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This book explores the different conventional and biotechnological techniques for enhancing the productivity of industrial crops. The growth of the industrial crop sector has become a widespread global phenomenon that helps rural livelihoods and propels economic development. Contrary to staple crops, industrial crops are cultivated with the intention of being sold for a high profit. Industrial crops are a crucial component of plans to increase food security because they offer the required stability during periods of economic or climatic crises. In order to maintain their livelihood and food security, many farm households balance the advantages and disadvantages of producing food crops and industrial crops. Avoiding land-use rivalry with crops grown for food and feed production is crucial when considering growing industrial crops on agricultural soils. The past several years have seen a rise in the awareness of scholars and decision-makers regarding the immediate and long-term effects of climatic variables on economic, food security, social, and political results. In order to sustain food production with more climate-resilient crops for future generations, genetic variety, both natural and artificial, is crucial. Therefore, addressing the problem of finding a compromise between increasing crop production under a specific set of conditions and reducing the chance of crop failure when conditions change is important and difficult. An assortment of meteorological conditions is used to grow industrial crops. Many are subsistence farmers who run extremely tiny farms with very little agricultural input to produce products that can be sold. It is a significant problem to preserve the variety of these crops and handle all crop culture-related difficulties. By offering the knowledge required to minimize the dangers of industrial crop breeding through managing genetic diversity, the author believe that this book will primarily address a need that has not yet been met in this and other grower groups.

This book provides current technologies to enhance shelf life of fruits and vegetables and to maintain their quality during storage, packing and transportation. It is written in a lucid style with theoretical and practical discussions and being supplemented with illustrations, and tables for easy understanding of the subject. Provides appropriate approaches, technologies, and control parameters necessary to achieve shelf-life extension without compromising produce quality The book is also supported with a comprehensive bibliography and index at the end. This text is designed for professionals working in the postharvest industry, postharvest technologists, fresh produce management, food safety and quality professionals, postharvest physiologists, students and researchers.

Find up-to-date information on barley for malting, food, and animal feed!This comprehensive book covers every aspect of barley from molecular biology to agronomy of yield and quality. In addition to the exposition of the basic concepts, Barley Science explains the latest developments in the field. In addition, this remarkable book presents ideas and techniques for bridging the gap between physiology and breeding. Beginning with the history of this ancient cultivated grain, Barley Science presents state-of-the-art information on genetics and breeding, physiology, and agronomy. One chapter explains the CERES computer simulation of barley growth, development, and yield. Every chapter includes a thorough literature review, and you will find many helpful tables and figures.Barley Science offers cutting-edge information on the latest developments in the field, including: wild barley as a source of genes for crop improvement genetics and breeding for specific attributes genetic engineering determining barley yield under stress new breeding strategies for disease resistance choosing genotype, sowing date, and plant density for malting barley enhancing pre-harvest sprouting resistance barley proteins and malting performance Written by the top experts in the field, Barley Science is an excellent update and broadening of the information found in previous barley books. Agronomists, breeders, geneticists, and physiologists--and their students--will turn again and again to this essential resource.

Handbook of AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY The book provides a detailed examination of the application of nanobioherbicides that come from plants including information on the different metabolites derived from numerous plants that could become bioherbicides. The book gives attention to weed-plant physiology and chronicles the activities of nanobioherbicides on weeds during preliminary bioassays, pot assays, in-house screenings, and during field trials. Furthermore, deep data is provided on the commercial potential of these nanobioherbicides derived from plants, while toxicity assays are also highlighted. Other topics covered include: documented patents on nanobioherbicides; the process involved in the registration of these novel products as nanobioherbicides for both conventional and organic farming; relevant information on the application of molecular techniques for improvement of nanobioherbicides, such as genomics, proteomics, informatics, bioinformatics, and chemoinformatics; details about the non-target effect of the nanobioherbicides. Highlighted, too, is information on the biochemical, enzymatic, and ultrastructural effects of these nanobioherbicides, as well as detailed information on the nutritional qualities of agricultural crops after nanobioherbicidal application. Audience The book is a useful resource for a diverse audience, including industrialists, food industry professionals, agriculturists, agricultural microbiologists, plant pathologists, botanists, microbiologists, biotechnologists, nanotechnologists, microbial biotechnologists, farmers, policymakers, and extension workers.

Industrial crops offer farmers new market opportunities to increase their revenue by producing high-value products, focusing on fiber, forest, and energy crops, industrial oilseeds, rubber and resins, pharmaceuticals, and more. Technological innovations in agriculture have facilitated higher yields, but conserving crop genetic resources and diversity remains crucial for sustainable agricultural production. This poses a challenge that can be addressed through modern tools of biotechnology and genomics, utilizing the wealth of sequenced plant genomes. This book addresses the need for knowledge in managing the risks and conservation of genetic diversity associated with advanced technology. It provides comprehensive coverage of plant genomics and biotechnology, catering to post-graduate students, researchers, employees of seed and biotechnology companies, as well as instructors in plant genetics, breeding, and biotechnology fields.

This book is a collection of information about applying CRISPR-Cas systems for genome editing in plants. The main focus of this book is to address the recent advances and future prospects of CRISPR-Cas technology in crops.Genome editing technology is important because it can be used to improve plant traits. The earlier genome-engineering tools, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), and TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) are complicated to design and not flexible. The novel genome editor, CRISPR-Cas systems, has advantages over ZFNs and TALENs. The advantages are simple and easy to design precision in targeting and efficiency. Due to its precision and simplicity, the CRISPR-Cas technology has rapidly become the most popular genome-editing platform in life-science fields. CRISPR-Cas technology has been used widely for human gene therapy to treat diseases and for plant breeding programs for crop improvement.This book is of interest and useful to genome-editing professionals, plant breeders, horticulturists, field-level extension workers, nurserymen, planters, ecologists, and valuable source of reference to the relevant researchers.

