Decision-making is a frequent problem in today's financial, business, and industrial world. Thus, fuzzy expert systems are increasingly being used to solve decision-making problems by attempting to solve a part or whole of a practical problem. These expert systems have proven that they can solve problems in various domains where human expertise is required, including the field of agriculture. Fuzzy Expert Systems and Applications in Agricultural Diagnosis is a crucial source that examines the use of fuzzy expert systems for prediction and problem solving in the agricultural industry. Featuring research on topics such as nutrition management, sustainable agriculture, and defuzzification, this book is ideally designed for farmers, researchers, scientists, academics, students, policymakers, and development practitioners seeking the latest research in technological tools that support crop disease diagnosis.

Horticultural Plant Breeding is a complete and comprehensive resource for the development of new cultivars or clones of horticultural crops. It covers the basic theories that underpin plant breeding and applies Mendelian, quantitative and population inheritance practices in smaller populations where the individual plant has high value. Specific traditional breeding methods are also covered, with an emphasis on how these methods are adapted for horticultural species. In addition, the integration of biotechnologies with traditional breeding methodologies is explored, with an emphasis on specific applications for fruits, vegetables and ornamental crop species. Presented in focused sections, Horticultural Plant Breeding addresses historical perspectives and context, and genetics as a critical foundation of plant breeding. It highlights treatments of the various components of breeding programs, such as breeding objectives, germplasm, population engineering, mating systems, enhanced selection methods, established breeding methods applicable to inbreeding and outcrossing situations, and post-breeding activities.

Applied Plant Biotechnology for Improvement of Resistance to Biotic Stress applies biotechnology insights that seek to improve plant genomes, thus helping them achieve higher resistance and optimal hormone signaling to increase crop yield. The book provides an analysis of the current state-of-the-art in plant biotechnology as applied to improving resistance to biotic stress. In recent years, significant progress has been made towards understanding the interplay between plants and their hosts, particularly the role of plant immunity in regulating, attenuating or neutralizing invading pathogens. As a result, there is a great need to integrate these insights with methods from biotechnology.

Microbial Endophytes: Prospects for Sustainable Agriculture discusses the practical and theoretical aspects regarding the use of endophytic microorganisms in agriculture, providing insights on the biotechnological applications associated with long-term crop production. Chapters deal with the various aspects of endophytic microorganisms, including isolation, enumeration, characterization procedures, diversity analysis, and their role as biofertilizer, biocontrol agent and microbial inoculants. Framed to discuss the present and future potential of microbial endophytes in biotic and abiotic stress management, bioremediation, bioactive compounds production, and in nanotechnology, this book provides a single-volume resource that will be valuable to academics and researchers interested in microbiology, agricultural sciences and biotechnology.

Legumes are an important source of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Chickpea is one of the most consumed legumes in the world. It is an affordable food product for people who cannot get animal protein, giving them a nutritious substitute in their diet. As such, Handbook of Chickpeas: Nutritional Value, Health Benefits and Management discusses the current information regarding the nutritional value of chickpea. Following this, the authors highlight the nutritional value of domesticated Kabuli chickpeas used in different forms, as well as the impact of different factors which regulate the nutritional value. The authors then explore the nutritional value, health benefits, and uses of desi chickpeas in comparison to Kabuli chickpeas. Current information is presented regarding the amino acid profile and nutritional protein quality in raw and processed chickpea seeds and flours, the health or nutraceutical effects of chickpea protein isolates, hydrolysates or bioactive peptides and the generation of selenized proteins during sprouting and their antioxidant and anticancer potential. The demand for gluten-free products is increasing since the prevalence of gluten-related disorders is rising. As such, chickpea is studied in the context of replacing wheat/gluten in some types of gluten-free food to improve the quality of the gluten-free diet. Chickpea is also studied as a dairy-product substitute since it represents a good source of protein, iron, and fiber. Chickpeas are composed of interesting amounts of protein, fibers, iron, zinc, and others, arousing interest by vegetarians. Therefore, the use of chickpeas is studied as an important ingredient in a vegetarian diet to contribute to nutritional quality. The authors present the way in which legume proteins can be used to fortify some foods to increase nutritional value and balance amino acid content. The most important of these foods are bakery products. Current information related to starch digestion and glycemic index of raw/processed chickpea flours and starch isolates, undigested carbohydrates content in raw/processed chickpea and health effects of chickpea digestible and undigestible carbohydrates is also presented. Chickpea seeds are vulnerable, both in the field and in storage conditions to attack by several insect pests of economic importance, whereby infested grains lose their viability. Therefore, basic steps in order to control insects in warehouse or processing plants that must be followed are: monitoring for infestation detection, identification of the problem and insect control measures. Traditionally, preferred control options are carbamate and pyrethroid sprays as soon as the threshold has been reached, as insects grow rapidly and a few days delay in spraying can result in major crop damage and increased difficulty in control. The final study proposes that chickpea protease inhibitor concentrates exerted anti-genotoxic effects on LNCaP cells, supporting previous findings that Bowman-Birk inhibitors and protease inhibitors have a protective effect on oxidative damage. Chickpea may therefore play a role in prostate cancer prevention, however, further research is needed to fully understand the molecular mechanisms involved.