the crop, the breeding objective and the tissue culture systems applicable to the target genotype(s).

This book is an up-to-date and comprehensive collection of reviews on various aspects of epigenetic gene silencing in plants. Research on this topic has undergone explosive growth during the past decade and has revealed novel features of gene regulation and plant defense responses that also apply to animals and fungi. Gene silencing is relevant for agricultural biotechnology because stable expression of transgenes is required for the successful commercialization of genetically engineered crops. The reviews have been written by distinguished authors who have made significant contributions to plant gene silencing research. This volume supersedes other books on gene silencing by focussing on plant systems, where many pioneering experiments have been performed, and by including the latest developments from top laboratories. The book is geared toward advanced students of genetics and plant sciences as well as applied and basic research scientists who work with transgenic organisms and epigenetic regulation of gene expression.

From the pre-historic era to modern times, cereal grains have been the most important source of human nutrition, and have helped sustain the increasing population and the development of human civilization. In order to meet the food needs of the 21st century, food production must be doubled by the year 2025, and nearly tripled by 2050. Such enormous increases in food productivity cannot be brought about by relying entirely on conventional breeding methods, especially on less land per capita, with poor quality and quantity of water, and under rapidly deteriorating environmental conditions. Complementing and supplementing the breeding of major food crops, such as the cereals, which together account for 66% of the world food supply, with molecular breeding and genetic manipulation may well provide a grace period of about 50 years in which to control population growth and achieve sustainable development. In this volume, leading world experts on cereal biotechnology describe the production and commercialization of the first generation of transgenic cereals designed to substantially reduce or prevent the enormous losses to cereal productivity caused by competition with weeds, and by various pests and pathogens, which is an important first step in that direction.

The esculent Lycopersicon esculentum, long thought to be poisonous, has become a major U. S. food crop and source of vitamins and minerals, thanks largely to genetic modification and new production technology Rick (1978) Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important solana­ ceous vegetable crops grown worldwide under outdoor and indoor conditions. It has become an important commercial crop so far as the area, production, industrial values and its contribution to human nutrition is concerned. During the past few decades tremendous developments have contributed to the knowledge and understanding of various areas of genetics, breeding and biotechnology and voluminous literature has been generated. The purpose of preparing this monograph is to give a comprehensive up-to-date treatment to the various aspects of genetic improvement of tomato. The emphasis has been placed on cytology, classical and molecular genetics, reproductive biology, germplasm resources, hybrid seed production, use of wild taxa, selection/ breeding methods, breeding for abiotic and biotic stresses, processing and quality breeding, improvement for mechanical harvesting, and biotechnology: tissue culture, protoplast fusion, and genetic transformation. These topics are presented in 22 different chapters. However, a few aspects have been discussed in more than one chapter. For example, seed production is treated in chapters 1, 4 and 8; molecular biology/genetic engineering in chapters 3 and 22 and heterosis in chapters 8 and 16.

While some of the most commonly investigated- and most notorious- chemicals in the world are alkaloids, many modern medicines are also based on alkaloid structures. Chemists continue to explore new synthetic routes and alkaloid derivatives in search of drug candidates for fighting disease. Drawn from the venerable Dictionary of Natural Products, th

This book reviews research into pathogenic fungi in a diverse selection of economically important crops, including fruits and cereals. The establishment and management of fungal plant diseases, using conventional and ecofriendly methods is discussed with an emphasis on the use of microorganisms and biotechnology. Chapters also examine the role of microbes in growth promotion, as bioprotectors and bioremediators and presents practical strategies for using microbes as well as botanicals in sustainable agriculture. Providing knowledge of plant-pathogen interactions, management strategies and techniques, this will be a useful resource for students, researchers and extension workers in biology and plant pathology.

The soybean is a crop of global importance and is one of most frequently cultivated crops worldwide. It is rich in oil and protein, used for human and animal consumption as well as for industrial purposes. Soybean plants also play an important role in crop diversification and benefit the growth of other crops, adding nitrogen to the soil during crop rotation. With contributions from eminent researchers from around the world, The Soybean provides a concise coverage of all aspects of this important crop, including genetics and physiology, varietal improvement, production and protection technology, utilization and nutritional value.

A multibillion dollar industry that has tripled in the last ten years, turfgrass management plays an important role in landscaping, golf courses, and other sports surfaces. Proper management and cultural practices are crucial for the performance of these versatile grasses, creating a demand among scientists, researchers, and industry professionals

Dramatic progress in molecular biology and genetic engineering has recently produced an unparalleled wealth of information on the mechanisms of plant and pathogen interactions at the cellular and molecular levels. Completely revised and expanded, Fungal Pathogenesis in Plants and Crops: Molecular Biology and Host Defense Mechanisms, Second Edition

Potato is the most significant non-cereal crop. Much attention has been paid to this commercially important crop. The aim of this volume is to capture the recent advances made in improving potatoes using traditional breeding methods as well as genetic engineering technology. The book provides a critical appraisal of the state-of-the-art finding on

Genome Mapping and Molecular Breeding in Plants presents the current status of the elucidation and improvement of plant genomes of economic interest. The focus is on genetic and physical mapping, positioning, cloning, monitoring of desirable genes by molecular breeding and the most recent advances in genomics. The series comprises seven volumes: Cereals and Millets; Oilseeds; Pulses, Sugar and Tuber Crops; Fruits and Nuts; Vegetables; Technical Crops; and Forest Trees. Vegetables contains reviews in 12 chapters contributed by 31 authors from 10 countries. Covered are tomato, lettuce, radish, carrot, beet, eggplant, cucurbits, onion, garlic and other crops included in Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea, capsicums and cucurbits. The impressive work that has been done on most of these crops is presented in this volume. Genome projects already initiated on vegetable crops, particularly on Solanaceae and Brassicaceae species, may ignite further interest in other vegetables as well.

