Plant Breeding Reviews presents state-of-the-art reviews on plant genetics and the breeding of all types of crops by both traditional means and molecular methods. At a time when methods of molecular biology are leading to genetically engineered crops, and when the supply of wild varieties of many crops are threatened, this series provides the most current and important information available on the subject.

Abiotic stresses such as drought, flooding, high or low temperatures, metal toxicity and salinity can hamper plant growth and development. Improving Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants explains the physiological and molecular mechanisms plants naturally exhibit to withstand abiotic stresses and outlines the potential approaches to enhance plant abiotic stress tolerance to extreme conditions. Synthesising developments in plant stress biology, the book offers strategies that can be used in breeding, genomic, molecular, physiological and biotechnological approaches that hold the potential to develop resilient plants and improve crop productivity worldwide. Features * Comprehensively explains molecular and physiological mechanism of multiple abiotic stress tolerance in plants * Discusses recent advancements in crop abiotic stress tolerance mechanism and highlights strategies to develop abiotic stress tolerant genotypes for sustainability * Stimulates synthesis of information for plant stress biology for biotechnological applications * Presents essential information for large scale breeding and agricultural biotechnological programs for crop improvement Written by a team of expert scientists, this book benefits researchers in the field of plant stress biology and is essential reading for graduate students and researchers generating stress tolerant crops through genetic engineering and plant breeding. It appeals to individuals developing sustainable agriculture through physiological and biotechnological applications.

Summarizing landmark research, Volume 2 of this essential series furnishes information on the availability of germplasm resources that breeders can exploit for producing high-yielding cereal crop varieties. Written by leading international experts, this volume offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on employing genetic resources to increase the yield of those cereal crops that provide the main source of nutrition for two-thirds of the world. In thirteen succinct chapters, Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement: Cereals, Volume 2 focuses on wheat, rice, maize, oats, barley, millet, sorghum, and rye, as well as triticale: a wheat and rye hybrid with great potential. An introductory chapter outlines the cytogenetic architecture of cereal crops, describes the principles and strategies of cytogenetics and breeding, and summarizes landmarks in current research. This sets the stage for the ensuing crop-specific chapters. Each chapter generally provides a comprehensive account of the crop, its origin, wild relatives, exploitation of genetic resources in the primary, secondary, and tertiary gene pools through breeding and cytogenetic manipulation, and genetic enrichment using the tools of molecular genetics and biotechnology. Certain to become the standard reference for improving the yields of these critical grains, this book is the definitive source of information for plant breeders, agronomists, cytogeneticists, taxonomists, molecular biologists, biotechnologists, and graduate students and researchers in these fields.

Saffron is a precious spice which is mainly grown in Iran, India, Spain, Greece, Italy, Pakistan, Morocco, and central Asian countries. Until recently, saffron was perceived only for its value as a spice. However, with recent research findings pointing to the medicinal properties of saffron such as its antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic and antioxidant effects, interest in this plant has increased. The book presents a comprehensive account of saffron which includes the historical background, acerage underproduction, yield and applications, botanical ecophysiology, production technology, irrigation, pests, diseases and weeds, genetics, sterility, reproduction and production of secondary metabolites by in vitro method, economic aspects, indigenous knowledge in saffron production, processing, chemical composition and quality control, and research strategies.

This book is the second volume of a three volume reference set that will provide comprehensive information on breeding commercial horticultural crops. In a systematic way, it deals with the history and commercial importance of each fruit, the origin and early development of cultivation, regional characteristics, breeding objectives, fruit characteristics such as color, shape and disease resistance. Volume II deals with, for example, citrus fruits, avocados, and kiwifruits.

This book deals with the agronomy of the eight major grain, fiber and oilseed row crops produced in the United States: Corn, Wheat, Grain Sorghum, Barley, Rice, Cotton, Soybeans, and Peanuts. For each crop, Dr. Smith presents a structured discussion of: the types of cultivars, the history of the crop, its uses and processing, a detailed discussion of how to plant and grow the crop, the pests and problems involved, and the harvesting, grading and marketing practices.

