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This new volume focuses on novel breeding and biotechnological approaches for crop improvement, covering recent advances in molecular breeding and plant breeding, such as pre-breeding, reverse breeding, allele mining, next-generation sequencing, etc. The authors consider the important necessity and development of climate-resilient crops that can withstand hostility or adversities of climate without substantially compromising yield and discuss ways to mitigate plant stress.The recent developments in breeding and biotechnological approaches concerning crop improvement that are discussed in the book include molecular markers, their genesis, and their significant applications for crop improvement; QTL mapping, a modern breeding approach for mapping quantitative traits; pulse molecular breeding and genomics; and approaches for precise gene alterations in the genome of organisms by using genome editing.Other techniques include reverse breeding, a technique that allows breeders to develop parental lines directly from the heterozygous plant within a shorter time frame; pre-breeding approaches for biotic and abiotic stress management in crop plants; allele mining as a way to find existing variations in an organism's gene pool by scanning the entire gene; marker-assisted selection, where molecular markers have played a significant role in accelerating breeding programs; and next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms in crop improvement, where the authors summarize the technical know-how of each sequencing platform and its merits and demerits.The book introduces the design and importance of Mutmap and its variant in modern breeding, a novel gene mapping approaches that allows rapid identification of causal nucleotide changes of mutants by whole-genome resequencing.Examples and case studies of the various approaches are included as well, with several examples of marker-assisted selection of rice and maize crop and other agriculturally important crops.This informative volume will enhance readers'knowledge about the recent developments in breeding and biotechnological approaches concerning crop improvement.

Structured into four main parts, this book navigates the intersection between food and functionality of plant-based products and provides insight into the nutritional composition of some key elements of plant-based diets. The book also introduces the most abundant adulteration practices and points out the analytical methods of quality monitoring, their current trends, and their potential future applications.The volume first looks at plant-based sustainable health foods, with a primary focus on millets, their nutritional and health benefits, as well as their potential as food security crops. The chapters also shed some light on demographics of millet production and discuss the impact of processing on the nutritional and organoleptic attributes of millet-based products. New advances in production, quality determination, and functional health benefits of two globally renowned beverages—wine and beer—are discussed while mapping consumption trends and consumers'expectations and preferences.Sustainable and Functional Foods from Plants also explores some ethnic foodstuffs, ingredients, and condiments of functional importance for the cuisines of African, European, and Far Eastern countries, and then looks at the potential of bioactive compounds in medicinal foods and measurement techniques for quality of natural foods.The book will be informative for upper-level students as well as for food science teaching staff, researchers, and industrial personnel interested in theoretical and practical knowledge about sustainable and functional foods from plants.

This book, Petroleum Nanobiotechnology: Modern Applications for a Sustainable Future, explores the unique fusion of biotechnology and nanotechnology as applied to the different sectors of the oil and gas industry. It is a concise resource on the most recent and most up-to-date bottom-up fabrication techniques in petroleum nanobiotechnology, covering the advantages of biofabrication over chemical or physical techniques from the point of being more cost-effective, ecofriendly, biocompatibly superior, and highly stable.The volume covers the important topic of microbial and phytosynthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. The key applications discussed here include the application of these nanoparticles in different sectors of the oil and gas industry, with special emphasis on antimicrobial applications, reduction of environmental pollutants, and bio-upgrading of petroleum and its fractions. The discussion of each application is augmented with a critical review of the potential for continued development.The book first provides an overview of petroleum microbiology and nanotechnology and proceeds to consider phytosynthesis of metal nanoparticles, microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles, biosynthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles, nanobiotechnology and mitigation of microbial-influenced corrosion in petroleum industry, applications of nanobiotechnology in petroleum refining, and how nanobiotechnology can be used for petroleum wastewater treatment.This book covers the very important principle of nanobiotechnology as applied in the petroleum industry and how it can be used for: Oil recovery Microbial enhanced oil recovery Petroleum refinery, such as, for example, desulfurization, denitrogenation, demetallization, biotransformation, and bio-upgrading Bioremediation of oil polluted soil and water Mitigation of microbial corrosion and bio-fouling Toxicity of nano-materials and its obstacles upon application Nanobiotechnology in petroleum industry and the 17 goals of sustainable development The advantages of the application of nanobiotechnology in the oil industries are enormous and clearly outweigh any negligible cons. The success can have a huge impact on the exploration, production, refining, mitigation of corrosion, waste management, and economics. This informative volume will be valuable for petroleum engineers and petroleum microbiologists, scientists, and researchers concerned with nanotechnology, environmental pollution, petroleum biotechnology, petroleum microbiology, petroleum refining, and the petroleum industry in general.

Volume 2 of this 4-volume set tackles the problems presented by diseases in vegetable crops that can reduce yield and quality. The effective management of plant diseases involves a detailed study of the disease symptoms, causal agents, disease cycles, and epidemiology.Written by nationally known scientists in their respective fields, the chapters incorporate the experience and knowledge of the authors. The chapters provide an introduction along with plant disease symptoms, causal organisms, disease cycles, epidemiology, and effective management solutions for diseases of economically important vegetables. Some of the vegetables addressed include brinjal (or eggplant), chili, cole crops (such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi), cucurbits (gourds), garlic, green peas, potatoes, 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