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CRISPR/Cas has emerged, as a powerful genetic engineering tool. It is simple yet highly affordable and robust. This book provides a basic introduction to the mechanism and architecture of the CRISPR/Cas. It enlightens the readers about the new advancements such as gene insertion, transcriptional activation, suppression, gene tagging, multiplexing, base editing, prime editing, and tissue culture free editing which makes it easier for crop improvement. With such technologies, application of genome editing has opened new paths for crop improvements and sustainable agriculture. The current book will be useful for beginners to understand these tools and how to use them in a better and more efficient way.

This book deliberates on the concept, strategies, tools, and techniques of allele mining in fruit crops and its application potential in genome elucidation and improvement including studying allele evolution, discovery of superior alleles, discerning new haplotypes, assessment of intra- and interspecific similarity, and also studies of gene expression and gene prediction. Available gene pools in global germplasm collections specifically consisting of wild allied species and local landraces for almost all major crops have facilitated allele mining. Advanced genomic techniques have been developed including PCR-based allele priming and Eco-TILLING-based allele mining that are being widely used now for mining superior alleles. Allele discovery has become more relevant now for employing molecular breeding to develop designed crop varieties matching with consumer needs and also with genome plasticity to adapt the climate change scenarios. All these concepts and strategies along with precise success stories are presented over the chapters dedicated to the major fruit crops.The features of this book are as follows: The first book on the novel strategy of allele mining in fruit crops for precise breeding Presents genomic strategies of mining superior alleles underlying agronomic traits from genomic resources Depicts case studies of PCR-based allele priming and Eco-TILLING-based allele mining Elaborates on gene discovery and gene prediction in major fruit crops This book will be useful to students and faculties in various plant science disciplines including genetics, genomics, molecular breeding, agronomy, and bioinformatics; scientists in seed industries; and also policy makers and funding agencies interested in crop improvement.

CRISPR is a crucial technology in plant physiology and molecular biology resulting in more sustainable agricultural practices, including outcomes of better plant stress tolerance and crop improvement. CRISPR and Plant Functional Genomics explores ways to release the potential of plant functional genomics, one of the prevailing topics in plant biology and a critical technology for speed and precision crop breeding. This book presents achievements in plant functional genomics and features information on diverse applications using the emerging CRISPR-based genome editing technologies producing high-yield, disease-resistant, and climate-smart crops. It also includes theories on organizing strategies for upgrading the CRISPR system to increase efficiency, avoid off-target effects, and produce transgene-free edited crops.Features: Presents CRISPR-based technologies, releasing the potential of plant functional genomics Provides methods and applications of CRISPR/Cas-based plant genome editing technologies Summarizes achievements of speed and precision crop breeding using CRISPR-based technologies Illustrates strategies to upgrade the CRISPR system Supports the UN's sustainable development goals to develop future climate-resilient crops CRISPR and Plant Functional Genomics provides extensive knowledge of CRISPR-based technologies and plant functional genomics, and is an ideal reference for researchers, graduate students, and practitioners in the field of plant sciences as well as agronomy and agriculture.

CRISPRized Horticultural Crops: Genome Modified Plants and Microbes in Food and Agriculture summarizes applications of CRISPR/Cas systems and its advanced variants e.g., CRISPR/Cpf1, base editing and prime editing, for precise editing of horticultural crops. The book discusses vector transformations methods, epi-genome, deep learning, synthetic biology, and precision breeding for improving yield and quality related attributes in horticultural crops. With coverage of the relevant technologies and their applications, the book also includes bioinformatics and large-scale databases and their potential application in fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants and sections on regulatory concerns related to CRISPR edited crops. Horticultural crops, including fruit, vegetable and ornamental plants are an important component of agriculture production systems and play an important role in sustaining human life. - Reviews CRISPR for editing horticultural crops - Discusses vector transformation methods, epigenome, deep learning, synthetic biology and precision breeding - Includes bioinformatics and large-scale databases - Contributes engineering approaches for crop improvement programs

This book discusses how plant functional trait selection can help researchers to understand the plant-environment relationship, identify desirable traits, modulate plant resilience according to the changing climate, optimize resource use efficiency, and enhance genetic improvement. The plant functional traits-based approach provides a framework for improving crop productivity in agricultural systems with high precision. It enables researchers to develop crop varieties with desirable traits by focusing on the fundamental characteristics influencing growth, development, and response. Climate change and environmental variability pose significant agricultural challenges. The plant functional traits-based approach can help address these challenges by selecting and breeding traits that enhance resilience and adaptability capacity of the plant. This approach also contributes to sustainable agriculture, by focusing on increased food production, and resilience in extreme environmental conditions. This book provides guidance to the researchers and breeders to develop crop varieties with desirable traits. It is also a reference book for graduate and postgraduate students studying botany and agriculture.