New technologies have the potential to transform the agri-food industry by improving agricultural productivity. Recent innovations in this sector are making a useful contribution to environmental sustainability as well. This new book presents advanced methods and modern technologies in agri-food sectors to improve environmental health and food security on a global scale. It explores the principles of environmental sustainability and explains how these principles can be applied in practice in agri-food systems. It also provides an accessible framework for the effective management of resources for the reduction of chronic disease in humans and mitigating the degradation of the environment.Key features: Describes the key concepts of sustainable food production for scientists interested in the environmental impacts of agriculture Reviews sustainable options to the industrial production methods used today to adopt healthier foods and lifestyles Reports on sustainable resources for the food industry along with sustainable processes for food scientists of all levels, both in academia and industry Explores technical innovations to connect the gap between a healthy environment and sustainable agriculture using the theories and principles set out in each chapter to address real-world problems Presents case studies related to our growing demand for food from the perspectives of disciplines ranging from environmental science to public health

This publication is rare among those texts on pesticides in that it covers herbicides exclusively. It presents, in one source, information that is typically scattered. This important publication enables the reader to recommend herbicide use more reliably and efficiently. It also highlights environmental issues relevant to herbicide use in agriculture. The book outlines potential areas of further research. This title is of particular value to weed scientists, environmental chemists and engineers, soil scientists, and those responsible for recommending and/or regulating use of herbicides in agriculture.Focuses On: Increasing efficiency of herbicides in agriculture Decreasing environmental contamination with herbicides Dissipation and transformations in water and sediment Nature, transport, and fate of airborne residues Absorption and transport in plants Transformations in biosphere Bioaccumulation and food chain accumulation Photochemical transformations Bound residues Predictability and environmental chemistry

This book provides a comprehensive review at the biochemical and molecular level of the processes and techniques that contribute to crop improvement. General topics include a historical perspective of the advancements in crop improvement; cultivar systematics and biochemical and molecular markers in crop improvement programs; the genetics of physiological and biochemical processes affecting crop yield; the genetics of photosynthesis, chloroplast, relevant enzymes, and mutations; osmoregulation/adjustment and the production of protective compounds in relation to drought tolerance; and the biochemistry of disease resistance, including elicitors, defense response genes, their role in the production of phytoalexins and other strategies against pathogens. Other topics include quality breeding (e.g., molecular gene structure, changing individual amino acids, enhancing nutritive value of proteins) and biotechnology/genetic engineering. Geneticists, biochemists, botanists, agricultural specialists and others involved in crop improvement and breeding should consider this volume essential reading.

This book entitled, The Pearl Millet Genome, is the first comprehensive compilation of deliberations on history, domestication, genetic and genomic resources, traditional breeding, genetic diversity, molecular maps and mapping of important biotic stress as well as nutritional quality traits, whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics, functional genomics, genetic transformation. The economic, nutritional, and health importance of the pearl millet is also discussed. It also presents the input use efficiency and wide adaptation of the crop. Altogether, the book will contain about 200 pages over 10 chapters authored by globally reputed experts on the relevant field in this crop. This book will be useful to the students, teachers, and scientists in the academia and relevant private companies interested in genetics, pathology, molecular genetics and breeding, genetic engineering, structural and functional genomics, and nutritional quality aspects of the crop. This book will also be also useful to seed and pharmaceutical industries.

Over the years, the interventions of genomics tools have paved the way for molecular breeding to meet the challenges of food security and climate resilience. Advances in plant molecular breeding encompassing approaches of genomics, molecular markers, genetic transformation and genome editing have revolutionized crop improvement. Successful application of these tools has led to improvement of a wide range of traits of agronomic relevance. This book provides a comprehensive coverage of successful applications of molecular approaches that can be integrated within plant breeding programs aimed at improvement of crop plants. The book covers all relevant areas of molecular breeding applications in plants, with many examples drawn from the advanced genomics and molecular breeding research. Chapters present a critical appraisal of the current literature in the respective fields of molecular breeding written by expert authors. Each chapter provides in-depth discussion of the subject supported with high-quality color illustrations relevant data and future research perspective and, a comprehensive list of pertinent references.

Microbiome-Assisted Bioremediation: Rehabilitating Agricultural Soils provides a complete reference to the opportunities, technologies and challenges of remediating contaminated soils through use of microbial means. Environmental pollution and human exposure associated with heavy metals are attributed to anthropogenic activities such as mining, industrial wastes, and metal containing compounds in domestic and agricultural systems. Microbial remediation has appeared as a promising approach to lessen the heavy metal concentration in the environment due to their sequestration and transforming ability of xenobiotic compounds. Microbial bioremediation is an efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly procedure that reduces the cost of the cleanup process associated with heavy and toxic metal contamination. Addressing the foundational aspects of microbe-based approaches, this book provides a valuable gateway resource for those entering the field, as well as providing in-depth insights into the various tools and techniques for real-world application. - Emphasizes microbiome-assisted biodegradation of toxic substances in soil - Includes complete descriptions of the most recent and advanced techniques - Addresses the use of GMOs, nanotechnologies and in silico studies - Outlines developments in the microbial degradation of synthetic plastics in soil and the biodegradation enzymes

Fungal Secondary Metabolites: Synthesis and Applications in Agroecosystem presents the properties and biotechnological applications of microbial metabolites and their industrial, pharmaceutical, antimicrobial, and anticancer applications. Chapters cover topics such as the role of fungal metabolites in the management of abiotic stress, microbial alkaloids and their pharmaceutical and agricultural applications, and fungal metabolites as novel plant pathogen antagonists. Plant and agri-food environmental scientists, researchers, graduate, and post-graduate students in related fields will find value in this reference which is published as part of the series Nanobiotechnology for Plant Protection. - Addresses the link between fungal secondary metabolites and health - Covers cryptic genes and their link to the production of bioactive compounds - Explores possibilities for producing bio-based business solutions

Plant Transformation via Agrobacterium Tumefaciens compiles fundamental and specific information and procedures involving in vitro soybean transformation, which forms the basis for the Agrobacterium-mediated genetic manipulation of soybean using plant tissue culture. This method serves as one of the most preferred, reliable and cost-effective mechanism of transgene expression in both leguminous recalcitrant species and non-legume crops. The technology is favoured due to its simplicity, feasibility and high transformation rates that are so far achieved mostly in monocot plants and a few dicot genotypes. This book provides a comprehensive review of plant transformation which remains necessary for many researchers who are still facing protocol-related hurdles. Among some of the major topics covered in Plant Transformation via Agrobacterium Tumefaciens are the history and discovery of Agrobacterium bacterium, longstanding challenges causing transformation inefficiencies, types and conditions of explants, development of transgenic plants for stress resistance, and the role of transgenic plants on animal/human health, including the environment. Plant Transformation via Agrobacterium Tumefaciens helps the reader to understand how soybean, like many other orphan legume crops, faces the risk of overexploitation which may render the currently available varieties redundant and extinct should its narrow gene pool not improve. Plant transformation serves as a key technique in improving the gene pool, while developing varieties that are drought tolerant, have enhanced nutritional value, pest resistant and reduce the destruction by disease causing microorganims. This book is an essential foundation tool that is available for researchers and students to reinforce the application of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation in soybean.