A major task of our time is to ensure adequate food supplies for the world's current population (now nearing 7 billion) in a sustainable way while protecting the vital functions and biological diversity of the global environment. The task of providing for a growing population is likely to be even more difficult in view of actual and potential changes in climatic conditions due to global warming, and as the population continues to grow. Current projections suggest that the world's temperatures will rise 1.8-4.0 by 2100 and population may reach 8 billion by the year 2025 and some 9 billion by mid-century, after which it may stabilize. This book addresses these critical issues by presenting the science needed not only to understand climate change effects on crops but also to adapt current agricultural systems, particularly in regard to genetics, to the changing conditions.

"Crop Adaptation to Climate Change" covers a spectrum of issues related to both crops and climatic conditions. The first two sections provide a foundation on the factors involved in climate stress, assessing current climate change by region and covering crop physiological responses to these changes. The third and final section contains chapters focused on specific crops and the current research to improve their genetic adaptation to climate change.

Written by an international team of authors, "Crop Adaptation to Climate Change" is a timely look at the potentially serious consequences of climate change for our global food supply, and is an essential resource for academics, researchers and professionals in the fields of crop science, agronomy, plant physiology and molecular biology; crop consultants and breeders; as well as climate and food scientists.

1.1. INTRODUCTION Plastic covering, either framed or floating, is now used worldwide to protect crops from unfavorable growing conditions, such as severe weather and insects and birds. Protected cultivation in the broad sense, including mulching, has been widely spread by the innovation of plastic films. Paper, straw, and glass were the main materials used before the era of plastics. Utilization of plastics in agriculture started in the developed countries and is now spreading to the developing countries. Early utilization of plastic was in cold regions, and plastic was mainly used for protection from the cold. Now plastic is used also for protection from wind, insects and diseases. The use of covering techniques started with a simple system such as mulching, then row covers and small tunnels were developed, and finally plastic houses. Floating mulch was an exception to this sequence: it was introduced rather recently, although it is a simple structure. New development of functional and inexpensive films triggered widespread use of floating mulch. Table 1.1. The use a/plastic mulch in the world (after Jouet, 2001).

Agricultural system models enhance and extend field research...to synthesize and examine experiment data and advance our knowledge faster, to extend current research in time to predict best management systems, and to prepare for climate-change effects on agriculture. The relevance of such models depends on their implementation. Methods of Introducing System Models into Agricultural Research is the ultimate handbook for field scientists and other model users in the proper methods of model use. Readers will learn parameter estimation, calibration, validation, and extension of experimental results to other weather conditions, soils, and climates. The proper methods are the key to realizing the great potential benefits of modeling an agricultural system. Experts cover the major models, with the synthesis of knowledge that is the hallmark of the Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling series.

This insightful reference/text describes the application of viable mathematical models in data analysis to increase crop growth and yields-highlighting effective, analytical functions that have been found useful for the comparison of alternative management techniques to maximize water and nutrient resources. Features solutions to various differential equations and considers different characteristics of the functions related to the phenomenological growth model. Mathematical Models of Crop Growth and Yield examines the response of seasonal dry matter to applied nutrients considers the accumulation of dry matter and plant nutrients explores sensitivity analysis and dimensionless plots assesses the transfer of nitrogen from a legume to a grass analyzes the linkage of animal production with forage production discusses water availability evaluates coupling among applied, soil, and plant components presents numerical procedures for regression analysis supplies extensive exercises for further study Enhanced by the inclusion of more than 1300 literature citations, display equations, tables, and figures, Mathematical Models of Crop Growth and Yield will prove an invaluable reference for plant pathologists; agriculturists; toxicologists; ecologists; botanists; agronomists; horticulturists; biochemists; foresters; plant culturists; biotechnologists; plant and crop physiologists; plant, crop, soil, and environmental scientists; agricultural, biological, and environmental engineers; crop managers; and crop modeling specialists; and an essential text for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines. Return to Top Table of Contents Introduction Seasonal Response Models Growth Response Models Mathematical Characteristics of Models Pasture Systems Nonlinear Regression for Mathematical Models Index Return to Top