With the rapid increase in the global population and changing climatic impacts on agriculture, this book demonstrates how genome editing will be an indispensable technique to overcome ongoing and prospective agricultural challenges.This book examines the role of genome editing in improving crop yields and contributing to global food security. It summarizes a range of genome editing techniques and discusses the roles they can play in producing a new generation of high-yielding, climate-ready crops. This includes site-specific nucleases, precision genome engineering, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, and bioinformatics. It showcases how these gene editing techniques can tailor plants to not only increase yield-related traits but to also make them better suited to their environment and to be resistant to pests and extreme climatic events, such as droughts. The book also examines genome editing regulations and policies, the commercialization of genome-edited crops, and biosafety and biosecurity concerns. Overall, this book reveals and showcases how genome editing can improve crop resilience and production to address current and future agricultural challenges and alleviation of global food security concerns.This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of agricultural science, crop and plant science, genome editing, sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and food security.

This open access book is an update of genome editing techniques applied to a range of plants. We discuss the latest techniques and applications to cereals, roots and tubers, oilseed crops, fruit and forest trees, vegetables, legumes and algae including resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, improved quality, drug production, yield and adaptation to climate change. The regulations in different countries worldwide, the patentibility and the perception by society of the applications of new genomic techniques are examined. This book is written by a multidisciplinary and multisectoral collective of high-profile scientists and other experts belonging to the COST Action network PlantEd, which is mainly European but with contributions from American, Australian, Canadian, Chinese, Indian, Iranian, Pakistani and Peruvian scientists. The book is aimed at a wide audience consisting of students, academics, private and public breeders, other actors in the food and bioeconomy valuechains and policy and law makers.This is an open access book.

Applications of Genome Engineering in Plants Understand the keys to creating the food of the future Genome engineering in plants is a field that has made enormous strides in recent years. In particular, the CRISPR-Cas system has been used in a number of crop species to make significant leaps forward in nutritional improvement, stress tolerance, crop yield, and more. As scientists work to meet global food needs and foster sustainable agriculture in a changing world, genome engineering promises only to become more important. Applications of Genome Engineering in Plants details the history of, and recent developments in, this essential area of biotechnology. It describes advances enabling nutritional improvement, nutraceuticals improvement, flavonoid enrichment, and many more crop enhancements, as well as subjects such as biosafety and regulatory mechanisms. The result is a thorough and essential overview for researchers and biotech professionals. Applications of Genome Engineering in Plants readers will also find: Chapters on trans-gene free editing or non-transgenic approaches to plant genomes Detailed discussion of topics including nanotechnology-facilitated genome editing, engineering for virus resistance in plants, and more Applications of genome editing in oil seed crops, vegetables, ornamental plants, and many others Applications of Genome Engineering in Plants is ideal for academics, scientists, and industry professionals working in biotechnology, agriculture, food science, and related subjects.

World population is growing exponentially and with changing climatic scenarios, food security is a concern that needs immediate attention. Increasing crop productivity from limited land and natural resources is a challenge for agricultural scientists across the world. The technique of gene targeting for targeted trait improvement in crop plants are helpful in eliminating the defects of otherwise elite varieties. Genetically modified crops are being introduced to the market due to their improved characteristics, which benefit agricultural communities. However, the GMOs face regulatory concerns for field trials and commercialization due to the presence of foreign genes. Gene editing has aided us in modifying DNA sequences in order to create superior qualities. Molecular scissors, such as sequence specific nucleases, are commonly utilized to optimize gene editing operations. With the introduction of the CRISPR-Cas method, the gene editing process in plants has accelerated, paving the way for the modulation of non-model plants that are beneficial to the global population. Transformation strategies have been demonstrated to improve the quality of plant yields. Plant biotechnology has resulted in the development of various herbicide and pesticide resistant plant varieties, which are critical in modern agriculture. They can significantly lower the cost of insecticides and herbicides, so benefiting farmers. Climate change has necessitated various adjustments to the plant genome in order to save people from starvation worldwide, a challenge that is being addressed through the introduction of gene editing tools. This book sheds light on a variety of areas of gene targeting, with a particular emphasis on crops farmed throughout the world. This book is appropriate for any student interested in learning about gene editing and its significance in crop development.