Under ongoing climate change, natural and cultivated habitats of major food crops are being continuously disturbed. Such condition accelerates to impose stress effects like abiotic and biotic stressors. Drought, salinity, flood, cold, heat, heavy metals, metalloids, oxidants, irradiation etc. are important abiotic stresses; and diseases and infections caused by plant pathogens viz. fungal agents, bacteria and viruses are major biotic stresses. As a result, these harsh environments affect crop productivity and its biology in multiple complex paradigms. As stresses become the limiting factors for agricultural productivity and exert detrimental role on growth and yield of the crops, scientists and researchers are challenged to maintain global food security for a rising world population.This two-volume work highlights the fast-moving agricultural research on crop improvement through the stress mitigation strategies, with specific focuses on crop biology and their response to climatic instabilities. Together with'Climate Resilient Agriculture, Vol 1: Crop Responses and Agroecological Perspectives', it covers a wide range of topics under environmental challenges, agronomy and agriculture processes, and biotechnological approaches, uniquely suitable for scientists, researchers and students working in the fields of agriculture, plant science, environmental biology and biotechnology.

With over 820 million people facing hunger in today's world, the need of the hour is the design of plant varieties with high yield, improved traits, and resistance properties in order to mitigate the detrimental impacts of biotic and abiotic stress conditions on food crops. This volume highlights the use of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated nuclease proteins as a solution for sustainable agriculture. CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing (GE) provides a robust, simple, precise, efficient, economical, and revolutionary toolbox that leads to improved plant traits with enhanced yield, quality, and resistance against various stresses, including climate-related stress, insect pests and diseases, pollution-related stresses, etc. Key features of the book: Explains the differences between conventional breeding, genetically modified crops, and genome editing approaches using CRISPR/Cas Introduces the tools of genome editing, such as ZFNS (zinc finger nucleases), mega nucleases, and TLENS (transcription activator-like effector nucleases) Covers the history, origin, discovery, structure, and classification of CRISPR/Cas Examines the databases and computational approaches of CRISPR/Cas Highlights genome editing of important crop plants with CRISPR/Cas systems, including wheat, maize. tomato, Brassica crops, rice, fruits Explores potential applications of CRISPR/Cas systems for climate smart crops

This edited volume provides state-of–the-art overview of abiotic stress responses and tolerance mechanisms of different legume crops viz., chickpea, mung bean, lentil, black gram, cowpea, cluster bean, soybean and groundnut. Legumes play an important role in human nutrition and soil health through fixation of nitrogen. Legume production and productivity are vulnerable to different abiotic stresses. A proper understanding about the physiological and molecular basis of the legume crops is essential for genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance. This book consists of 15 chapters covering physiological and biochemical basis, molecular physiology, molecular breeding, genetics, genomics, transgenics, epigenetics of drought, saline, high temperature and nutrient deficiency stresses, and the role of microRNAs in abiotic stress tolerance. This volume offers new perspectives in legume crop abiotic stress management, and is useful for various stakeholders, including post graduates students, scientists, environmentalists and policymakers.

Maize is one of the most generally grown cereal crops at global level, followed by wheat and rice. Maize is the major crop in China both in terms of yield and acreage. In 2012, worldwide maize production was about 840 million tons. Maize has long been a staple food of most of the global population (particularly in South America and Africa) and a key nutrient resource for animal feed and for food industrial materials. Maize belts vary from the latitude 58° north to the latitude 40° south, and maize ripens every month of the year. Abiotic and biotic stresses are common in maize belts worldwide. Abiotic stresses (chiefly drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures), together with biotic stresses (primarily fungi, viruses, and pests), negatively affect maize growth, development, production and productivity. In the recent past, intense droughts, waterlogging, and extreme temperatures have relentlessly affected maize growth and yield. In China, 60% of the maize planting area is prone to drought, and the resultant yield loss is 20%–30% per year; in India, 25%–30% of the maize yield is lost as a result of waterlogging each year. The biotic stresses on maize are chiefly pathogens (fungal, bacterial, and viral), and the consequential syndromes, like ear/stalk rot, rough dwarf disease, and northern leaf blight, are widespread and result in grave damage. Roughly 10% of the global maize yield is lost each year as a result of biotic stresses. For example, the European corn borer [ECB, Ostrinianubilalis (Hübner)] causes yield losses of up to 2000 million dollars annually in the USA alone in the northern regions of China, the maize yield loss reaches 50% during years when maize badly affected by northern leaf blight. In addition, abiotic and biotic stresses time and again are present at the same time and rigorously influence maize production. To fulfill requirements of each maize-growing situation and to tackle the above mentions stresses in an effective way sensibly designed multidisciplinary strategy for developing suitable varieties for each of these stresses has been attempted during the last decade. Genomics is a field of supreme significance for elucidating the genetic architecture of complex quantitative traits and characterizing germplasm collections to achieve precise and specific manipulation of desirable alleles/genes. Advances in genotyping technologies and high throughput phenomics approaches have resulted in accelerated crop improvement like genomic selection, speed breeding, particularly in maize. Molecular breeding tools like collaborating all omics, has led to the development of maize genotypes having higher yields, improved quality and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. Through this book, we bring into one volume the various important aspects of maize improvement and the recent technological advances in development of maize genotypes with high yield, high quality and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses

The book presents discussions on: Biology and ecology of major troublesome weeds infesting rice, wheat, corn, soybean, focusing on different cropping patterns in both tropical and temperate cropping systems and science-based weed management practices involving chemical, non-chemical, biological, integrated methods. Herbicides used, with their most recent classification, identification of new target sites, mechanisms and modes of action and how and why weeds evolve resistance to herbicides. New concepts, new paradigms and new technologies to manage evolution of resistance to herbicides including weed genomics, bioherbicides and allelochemicals. Highly recommended for students, teachers, researchers, agronomists, horticulturists, crop physiologists, and crop protection specialists in tropical and temperate agricultural systems, particularly in areas where major tropical weeds are posing potential threats to temperate agricultural systems.