"Sustaining Soil Productivity in Response to Global Climate Chan""ge: ""Science, Policy, and Ethics"" "is a multi-disciplinary volume exploring the ethical, political and social issues surrounding the stewardship of our vital soil resources. Based on topics presented by an international group of experts at a conference convened through support of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, chapters include scientific studies on carbon sequestration, ecosystem services, maintaining soil fertility, and the effects of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as ethical issues ranging from allocation of land use to policies needed for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Bringing together the latest research in soil science and climatology, "Sustaining Soil Productivity in Response to Global Climate Change "is a valuable resource for soil and plant scientists, agronomists and environmental scientists, as well as agricultural and natural resources engineers and economists, environmental policy makers and conservationists.

Key Features: Written by an international group of authors representing a cross-section of scientists, thought leaders, and policy-makersIncludes chapters on the potential effects of climate change on forest soil carbon, microbial function, and the role of soils and biogeochemistry in the climate and earth systemExplores historical development of land use ethics and stewardship

Agricultural Water Management: Theories and Practices advances the scientific understanding, development and application of agricultural water management through an integrated approach. This book presents a collection of recent developments and applications of agricultural water management from advanced sources, such as satellite, mesoscale and climate models that are integrated with conceptual modeling systems. Users will find sections on drought, irrigation scheduling, weather forecasting, climate change, precipitation forecasting, and more. By linking these systems, this book provides the first resource to promote the synergistic and multidisciplinary activities of scientists in hydro-meteorological and agricultural sciences. As agricultural water management has gained considerable momentum in recent decades among the earth and environmental science communities as they seek solutions and an understanding of the concepts integral to agricultural water management, this book is an ideal resource for study and reference.

Healthy seeds and propagules are the basic requirement for producing good grains, fruits and vegetables needed for human survival and perpetuation. Dispersal of microbial plant pathogens via seeds and propagules has assumed more importance than other modes of dispersal, as infected seeds and propagules have the potential to become the primary sources of carrying pathogen inoculum for subsequent crops. Several diseases transmitted through seeds and propagules have been shown to have the potential to damage economies as a result of huge quantitative and qualitative losses in numerous crops. Hence, it is essential to rapidly detect, identify and differentiate the microbial plant pathogens present in seeds and propagules precisely and reliably, using sensitive techniques. Microbial Plant Pathogens: Detection and Management in Seeds and Propagules provides a comprehensive resource on seed-borne and propagule-borne pathogens. Information on the biology of microbial pathogens, including genetic diversity, infection process and survival mechanisms of pathogens and epidemiology of diseases caused by them, are discussed critically and in detail to highlight weak links in the life cycles of the pathogens. Development of effective disease management systems, based on the principles of exclusion and eradication of pathogens and immunization of crop plants to enhance the levels of resistance of cultivars to diseases, has been effective to keep the pathogens at bay. The need for production of disease-free seeds/propagules has been emphasized to prevent the carryover of the inoculum to the next crop or introduction of the pathogens to other locations. Effectiveness of adopting simple cultural practices and development of cultivars resistant to diseases through traditional breeding methods or biotechnological approach have resulted in reducing the pathogen inoculum and disease incidence. Although application of different chemicals may reduce the disease incidence effectively, biological management of crop diseases, employing potential biological control agents have to be preferred to preserve the agroecosystems. Greater efforts have to be made to integrate compatible strategies to enhance the effectiveness of diseases management systems. Protocols appended at the end of relevant chapters form a unique feature of this book to enable the researchers to fine-tune their projects. This 2 volume set provides comprehensive and updated information about the economically-important groups of microbial plant pathogens carried by seed and propagules. Graduate students, researchers and teachers of plant pathology, plant protection, microbiology, plant breeding and genetics, agriculture and horticulture, as well as certification and quarantine personnel will find the information presented in this book useful.