This book covers different physiological processes, tools, and their application in crop breeding. Each chapter emphasizes on a specific trait/physiological process and its importance in crop, their phenotyping information and how best it can be employed for crop improvement by projecting on success stories in different crops. It covers wide range of physiological topics including advances in field phenotyping, role of endophytic fungi, metabolomics, application of stable isotopes, high throughput phenomics, transpiration efficiency, root phenotyping and root exudates for improved resource use efficiency, cuticular wax and its application, advances in photosynthetic studies, leaf spectral reflectance and physiological breeding in hardy crops like millets. This book also covers the futuristic research areas like artificial intelligence and machine learning. This contributed volume compiles all application parts of physiological tools along with their advanced research in these areas, which is very much need of the hour for both academics and researchers for ready reference. This book will be of interest to teachers, researchers, climate change scientists, capacity builders, and policy makers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, physiology, botany, ecology, and environmental sciences. National and international agricultural scientists will also find this a useful resource.

This new volume highlights the various emerging techniques and molecular applications that are currently being used in plant abiotic stress physiology. It provides a thorough overview of omics approaches in response to stressors such as low water accessibility (drought), excess water (flooding/waterlogging), extremes of temperatures (cold, chill, frost, and heat), salinity, mineral deficiency, and heavy metal toxicity-many of which are the result of climate change. The book, with chapters contributed by specialists in the field, emphasizes the broad variety of themes using an omics analysis of plants under abiotic stress factors at the cellular and molecular levels. The chapter authors explore a variety of approaches to address plant abiotic stress, including proteomic approaches, genome editing applications, and system biology approaches. The volume takes into consideration, from omics perspective, how to use the plant-microbe interaction to make plants more resilient to changing climates. It also looks at the role of ionomics (the study of complete mineral nutrient and trace elemental composition of a plant species) and osmoprotectants to address multiple abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Omics Analysis of Plants under Abiotic Stress provides the fundamental information for all who are working in or have interest in this specific field. Unquestionably, this volume will be beneficial for common use of research students, teachers, and persons who have interest in plant abiotic stress physiology.

Genetic transformation is a key technology, in which genes are transferred from one organism to another in order to improve agronomic traits and ultimately help humans. However, there is apprehension in some quarters that genetically modified crops may disturb the ecosystem. A number of non-governmental organizations continue to protest against GM crops and foods, despite the fact that many organisms are genetically modified naturally in the course of evolution. In this context, there is a need to educate the public about the importance of GM crops in terms of food and nutritional security. This book provides an overview of various crop plants where genetic transformation has been successfully implemented to improve their agronomically useful traits. It includes information on the gene(s) transferred, the method of gene transfer and the beneficial effects of these gene transfers and agronomic improvements compared to the wild plants. Further, it discusses the commercial prospects of these GM crops as well as the associated challenges. Given its scope, this book is a valuable resource for agricultural and horticultural scientists/experts wanting to explain to the public, politicians and non-governmental organizations the details of GM crops and how they can improve crops and the lives of farmers.

Chickpea: Crop Wild Relatives for Enhancing Genetic Gains explores aspects related to critical analysis on factors responsible for narrow genetic base of chickpea productions including domestication bottleneck, the level of diversity present in different cultivated and wild species, the uniqueness and usefulness of potential gene sources available and maintained in production systems across the globe, the level of genetic erosion both at landrace and species level over time and space etc. Despite considerable international investment in conventional breeding, production of chickpea has not yet been significantly improved beyond that achieved through its normal single domestication event and high self-pollination rate. Total annual pulse production of ~12 million tons (FAO 2016) is far below actual potential. Susceptibility to both biotic and abiotic stresses have created a production level bottleneck whose solution possibly lies in the use of crop wild relatives and other genetic traits cultivated by tailoring novel germplasm. Presenting options for widening the genetic base of chickpea cultivars by introgression of diverse genes available in distantly related wild Cicer taxa, thus expanding the genetic base and maximize genetic gains from the selection, it is necessary to accumulate other complimentary alleles from CWRs. This review will focus on present status of gene pool and species distribution, germplasm conservation, characterization and evaluation, problems associated with crop production, sources of target traits available in wild species, status of trait introgression in synthesizing new gene pool of chickpea along with progress made in chickpea genomics. An edited book with contributions from leading scientists, this information will guide and inform chickpea breeders, PGR researchers and crop biologists across the world. - Presents both conventional and emerging techniques - Provides insights into gene pyramiding as cytogenic manipulations - Includes case studies highlighting the impact of improving chickpea production