In the context of rising adverse effects of climate change on agriculture, there is a need for advanced methods and practices to manage soils for production of food and energy. This book presents the latest advances in microbial processes that control plant growth, with focus on genomic tools, microbial interactions with the plant and soils habitats, mobilization of plant nutrients, agricultural waste management, biodegradation, bioremediation, carbon sequestration, land reclamation, plant growth promotion, suppression of plant pathogens, induced systemic resistance and tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses.

This book is exploring molecular insight of plant disease resistance, enhancing plant immunity as well as the latest omics or approaches in plant disease management. In the recent past, microbial strains or products frequently utilized to inhibit the growth of phytopathogen and disease management. However, it is well known that plants respond to numerous biotic and abiotic stresses by morphological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. But still there is much more to study about their molecular aspect of interaction between host- pathogens- biocontrol agents that will be helpful in formulation and applications of microbial antagonistic for effective management of phytopathogens. This book attempt to fill this gap in the literature. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, agronomist, horticulturalist scientists, capacity builders and policymakers. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, microbiology, environment science.

Biotechnology and Crop ImprovementThe green revolution led to the development of improved varieties of crops, especially cereals, and since then, classical or molecular breeding has resulted in the creation of economically valuable species. Thanks to recent developments in biotechnology, it has become possible to introduce genes from different sources, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, mice and humans, to plants. This technology has made the scientific community aware of the critical role of transgenic, not only as a means of producing stress tolerant crops but also as a platform for the production of therapeutics through molecular farming. Biotechnology and Crop Improvement: Tissue Culture and Transgenic Approaches focuses on important field crops to highlight germplasm enhancement for developing resistance to newly emerging diseases, pests, nutrient- and water-use efficiency, root traits and improved tolerance to increasing temperature and introduces significant recent achievements in crop improvement using methods such as micropropagation, somaclonal variation, somatic embryogenesis, anther/pollen/embryo culture, and compressing the breeding cycle for accelerated breeding and early release of crop varieties. Plant biotechnology has now become an integral part of tissue culture research. The tremendous impact generated by genetic engineering and consequently of transgenic now allows us to manipulate plant genomes at will. There has indeed been a rapid development in this area with major successes in both developed and developing countries. Development of transgenic crop plants, their utilization for improved agriculture, health, ecology and environment and their socio-political impacts are currently important fields in education, research, and industry and also of interest to policy makers, social activists and regulatory and funding agencies. This work prepared with a class-room approach on this multidisciplinary subject will fill an existing gap and meet the requirements of such a broad section of readers. It describes the recent biotechnological advancement and developments in plant tissue culture and transgenic. Plant tissue culture techniques such as such as micropropagation, regeneration, somaclonal variation, somatic embryogenesis, anther/pollen/embryo culture are discussed for genetic improvement of crop plant. Transgenic techniques are discussed for developing resistance to newly emerging diseases, pests, nutrient- and water-use efficiency, root traits, and improved tolerance to increasing temperature.Key Features Shows the importance of plant tissue culture and transgenic technology on plant biology research and its application to agricultural production Provides insight into what may lie ahead in this rapidly expanding area of plant research and development Contains contributions from major leaders in the field of plant tissue culture and transgenic technology This book is devoted to topics with references at both graduate and postgraduate levels. The book traces the roots of plant biotechnology from the basic sciences to current applications in the biological and agricultural sciences, industry, and medicine. The processes and methods used to genetically engineer plants for agricultural, environmental, and industrial purposes along with bioethical and biosafety issues of the technology are vividly described in the book.

This book presents deliberations on molecular and genomic mechanisms underlying the interactions of crop plants to the abiotic stresses caused by heat, cold, drought, flooding, submergence, salinity, acidity, etc., important to develop resistant crop varieties. Knowledge on the advanced genetic and genomic crop improvement strategies including molecular breeding, transgenics, genomic-assisted breeding, and the recently emerging genome editing for developing resistant varieties in technical crops is imperative for addressing FHNEE (food, health, nutrition, energy, and environment) security. Whole genome sequencing in many of these crops followed by genotyping-by-sequencing has provided precise information regarding the genes conferring resistance useful for gene discovery, allele mining, and shuttle breeding which in turn opened up the scope for'designing'crop genomes with resistance to abiotic stresses. The ten chapters each dedicated to a technical crop and one chapter devoted to a crop group in this volume elucidate different types of abiotic stresses and their effects on and interaction with the crops; enumerate the available genetic diversity with regard to abiotic stress resistance among available cultivars; illuminate the potential gene pools for utilization in interspecific gene transfer; present brief on classical genetics of stress resistance and traditional breeding for transferring them to their cultivated counterparts; depict the success stories of genetic engineering for developing abiotic stress-resistant crop varieties; discuss on molecular mapping of genes and QTLs underlying stress resistance and their marker-assisted introgression into elite varieties; enunciate different genomics-aided techniques including genomic selection, allele mining, gene discovery, and gene pyramiding for developing adaptive crop varieties with higher quantity and quality of yields, and also elaborate some case studies on genome editing focusing on specific genesfor generating abiotic stress-resistant crops.

This book discusses genetic engineering of both plants and microbes for making agricultural practices more productive and sustainable. It chapters explore the understanding of the interaction between plants and microbes, and genomic information to modify the metabolism of plants or microbes to further enhance the beneficial interaction. The book covers the development of commercial inoculants including selection of appropriate plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria/ phosphate solubilize bacteria based on target host plant, soil type, indigenous microbial communities, environmental conditions, inoculant density, suitability of carriers and compatibility with integrated crop management. This is a relevant content for scientists and researchers working on soil biology, sustainable agricultural and plant physiology. Also, this book is a useful read for graduate and post graduate students of agriculture, botany and microbiology.