There is an urgent need for new approaches or management systems that are multi-objective and integrate new objectives such as quality of produce and cultivation, growing or production methods, quality of the abiotic environment, landscape and nature values into the old objectives. For example, growth of the world fertilizer industry has increasingly been affected by grave concerns, such as environmental pollution and increment in energy consumption, which in many cases have a negative impact on food products and consumer health. In fact, water stress during intensive growth of crops causes inhibition of physiological processes, such as nutrient transport, and hence decreases yield and affects quality performance. For example, limited resources of water in some regions has forced us to seek other sources, such as saline water, for irrigation of crops. Additional benefits of the application of correct fertilizer doses include improved soil protection and environment protection in general and prevention of contamination of soil and groundwater with nitrites.

This book presents the progress, changes, and evolvement for apple mechanical harvest during the past decades, which include, but not limited to, bulky harvest method, harvest platform, apple infield sorting, and harvest robotics. Though there are significant progresses in apple harvest robotics, there still is a long way ahead before its practical applications, with existing and potential bottlenecks described in this book. Hence, other researchers would take advantage of this book to have a hint of the apple mechanical harvest history and state-of-the-art progress, so that they can find the room for their new research. This book targets senior undergraduates and more importantly graduate students in the field of agricultural engineering, sensing, automatic, and robotics.

Black Pepper is the first monograph to be published on this important spice, the most widely-used by mankind. This monograph includes chapters on all aspects of the crop's botany and its improvement, agronomy, chemistry, post harvest technology, processing, diseases, insect pests, marketing, economics and uses. The available information is collected and presented for the use of students, teachers and research workers. All the chapters are written by experts in their fields.

The book -- a veritable 'treasure trove' of all that is known about the crop -- is meant for undergraduate and graduate students, teachers and researchers in the areas of agriculture, horticulture and crop botany. This will serve both as a text book and as a reference book. It is hoped that this monograph will remain the major reference source for all pepper workers for at least the next decade.

Induced mutagenesis is a common and promising method for screening for new crops with improved properties. This title introduces the different methods and then focuses on the screening, detection and analysis of the novel mutations. Written by a global team of authors the book is an indispensable tool for all scientists working on crop breeding in industry and academia.

Wheat and Barley Grain Biofortification addresses topics associated with the alleviation of malnutrition in globally diverse populations via wheat and barley biofortification. The book synthesizes the current trends of malnutrition across the globe, the need for wheat and barley nutritional enhancement and how agronomic, microbial and molecular understanding of biofortification can help in devising significant approaches and strategies. In addition, it includes discussions on potential genetic variability available and their efficient utilization in wheat and barley for molecular breeding for nutrients, challenges and opportunities for bioavailability, and technical advancement for analysis of bioavailability.

Advances in Agronomy, Volume 162, continues to be recognized as a leading reference and first-rate source for the latest research in agronomy. Each volume contains an eclectic group of reviews by leading scientists throughout the world. As always, the subjects covered are rich, varied and exemplary of the abundant subject matter addressed by this long-running serial.