Abiotic stresses such as drought (water deficit), extreme temperatures (cold, frost and heat), salinity (sodicity) and mineral (metal and metalloid) toxicity limit productivity of crop plants worldwide and are big threats to global food security. With worsening climate change scenarios, these stresses will further increase in intensity and frequency. Improving tolerance to abiotic stresses, therefore, has become a major objective in crop breeding programs. A lot of research has been conducted on the regulatory mechanisms, signaling pathways governing these abiotic stresses, and cross talk among them in various model and non-model species. Also, various ‘omics'platforms have been utilized to unravel the candidate genes underpinning various abiotic stresses, which have increased our understanding of the tolerance mechanisms at structural, physiological, transcriptional and molecular level. Further, a wealth of information has been generated on the role of chromatinassembly and its remodeling under stress and on the epigenetic dynamics via histones modifications.The book consolidates outlooks, perspectives and updates on the research conducted by scientists in the abovementioned areas. The information covered in this book will therefore interest workers in all areas of plant sciences. The results presented on multiple crops will be useful to scientists in building strategies to counter these stresses in plants. In addition, students who are beginners in the areas of abiotic stress tolerance will find this book handy to clear their concepts and to get an update on the research conducted in various crops at one place

New plant breeding techniques such as CRISPR/Cas have the potential to improve sustainability in agriculture. Genome editing techniques can increase yields while reducing the use of pesticides. Researchers around the world are working on improving the nutritional value of plants. However, whether the new technologies will be used in Europe is uncertain at present. Should genome editing be regulated like the ‘old'genetic engineering techniques used on plants? What might a responsible interpretation of the precautionary principle look like? The political discussion on the evaluation of new plant breeding technologies is in full swing. The contributions in this anthology present the legal, social and ethical aspects of the topic that were discussed at a summer school of the Institute of Technology-Theology-Natural Sciences (TTN) at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. With contributions from Stephan Schleissing; Sebastian Pfeilmeier; Christian Dürnberger; Jarst van Belle; Jan Schaart; Robert van Loo; Katharina Unkel; Thorben Sprink; Aurélie Jouanin; Marinus J.M. Smulders; Hans-Georg Dederer; Brigitte Voigt; Felix Beck; João Otávio Benevides Demasi; Bartosz Bartkowski; Chad M. Baum; Alexander Bogner; Helge Torgersen; Sebastian Schubert; Anne Friederike Hoffmann; Ksenia Gerasimova; Karolina Rucinska

The present book has been designed to provide detailed knowledge about molecular biology in relation with crop improvement. The topics mainly covered includes cell structure and function, molecular genetics and gene expression, molecular biology techniques, PCR and gene cloning, mutations and in vitro mutagenesis, molecular markers and genomics, tissue culture and plant genetic engineering, transgenics, biosafety and regulations and biomolecules like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and enzymes. Hope this book would be useful for graduate and post-graduate students of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Biology in all the Universities. This will also be useful for those appearing in competitive examinations such as Agricultural Research Services of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, National Eligibility Test, Civil Services Examinations and other allied examinations.

Dieser Band thematisiert Pflanzen und Lebensmittel als hochgradig artifizielle, aber dennoch lebendige Dinge und Wesen. Ausgehend vom technikphilosophischen Konzept der'Biofakte'(Nicole C. Karafyllis), analysieren die Autor/innen aktuelle und zeitgeschichtliche Entwicklungen in Landwirtschaft und Ernährung. Biofakte, so wird gezeigt, unterlaufen die traditionelle Unterscheidung von unbelebter Technik und lebender Natur und damit auch die praktischen Zuschreibungen und moralischen Erwartungen, die damit verbunden sind. Diese Mehrdeutigkeit von Kulturpflanzen und Lebensmitteln wird im vorliegenden Band aus der Perspektive der Geschichtswissenschaften, Soziologie, Philosophie und Designtheorie beleuchtet. Der geografische Radius umspannt Afrika und Europa; der historische das beginnende 20. Jahrhundert, die Gegenwart und ihre Zukunftsvisionen.Mit Beiträgen vonVeit Braun, Lukas Breitwieser, Bernhard Gill, Nicole Karafyllis, Johanna Kleinert, Sabine Maasen, Barbara Sutter, Franziska Torma, Laura Trachte, Karin Zachmann

Introductory text for students of genetics is general and the students of agronomy as the book gives numerous agronomic applications.