Cotton Breeding and Biotechnology presents information on one of the most economically important crops of the world, cotton. This book contains chapters on the history of cotton; breeding approaches; technologies for increasing germination, crop growth and yield; and fiber quality issues. It emphasizes sustainable development in the cotton industry analysing the progress of breeding technologies under environmental adversity. The book explores the national and global status of cotton crop, including cotton production, possible impacts of climate change, and the vulnerability of cotton to pest infestations and disease attacks.Features Focuses on cotton breeding and biotechnology Proposes ideas, data, and strategies to mount breeding programs for enhancing cotton production Details strategies for cotton quality improvement against abiotic and biotic stresses Emphasizes the revival of cotton in Pakistan and South Asian region This book is useful to researchers, cotton breeders and growers, farmers, and the agriculture industry.

This volume explains the recent findings on the mutualistic plant–microbe interactions and how they can be utilized for sustainable agriculture practices including land reclamation. The book covers mainly plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) including both the symbiotic bacteria and fungi and their role in mobilization of nutrients, providing protection to the crops from phytopathogens and abiotic stresses. PGPMs play important roles in survival and health of the plant. These useful microorganisms provide plants with nutrients, protect them from pathogens and help them combat abiotic stresses. It is important that these mutualistic interactions between plant and soil microbes are well understood so as to develop reliable products in the form of biostimulants and biopesticides, as well as managing biotic and abiotic stresses in crops. Apart from enhancing crop productivity plant–microbe interactions can also perform activities such as reclamation of degraded lands, degradation of pollutants and remediation of saline or marginal lands. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, plant scientists and microbiologists. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, microbiology, biotechnology, ecology, soil science and environmental sciences.

This book covers the important diseases and pests of potato which are of global significance. The pests and diseases in potato lead to huge economic losses by reducing the yield and quality of the produce. This book describes major pests and diseases in detail with particular emphasis on the latest developments with respect to their biology, ecology, and management. It highlights the importance of virus infection for seed potato production and diagnostic symptoms, along with management guidelines. The book brings forth tips for judicious use of pesticides for sustainable potato production and management of pesticide resistance. Use of novel approaches such as RNA interference, genome editing, and other genomic resources for drug designing in diseases and pest management is also emphasized in the book. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, extension workers, potato growers, and policy makers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture and plant pathology. National and international agricultural scientists and policy makers will also find this to be a useful read.

This volume ‘Agrochemicals in Soil and Environment: Impacts and Remediation'is a comprehensive collection of important literature on agrochemical contamination. The main focus of this book is to point out undesirable changes in biological, physical and chemical characteristics of agricultural soils and its impacts on global agricultural crop productivity. Soil is one of the important resources of basic needs for our sustenance but due to various anthropogenic activities like urbanization and industrialization, the soil is losing its basic quality characteristics. Soil microorganisms, water holding capacity, minerals, salts and nutrients are under the direct threat due to agrochemicals therefore, agricultural sector is facing a serious challenge. Lack of proper knowledge and luxurious applications of agrochemicals resulting into degradation and deterioration of soil quality, loss of soil and crop productivity and threatening the food security. Therefore, it is imperative to developindices, indicators and soil parameters for the monitoring and impact assessment of agricultural contaminants. Further, biotic and abiotic stresses and their tolerance mechanisms in plants in relation to the soil contaminants such as toxic pollutants, heavy metals, inorganic and organic matters, variety of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, agricultural runoffs and solid wastes, and chemical fertilizers are also highlighted in this volume. This book also discusses causes of reduced agriculture productivity and suggests sustainable measures such as plant-based technologies, bioremediation and nanotechnology, that can be used to overcome the crop losses. The book is interest to research students, teachers, agricultural scientists, agronomists, environmentalists as well as policy makers.

This book is a compilation of advancements and achievements in the field of sugar beet cultivation. It covers recent research and up-to-date information on this crop. It discusses essential aspects for high production and good yield, development and crop management, such as origin, breeding, seed production, physiology, pathology, entomology, biotechnology, and post-harvest technology. Sugar beet is known as an alternative crop for sugar production. A versatile crop having numerous uses, besides being raw material for sugar production, its molasses contain high amount of betaine which is used as a feed supplement. Due to its value profile it has attracted the millers and farmers alike. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, agriculture scientists, capacity builders and policymakers. Also the book serves as additional reading material for graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology and soil science. National and international agricultural scientists, policy makers will also find this to be a useful read.

This book is an advanced textbook and a reference book for the post-graduate plant-breeding students and the plant breeders. It consolidates fundamental concepts and also the latest advances in plant-breeding practices including development in crop genomics. It contains crop wise explanation on origin, reproduction, genetics of yield contributing traits, biotic and abiotic stresses, nutritional improvement and crop specific plant-breeding procedures and techniques. The chapters are planned to describe crop-focused breeding procedure for the major crop plants as per their economic importance. The recent developments in breeding of field crops have been reported. The recent progress made in mapping traits of economic importance has been critically reviewed for each crop. The progress made in markers assisted selected in few crops has been summarized. This book bridges the knowledge gap and bring to the researchers and students information on modern breeding tools for developing biotic and abiotic stress tolerant, climate resilient and micronutrient rich varieties of field crops. The chapters in book are contributed by experienced Plant Breeders.

Agricultural biocatalysis is of immense scientific interest nowadays owing to its increasing importance in the efforts for more sustainable agriculture while optimizing environmental impacts. Plant compatibility is essential for developing eco-friendly and sustainable microbial products. Therefore, our search for novel technologies ought to be in the foreground, for which a thorough understanding of biochemical processes, applications of agricultural enzymes, traits, and viruses should get the highest priority. Volumes 8 to 10 in this series compile the recent research on agricultural biocatalysis by interdisciplinary teams from international institutes for chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, and materials and chemical engineering, who have been investigating agricultural-biocatalytic topics related to biochemical conversions or bioremediation, and modern biological and chemical applications exemplified by the use of selected and highly innovative agricultural enzymes, traits, and viruses. The editors are prominent researchers in agrochemistry and theoretical biophysical chemistry, and these three volumes are useful references for the students and researchers in the fields of agrochemistry, biochemistry, biology, biophysical chemistry, natural product chemistry, materials, and drug design. Volume 10 covers the research on biological control, plant uptake and plant growth aspects, plant stress, including genome editing in plants, and selected agrochemical classes as well as the importance of modern chiral agrochemicals.