Cereals make an important component of daily diet of a major section of human population, so that their survival mainly depends on the cereal grain production, which should match the burgeoning human population. Due to painstaking efforts of plant breeders and geneticists, at the global level, cereal production in the past witnessed a steady growth. However, the cereal production in the past has been achieved through the use of high yielding varieties, which have a heavy demand of inputs in the form of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides/pesticides, leading to environmental degradation. In view of this, while increasing cereal production, one also needs to keep in mind that agronomic practices used for realizing high productivity do not adversely affect the environment. Improvement in cereal production in the past was also achieved through the use of alien genetic variation available in the wild relatives of these cereals, so that conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources is another important area, which is currently receiving the attention of plant breeders. The work leading to increased cereal production in the past received strong support from basic research on understanding the cereal genomes, which need to be manipulated to yield more from low inputs without any adverse effects as above. Through these basic studies, it also became fairly apparent that the genomes of all cereals are related and were derived from the same lineage, million of years ago.

Edited by J.A. Callow and supported by an international Editorial Board, Advances in Botanical Research publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 40th volume, the series features a wide range of reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This eclectic volume features six reviews on cutting-edge topics of interest to post-graduates and researchers alike. - Multidisciplinary reviews written from a broad range of scientific perspectives - For over 30 years, series has enjoyed a reputation for excellent - Contributors internationally recognized authorities in their respective fields

P. T. N. SPENCER-PHILLIPS Co-ordinator, Downy Mildew Working Group of the International Society for Plant Pathology University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK Email: peter.spencer-phillips@uwe.ac.uk It is a very great privilege to write the preface to the first specialist book on downy mildews since the major work edited by D. M. Spencer in 1981. The idea for the present publication arose from the Downy Mildew Workshop at the International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP) held in Edinburgh in August 1998. Our intention was to invite reviews on selected aspects of downy mildew biology from international authorities, and link these to a series of related short contributions reporting new data. No attempt has been made to cover the breadth of downy mildew research, but we hope that further topics will be included in future volumes, so that this becomes the first of a series following the five year ICPP cycle.

Even before the myth of Prometheus, fire played a crucial ecological role around the world. Numerous plant communities depend on fire to generate species diversity in both time and space. Without fire such ecosystems would become sterile monocultures. Recent efforts to prohibit fire in fire dependent communities have contributed to more intense and more damaging fires. For these reasons, foresters, ecologists, land managers, geographers, and environmental scientists are interested in the behavior and ecological effects of fires. This book will be the first to focus on the chemistry and physics of fire as it relates to the ways in which fire behaves and the impacts it has on ecosystem function. Leading international contributors have been recruited by the editors to prepare a didactic text/reference that will appeal to both advanced students and practicing professionals.

Plant biotechnology offers important opportunities for agriculture, horticulture, and the pharmaceutical and food industry by generating transgenic varieties with altered properties. This is likely to change farming practice and reduce the potential negative impact of plant production on the environment. This volume shows the worldwide advances and potential benefits of plant genetic engineering focusing on the third millennium. The authors discuss the production of transgenic plants resistant to biotic and abiotic stress, the improvement of plant qualities, the use of transgenic plants as bioreactors, and the use of plant genomics for genetic improvement and gene cloning. Unique to this book is the integrative point of view taken between plant genetic engineering and socioeconomic and environmental issues. Considerations of regulatory processes to release genetically modified plants, as well as the public acceptance of the transgenic plants are also discussed.This book will be welcomed by biotechnologists, researchers and students alike working in the biological sciences. It should also prove useful to everyone dedicated to the study of the socioeconomic and environmental impact of the new technologies, while providing recent scientific information on the progress and perspectives of the production of genetically modified plants.The work is dedicated to Professor Marc van Montagu.

Plant hormones play a crucial role in controlling the way in which plants growand develop. Whilemetabolism providesthepowerand buildingblocks for plant life, it is the hormones that regulate the speed of growth of the individual parts and integrate these parts to produce the form that we recognize as a plant. In addition, theyplayacontrolling role inthe processes of reproduction. This book is a description ofthese natural chemicals: how they are synthesizedand metabolized; howthey work; whatwe knowoftheir molecular biology; how we measure them; and a description ofsome ofthe roles they play in regulating plant growth and development. Emphasis has also been placed on the new findings on plant hormones deriving from the expanding use ofmolecular biology as a tool to understand these fascinating regulatory molecules. Even at the present time, when the role of genes in regulating all aspects of growth and development is considered of prime importance, it is still clear that the path of development is nonetheless very much under hormonal control, either via changes in hormone levels in response to changes in gene transcription, or with the hormones themselves as regulators ofgene transcription. This is not a conference proceedings, but a selected collection ofnewly written, integrated, illustrated reviews describing our knowledge of plant hormones, and the experimental work that is the foundation of this knowledge.