Climate Change and Agriculture Authoritative and comprehensive resource covering climate-smart agriculture with key insights into its implementation Climate Change and Agriculture provides a complete overview of the development of sustainable agroecosystems and cropping systems and details how to improve the resilience of cultivated crops and cropping systems to the adverse conditions of the climate, such as drought, increasing levels of carbon dioxide, global warming, and many other secondary effects such as soils fertility depletion, uncommon disease, and pests. Additionally, the text suggests different agricultural practices to face the severity of frequency of the natural events. Climate Change and Agriculture also delves into the different climate-resilient methods and climate-smarter agriculture (CSA) for food production by building healthier soils through different sustainable practices, redesigning diverse agroecosystems, and developing new crop varieties, livestock breeds, and farm practices. Insight into how modern technology has affected the field, and how it may affect the field in the future, is included. Other topics discussed in Climate Change and Agriculture include: Climate change and agriculture (state of the art, challenges, and perspectives), plus studies on crop yields and their extreme value analysis over India Symbiosis for food security and sustainability in changing climate and emerging issues related to conservation agriculture in Africa The role of periurban agriculture in sustainability and climate change, with additional information on nutrient management in agro-ecosystems Soil fertility management and biofertilization in changing climate and biochar mitigating abiotic stress-induced damages under changing climate For academics and students; seed, fertilizer, and chemical producers; farmers and farming communities; and policy makers, Climate Change and Agriculture contains invaluable insights into the subject that are helpful in understanding the current state of the field and preparing for potential future developments.

Growing concerns about the impacts of climate change and dependence on fossil fuels have intensified interest in bioenergy from sugar cane and other crops, highlighting important links between energy, environment and development goals. Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by severe poverty; the possibility to exploit a renewable energy resource offers valuable avenues for sustainable development and could support a more dynamic and competitive economy. This book describes how the bioenergy expansion will improve rural livelihoods, reduce costly energy imports, reduce GHG emissions, and offer new development paths. Drawing on international experience, it is shown that harnessing this potential will require significant increases in investment, technology transfer, and international cooperation. Because of its high efficiency, the authors argue that sugar cane should be viewed as a global resource for sustainable development and should command much greater focus and concerted policy action. Through an analysis of the agronomy, land suitability and industrial processing of sugar cane and its co-products, along with an assessment of the energy, economic and environmental implications, this volume demonstrates that sugar cane offers a competitive and environmentally beneficial resource for Africa's economic development and energy security. With forty-four authors representing thirty organisations in sixteen countries, the book offers a truly international and interdisciplinary perspective by combining technical and economic principles with social, political and environmental assessment and policy analysis.

The Maize Handbook represents the collective efforts of the maize research community to enumerate the key steps of standard procedures and to disseminate these protocols for the common good. Although the material in this volume is drawn from experience with maize, many of the procedures, protocols, and descriptions are applicable to other higher plants, particularly to other grasses. The power and resolution of experiments with maize depend on the wide range of specialized genetic techniques and marked stocks; these materials are available today as the culmination of nearly 100 years of genetic research. A major goal of this volume is to introduce this genetical legacy and to highlight current stock construction programs that will soon benefit our work, e. g. high-density RFLP maps, deletion stocks, etc. Both stock construction and maintenance are relatively straightforward in maize as a result of the ease of crossing and the longevity of stored seeds. Crossing is facilitated by the separate staminate (tassel) and pistillate (ear) flowers, a feature almost unique to maize. On the other hand, many of the genetic methodologies utilized with maize, including the precision of record keeping, can be adapted to other plants. Facile communication and a spirit of co-operation have characterized the maize genetics community since its earliest days. Starting in the 1930s, institutions such as annual Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter, the Maize Genetics Stock Center, and the annual maize genetics meeting provide continuity to the field.

Winner of the 'Casa Chata Award' for the Best Book of 1994 (Spanish edition)
In charting the paradoxical effects of power and knowledge on the everyday life of subordinate people, this book offers a major rethinking of domination and the agricultural labor process. Challenging the belief that ethnography is theoretically weak, the author provides a fresh perspective on rural workers' responses to the development of transnational production systems and the transformations of agrarian structures brought about by the complex interactions of global and local forces. In questioning ingrained assumptions about worker consciousness, the author exposes the naivete of past approaches and the role of power and hegemony in the micro-politics of human relations.
This book is obligatory reading for anyone interested in current debates about "resistance," development, and the future of rural societies.