Biotic stresses cause yield loss of 31-42% in crops in addition to 6-20% during post-harvest stage. Understanding interaction of crop plants to the biotic stresses caused by insects, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and oomycetes, etc. is important to develop resistant crop varieties. Knowledge on the advanced genetic and genomic crop improvement strategies including molecular breeding, transgenics, genomic-assisted breeding and the recently emerging genome editing for developing resistant varieties in technical crops is imperative for addressing FHEE (food, health, energy and environment) security. Whole genome sequencing of these crops followed by genotyping-by-sequencing have facilitated precise information about the genes conferring resistance useful for gene discovery, allele mining and shuttle breeding which in turn opened up the scope for'designing'crop genomes with resistance to biotic stresses. The 15 chapters dedicated to 13 technical crops and 2 technical crop groups in this volume will deliberate on different types of biotic stress agents and their effects on and interaction with crop plants; will enumerate on the available genetic diversity with regard to biotic stress resistance among available cultivars; illuminate on the potential gene pools for utilization in interspecific gene transfer; will brief on the classical genetics of stress resistance and traditional breeding for transferring them to their cultivated counterparts; will enunciate the success stories of genetic engineering for developing biotic stress resistant varieties; will discuss on molecular mapping of genes and QTLs underlying biotic stress resistance and their marker-assisted introgression into elite varieties; will enunciate on different emerging genomics-aided techniques including genomic selection, allele mining, gene discovery and gene pyramiding for developing resistant crop varieties with higher quantity and quality; and will also elaborate some case studies on genomeediting focusing on specific genes for generating disease and insect resistant crops.

Fungi are an important link in the food webs of all ecosystems. They have immense potential and comprise a myriad of useful bioactive compounds. Fungi feature in a wide range of diverse processes and applications in modern agriculture, the food science industry, and the pharmaceutical industry. In the food and drink arena, the role of fungi is historically important in the form of mushrooms and in fermented foods as yeasts for baking and brewing. These roles are supplemented by the use of fungal food processing enzymes and additives, and more recently in the development of protein-based foodstuffs from fungi. Additionally, they are used in the formulation of biofertilizers and biopesticides used as biostimulants and bioprotectants of crops. The practical use of newer techniques such as genetic recombination and robotics have revolutionized the modem agricultural biotechnology industry, and have created an enormous range of possible further applications of fungal products.Myco-materials created from mycelia (the root-like parts of fungi) are gaining attention as a sustainable alternative for a wide range of materials. They are being used as insulation, sustainable packaging, foam inserts, and even'eco-leather.” In fact, mycelium bricks are pound-for-pound stronger than concrete. In addition, medicinal uses of fungal species have been historically recorded as important agents in the pharmaceutical sciences. The potential for myco-materials seems limitless. The field of mycology and its application has become an increasingly important component in the education of industrial biotechnology. This book on applied mycology provides information helpful for developing entrepreneurial opportunities with fungi. This volume explains both the basic science and the applications of mycology and bio-resource technology with special emphasis on entrepreneurial applications. It offers a complete, one-stop resource for those interested in microbiology, food and agricultural science, medical mycology, and for those in industrial biotechnology.

This contributed volume explores how plant growth-promoting rhizobacterias (PGPR) provide a wide range of benefits to the plant. Further, it discusses the key roles PGPR play in nutrient acquisition and assimilation, improved soil texture, secreting, and modulating extracellular molecules. The book outlines how plant secondary metabolites are natural sources of biologically active compounds used in a wide range of applications, and surveys the significant role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in plant communication by mediating above- and below-ground interactions between plants and the surrounding organisms.This volume compiles research from leading scientists from across the globe, linking the translation of basic knowledge to innovative applied research. The book focuses on the following three categories: 1) understanding the secondary metabolites produced by PGPR, the signaling mechanisms and how they affect plant growth, 2) the plausible role ofvolatile organic compounds produced by PGPR, their role and the signaling mechanism for plant growth promotion, and 3) Applications of VOCs and secondary metabolites of PGPR for seed germination, plant growth promotion; stress tolerance and in-plant health and immunity.

Need for a suitable book on Agrochemicals with Indian facts and figures for the students and scientists studying Agricultural Chemistry and Agrochemicals has always been felt. Pesticides and fertilizers are invaluable inputs for increased agricultural production to meet our large and ever-growing population. Non-judicious use of these chemicals has created problem of chemical contamination not only in the environment by the presence of pesticide residues but in food and man. Monitoring of pesticides residues to safeguard human health, domestic animals, birds or the other beneficial pests are important areas to be looked into. The current trend is to minimize the use of synthetic hazardous chemicals by replacing with non-chemical methods or plant based pesticides under IPM system. An attempt has been made here compile some important papers presented in the symposium at the 82nd Section held at Jadavpur University, Culcutta scientists with long experience in their respective fields of specialization with our latest technical information are highlighted in this book. The book will be useful for scientists, students, policy makers working in this area and also to the industry.

This textbook explores aspects of biology and ecophysiology of weeds, weed competition and interference in crops, phytosociological survey, methods of control and weed integrated management. Herbicides are of great importance in weed management and are one of the most widely used pesticide groups for weed control across the globe. Offering a new direction for research that focuses on herbicide behavior in plants, hormesis, evolution of weed resistance to herbicides, and genetically modified crops resistant to herbicides, this book covers the recent research in applied weed and herbicide science.This book provides essential and updated information on various subjects regarding the advances in herbicide science; and it is intended for professors, undergraduate, and graduate students, rural producers and other professionals involved in the area of applied weed and herbicide science. Agriculturists, analytical chemists, and toxicologists will find this book rewarding.