This new volume provides a better understanding of molecular plant breeding in order to boost the quality of agriculture produce, to increase crop yields and to provide nutritious food for everyone by 2050. Scientists believe the challenge can be met by implementing new and improved techniques of quantitative trait inheritance in plant breeding. Integrating genomics and molecular biology into appropriate tools and methodologies can help to create genetically engineered plants, such as by using biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, molecular markers, ‘-omics'technology, and genome editing.

La historia de la humanidad se caracteriza por la búsqueda constante de alimentos. Actualmente somos capaces de alimentar a 6.600 millones de personas, aunque todavía 800 millones pasan hambre o están desnutridas; para el año 2050 seremos 9.000 millones de habitantes que alimentar. Las técnicas de mejora genética tradicional parecen insuficientes para alcanzar dicha seguridad alimentaria, por lo que conocer el papel que los cultivos transgénicos juegan en las estrategias de mejora genética de las plantas con las que producimos comida para nosotros y los animales parece indispensable. En esta obra conoceremos qué es una planta transgénica, cómo se fabrica en el laboratorio, cuáles han sido los avances que se han producido en el conocimiento científico como consecuencia de la irrupción de las técnicas de genética reversa y también cómo esos avances se han traducido en cosechas mejoradas por ingeniería genética. Asimismo, tratará de explicar cómo podría ser el futuro de los cultivos transgénicos a partir de los descubrimientos científicos y de los tecnológicos más recientes, en un momento de necesidad de aumentar la producción de alimentos de manera sostenible.

Biofuels are currently used as a viable alternative energy source in several countries. Plant-Based Genetic Tools for Biofuels Production explains biotechnological techniques and concepts that are applied to increase biofuel yield from plants and algae. Chapters of the book cover a variety of topics: the basic research techniques (cell suspension, embryogenesis, protoplast fusion), plant genetics (plant DNA mutations, new plant breeding techniques, viral genetic vectors for heterologous gene expression, sub cellular proteomes), genomic resources and bioinformatics tools, plant species with bioenergy and biofuel potential, factors influencing biomass yield, advances in cultivation technologies, fermentation of different substrates for ethanol production, and microalgae biomass technologies.Readers will gain a thorough understanding of modern biofuel production.Plant-Based Genetic Tools for Biofuels Production is a suitable reference for students in biotechnology and bioinformatics programs as well as researchers interested in information about the basics of biofuel production.

This book discusses; somaclonal variation in crop improvement, the role of tissue culture in rapid clonal propagation and production of pathogen-free plant, protoplasts in crop improvement, cell selection and long-term high-frequency regeneration of cereals and legumes, agrobacteria-mediated gene transformation and vectors for gene cloning in plants, and plant frost injury and its management.

Gene Editing in Plants, Volume 149 aims to provide the reader with an up-to-date survey of cutting-edge research with gene editing tools and an overview of the implications of this research on the nutritional quality of fruits, vegetables and grains. New chapters in the updated volume include topics relating to Genome Engineering and Agriculture: Opportunities and Challenges, the Use of CRISPR/Cas9 for Crop Improvement in Maize and Soybean, the Use of Zinc-Finger Nucleases for Crop Improvement, Gene Editing in Polyploid Crops: Wheat, Camelina, Canola, Potato, Cotton, Peanut, Sugar Cane, and Citrus, and Gene Editing With TALEN and CRISPR/Cas in Rice. This ongoing serial contain contributions from leading scientists and researchers in the field of gene editing in plants who describe the results of their own research in this rapidly expanding area of science. - Shows the importance of revolutionary gene editing 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 gene editing

Although Argentina's use of genetically modified (GM) soybean seeds has spurred a major agricultural boom, it has also had a negative impact on many communities. In Soybeans and Power, Pablo Lapegna explores the ways in which these communities have coped with GM soybean expansion. Peasants initially resisted, yet ultimately adapted to the new agricultural technologies, playing an active role in their own demobilization in order to maneuver the situation to their advantage. A rare glimpse into the life cycle of a social movement, Soybeans and Power gives voice to the communities most adversely affected by GM technology and the strategies that they have enacted in order to survive.