The volume on oilseed crops is developed as a part of a series on “Handbook of Agrobiodiversity: Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources”. The handbook would function as a ready reference book for availability of PGR globally, along with specific source, wherefrom they can be procured, and used breeding programs, particularly to overcome various crop production constraints and to improve productivity and quality. The volume on floriculture and ornamental plants will be the source of basic information on origin and evolution and global dispersal of cultivated species of ornamentals. Presently, floriculture has established its credibility in improving income through increased productivity, generating employment and in enhancing exports. All research and developmental activities on ornamental crops are essentially multi-disciplinary in nature recognizing local issues as well as country issue. Floriculture is developing as an area of high technology based frontier interdisciplinary area on scientific excellence. Floriculture has progressed both scientifically and commercially due to concentrated efforts made on multidisciplinary research. It is developing as an area of high technology based frontier interdisciplinary area on scientific excellence. The volume will contain all information about different ornamentals. This shall be put together to develop a complete documentation of the results of the research and demonstrations conducted by different scientists. The volume will provide an illustrated horto-taxonomical account of important ornamental species and cultivars, germplasm status and their usages, propagation, nursery management, techno-economics, conventional breeding, induced mutagenesis, new varieties, cytogenetics, tissue culture, characterization of varieties, dehydration of flowers etc. This volume will give a coherent and concise account on recent developments. It will deal with all the important and relevant aspects of floriculture. The publication of this volume is planned to reveal multifarious activities done on different aspects of floriculture so that innovations made so far can be used judiciously for this sector. This book shall provide authoritative review account of many aspects of current interest and progress in the field of floriculture. The topics included in the book are interdisciplinary and cater not only classical floriculture but also relevant modern aspects. The book will provide valuable data on different aspects and will be widely accepted by by professional scientists, researchers, teachers, students, floriculturists, technocrats and planners. The volume will be an invaluable asset to floriculture scientists.

This book discusses a number of recent technological and methodological progressions in achieving sustainable agriculture. It covers innovative and economically viable techniques for growers, laborers, consumers, policymakers, and others working to develop food-secure and ecologically sound agricultural practices to benefit humans and the environment. The key topics addressed include the increasing role of biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture, green synthesized nanoparticles for higher crop production rates, eco-friendly plant-based pesticides as alternatives to synthetic/chemical pesticides, use of genomics for improved plant breeding practices, and the use of biochar to increase the water-holding capacity in soil. The book concludes with an overview of satellite-based soil erosion practices to monitor and control the harmful impacts of land degradation, and a discussion of long-term strategies to reduce crop losses due to pest and insecticide damage. The book will be of interest to students and researchers in the field of environmental science, agriculture science, agronomy, and sustainable development.

This edited book presents the latest research on cucumber, its genetic resources and diversity, tissue culture and genetic transformation, mapping of economic genes and QTLs, whole genome sequencing, comparative genomics, and breeding strategies. The mechanism of sex expression, interspecific hybridization, and cell biology are also described. The book discusses the genome draft of cucumber and the application of genome editing. This book is useful to the students, teachers and scientists in academia and relevant private companies interested in horticulture, genetics, breeding, and related areas.

This book caters to the need of researchers working in the ever-evolving field of agricultural biotechnology. It discusses and provides in-depth information about latest advancements happening in this field. The book discusses evolution of plant tissue culture techniques, development of doubled haploids technology, role of recombinant-DNA technology in crop improvement. It also provides an insight into the global status of genetically modified crops, use of RNAi technology and mi-RNAs in plant improvement. Chapters are also dedicated for different branches of ‘omics'science including genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, metabolomics and phenomics along with the use of molecular markers in tagging and mapping of various genes/QTLs of agronomic importance. This book also covers the role of enzymes and microbes in agriculture in productivity enhancement. It is of interest to teachers, researchers of biotechnology and agriculture scientists. Also the book serves as additional readingmaterial for undergraduate and postgraduate students of biotechnology, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences. National and international biotechnologists and agricultural scientists will also find this to be a useful read.

This book becomes an invaluable reference on the genetic resources, genome, genes, chemical compounds, and their therapeutic effects for the Lingzhi mushrooms. It is the first comprehensive compilation of genetic resources, nuclear genome, mitochondrial genome, genes, noncoding RNAs, such as long intergenic noncoding RNAs, microRNAs, circular RNAs, genes in the biosynthetic pathway, chemical compounds and their therapeutic effects, transformation system for the expression of key genes, a bibliometric analysis to identify the past research work and the future research direction, and a survey of products derived from the Lingzhi mushrooms. Each chapter of this book is written by authors of globally reputed experts on the relevant field who had published high-quality articles in the corresponding subject. The book has 12 chapters and each chapter has a length of approximately ten thousand words, including ten items (tables or figures), about 30–50 references. This book isuseful to the students, teachers, and scientists in academia and relevant private companies interested in horticulture, genetics, physiology, molecular genetics, and breeding, in vitro culture and genetic engineering, and structural and functional genomics. This book is also useful to seed and pharmaceutical industries.

In the recent past, threats from climate change and unforeseeable environmental extremes to plant growth and productivity have consistently increased. The climate change-driven effects, especially from unpredictable environmental fluctuations, can result in an increased prevalence of abiotic and biotic stresses in plants. These stresses have slowed down the global yields of crop plants. On the other hand, food security for the rapidly growing human population in a sustainable ecosystem is a major concern of the present-day world. Thus, understanding the core developmental, physiological and molecular aspects that regulate plant growth and productivity in a challenging environment is a pivotal issue to be tackled by the scientific community dealing with sustainable agricultural and horticultural practices. Plants are influenced by the adverse environmental conditions at various levels, their different and diverse responses play a significant rolein determining their growth, production and the overall geographical distribution. The chapters in this book focus on the biological mechanisms and fundamental principles that determine how different plant species grow, perform and interact with a challenging environment. This book covers a broad range of topics in plant science, including gene function, molecules, physiology, cell biology and plant ecology, to understand the functioning of plants under harsh environmental conditions. The book elucidates the physiological and molecular mechanisms in different plant species, ecophysiological interactions of plants, interplay between plant roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, biosensors for monitoring stress, production of secondary metabolites, stress alleviation processes, and more.

Global climate change is bound to create a number of abiotic and biotic stresses in the environment, which would affect the overall growth and productivity of plants. Like other living beings, plants have the ability to protect themselves by evolving various mechanisms against stresses, despite being sessile in nature. They manage to withstand extremes of temperature, drought, flooding, salinity, heavy metals, atmospheric pollution, toxic chemicals and a variety of living organisms, especially viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects and arachnids and weeds. Incidence of abiotic stresses may alter the plant-pest interactions by enhancing susceptibility of plants to pathogenic organisms. These interactions often change plant response to abiotic stresses. Plant growth regulators modulate plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, and regulate their growth and developmental cascades. A number of physiological and molecular processes that act together in a complexregulatory network, further manage these responses. Crosstalk between autophagy and hormones also occurs to develop tolerance in plants towards multiple abiotic stresses. Similarly, biostimulants, in combination with correct agronomic practices, have shown beneficial effects on plant metabolism due to the hormonal activity that stimulates different metabolic pathways. At the same time, they reduce the use of agrochemicals and impart tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. Further, the use of bio- and nano-fertilizers seem to hold promise to improve the nutrient use efficiency and hence the plant yield under stressful environments. It has also been shown that the seed priming agents impart stress tolerance. Additionally, tolerance or resistance to stress may also be induced by using specific chemical compounds such as polyamines, proline, glycine betaine, hydrogen sulfide, silicon, β-aminobutyric acid, γ-aminobutyric acid and so on. This book discusses the advances in plant performance under stressful conditions. It should be very useful to graduate students, researchers, and scientists in the fields of botanical science, crop science, agriculture, horticulture, ecological and environmental science.

Blast is an important foliar disease that infects the majority of cereal crops like rice, finger millet, pearl millet, foxtail millet and wheat, and thus resulting in a huge economic impact. The pathogen is responsible for causing epidemics in many crops and commonly shifts to new hosts. Magnaporthe spp. is the most prominent cause of blast disease on a broad host range of grasses including rice as well as other species of poaceae family. To date, 137 members of Poaceae hosting this fungus have been described in Fungal Databases. This book provides information on all blast diseases of different cereal crops. The pathogen evolves quickly due to its high variability, and thus can quickly adapt to new cultivars and cause an epidemic in a given crop. Some of the topics covered here include historical perspectives, pathogen evolution, host range shift, cross-infectivity, and pathogen isolation, use of chemicals fungicides, genetics and genomics, and management of blast disease in different cereal crops with adoption of suitable methodologies.In the past two decades there have been significant developments in genomics and proteomics approaches and there has been substantial and rapid progress in the cloning and mapping of R genes for blast resistance, as well as in comparative genomics analysis for resolving delineation of Magnaporthe species that infect both cereals and grass species. Blast disease resistance follows a typical gene-for-gene hypothesis. Identification of new Avr genes and effector molecules from Magnaporthe spp. can be useful to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the fast evolution of different strains of this fungal genus. Advances in these areas may help to reduce the occurrence of blast disease by the identification of potential R genes for effective deployment. Additionally, this book highlights the importance of blast disease that infects different cereal hosts in the context of climate change, and genomics approaches that may potentially help in understanding and applying new concepts and technologies that can make real impact in sustainable management of blast disease in different cereal crops.

Wild Germplasm for Genetic Improvement in Crop Plants addresses the need for an integrated reference on a wide variety of crop plants, facilitating comparison and contrast, as well as providing relevant relationships for future research and development. The book presents the genetic and natural history value of wild relatives, covers what wild relatives exist, explores the existing knowledge regarding specific relatives and the research surrounding them and identifies knowledge gaps. As understanding the role of crop wild relatives in plant breeding expands the genetic pool for abiotic and biotic stress resistance, this is an ideal reference on this important topic. - Provides a single-volume resource to important crops for accessible comparison and research - Explores both conventional and molecular approaches to breeding for targeted traits and allows for expanded genetic variability - Guides the development of hybrids for germplasm with increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is an important horticultural plant in the sericulture industry. It belongs to the family Moraceae. The leaf of mulberry is used to feed the silkworm Bombyx mori L. It is also used as a fodder. Due to its economic and agricultural importance, mulberry is cultivated in many parts of the world. An estimated 60% of the total cost of silk cocoon production is for production and maintenance of mulberry plants. Therefore, much attention is needed to improve the quality and quantity of mulberry leaves. It is vital to increase the production of superior quality mulberry leaves with high nutritive value for the sericulture industry. Although a lot of research is going on in mulberry, very little effort has been made to compile the results of this research in a single book. This book provides an update of recent research works going on in this plant. It describes the taxonomy, conservation of germplasm, genetic diversity of various mulberry species, application of breeding techniques to improve the quality of mulberry, in vitro conservation, application of tissue culture techniques to improve mulberry species, production of haploids and triploids in mulberry and improvement of abiotic stress adaptive traits in mulberry with relevance to adaptiveness to global warming.

This book is the first comprehensive compilation of deliberations on whole genome sequencing of sesame including genome assembly, annotation, structure and synteny analysis, and sequencing of its chloroplast genome and also its wild species. It presents narratives on classical genetics and breeding, tissue culture and genetic transformation, molecular mapping and breeding. Other chapters describe the beneficial components in sesame protein and oil, botanical depictions and cytological features. Prospects of designed breeding in the post-genomics era including gene discovery have also been enumerated.Altogether, the book contains 19 chapters authored by globally reputed experts on the relevant field in this crop. This book is useful to the students, teachers, and scientists in the academia and relevant private companies interested in classical and molecular genetics, biotechnology, breeding, biochemistry, traditional and molecular breeding, and structural and evolutionary genomics. The work is also useful to seed and oil industries.

The book entitled Molecular Markers and Plant Biotechnology is an exclusive collection of molecular marker based techniques narrated in 40 chapters through 578 along with figures makes it essential for biotechnology people. To supplement the practical working the relevant equipments have been described. Laboratory safety rules placed in the beginning is a wise task. Appendices include basic calculations; basic principles in preparation of reagents, abbreviations and glossary show the carefulness while preparing this text. This is an unavoidable text for biotechnology laboratory and class.