This collection reviews current advances in the breeding and cultivation of key tropical and subtropical fruits. Chapters summarise key advances across the value chain for citrus fruit cultivation, including citrus genetics, nutrition and other aspects of cultivation, the use of precision agriculture and developments in integrated pest management (IPM). Two case studies on limes and mandarins highlight the range of improvements in cultivation. The book also summarises recent developments in breeding and cultivation techniques for a range of soft tropical fruits, including banana, kiwifruit, lychee, papaya, pineapple and pomegranate. The final part of the book covers developments in breeding and cultivation techniques for a range of stone and other tropical fruit, including avocado, coconut, guava, jackfruit, mangos and olives.

This book, the second of two volumes, discusses the importance of fodder production of the minor fodder crops for animals. It focuses on 25 minor forage crops, including non-leguminous perennial forages, leguminous forages, and non-graminaceous forages. It discusses crop production methodology and agronomic management in a systemic way, providing an abundance of information on each type of forage crop discussed, including preferred soil type, land capability, cropping patterns, climate, and socioeconomic conditions. It goes on to address pests, disease management, agroforestry in fodder and forage crops, preservation, and production and climate change. This volume provides valuable information needed for effective forage crop production and management. The book, with chapters from highly qualified scientists, will be a rich resource for researchers, academicians, students, and those in the industry. Forage Crops of the World, Volume I: Major Forage Crops focuses on major forage crops. Key features: * Discusses 25 different types of minor forage crops, including many types of grasses and other plants * Provides information on agronomic production practices * Covers pest and disease management practices for forage crops

The fast-growing sugarcane plant is a major source of sugar (sucrose) in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The high productivity of the plant also makes it a key target for use as an energy crop. The fiber of the plant is used to generate electricity and produce ethanol as a fuel. Sugarcane is a hybrid of two species, each of which is genetically complex. The high level of genetic complexity in sugarcane creates challenges in the application of both conventional and molecular breeding to the genetic improvement of sugarcane as a sugar and energy crop. This book describes technologies that support the continued use and improvement of sugarcane as source of food and energy. Recent technology developments indicate the potential to greatly increase our understanding of the sugarcane plant by application of emerging genomic technologies. This should result in an increased rate of improvement of sugarcane for human uses.

This book was written by soybean experts to cluster in a single publication the most relevant and modern topics in soybean breeding. It is geared mainly to students and soybean breeders around the world. It is unique since it presents the challenges and opportunities faced by soybean breeders outside the temperate world.

Plant Breeding Reviews is an ongoing series presenting state-of-the art review articles on research in plant genetics, especially the breeding of commercially important crops. Articles perform the valuable function of collecting, comparing, and contrasting the primary journal literature in order to form an overview of the topic. This detailed analysis bridges the gap between the specialized researcher and the broader community of plant scientists.

As the world's population is projected to reach 10 billion or more by 2100, devastating fossil fuel shortages loom in the future unless more renewable alternatives to energy are developed. Bioenergy, in the form of cellulosic biomass, starch, sugar, and oils from crop plants, has emerged as one of the cheaper, cleaner, and environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional forms of energy. Handbook of Bioenergy Crop Plants brings together the work of a panel of global experts who survey the possibilities and challenges involved in biofuel production in the twenty-first century. Section One explores the genetic improvement of bioenergy crops, ecological issues and biodiversity, feedstock logistics and enzymatic cell wall degradation to produce biofuels, and process technologies of liquid transportation fuels production. It also reviews international standards for fuel quality, unique issues of biofuel-powered engines, life-cycle environmental impacts of biofuels compared with fossil fuels, and social concerns.Section Two examines commercialized bioenergy crops, including cassava, Jatropha, forest trees, maize, oil palm, oilseed Brassicas, sorghum, soybean, sugarcane, and switchgrass.Section Three profiles emerging crops such as Brachypodium, diesel trees, minor oilseeds, lower plants, Paulownia, shrub willow, sugarbeet, sunflower, and sweet potato. It also discusses unconventional biomass resources such as vegetable oils, organic waste, and municipal sludge.Highlighting the special requirements, major achievements, and unresolved concerns in bioenergy production from crop plants, the book is destined to lead to future discoveries related to the use of plants for bioenergy production. It will assist in developing innovative ways of ameliorating energy problems on the horizon.

We hear a lot about how agriculture affects climate change and other environmental issues, but we hear little about how these issues affect agriculture. When we look at both sides of the issues, we can develop better solutions for sustainable agriculture without adversely affecting the environment. Agroecology, Ecosystems, and Sustainability explores a modern vision of ecology and agricultural systems, so that crop production can be sustainably developed without further environmental degradation. With contributions from experts from more than 20 countries, the book describes how to make the transition to modern agroecology to help the environment. It examines the global availability of natural resources and how agroecology could allow the world population to reach the goal of global sustainable ecological, agricultural, and food production systems. The book discusses important principles that regulate agroecological systems, including crop production, soil management, and environment preservation. Making the link between theory and practices, the book includes examples of agroecology such as an interdisciplinary framework for the management of integrated production and conservation landscapes and the use of mechanized rain-fed farming and its ecological impact on drylands. An examination of how ecology and agriculture can be allied to ensure food production and security without threatening our environment, the text shows you how natural resources can be used in a manner to create a "symbiosis" to preserve ecological systems and develop agriculture.

The genus Thymus consists of about 350 species of perennial, aromatic herbs and subshrubs native to Europe and North Africa. Various types of thyme are used all over the globe as condiments, ornamentals and sources of essential oil. Thyme oil (distilled from its leaves) is among the world's top ten essential oils, displaying antibacterial, antimycotic, antioxidative, food preservative and mammalian age-delaying properties. Because of the wide variety of its applications, the demand for thyme oil is growing; hence thyme commands an important place in an expanding world market. Commercial supply of thyme originates mainly from European countries, but recently this increased demand has lead to new winter-hardy, high yield cultivars being developed for commercial cultivation in Canada and North America. This comprehensive volume covers all aspects of the biology, cultivation, pharmacology, chemistry and industrial processing of the genus Thymus. It is the most up to date overview of current knowledge in thyme use, and will be an invaluable reference source to those interested in medicinal plants, natural products, pharmacy, pharmacognosy and agronomy.

A sociological study of changing farming methods, "Conservation Tillage and Cropping Innovation "investigates those techniques that have gradually continued to replace the plow culture.

With thorough documentation of the conservation tillage and cropping revolution, this book features chapters on: The Social Construction of Innovative Networks; Planning Conservation Cropping: Implications for Research, Development, and Extension; The New Agriculture of Conservation Cropping: Present and Future.

Management Strategies for Water Use Efficiency and Micro Irrigated Crops presents new research and technologies for making better use of water resources for agricultural purposes. The chapters focus on better management to improve allocation and irrigation water efficiency and look at performance factors as well. Chapters look at irrigation technology, environmental conditions, and scheduling of water application. One section of the book focuses on water management in the cultivation of sugarcane, a very important industrial crop used in many fields. Other sections are devoted to principles and challenging technologies, water use efficiency for drip-irrigated crops, performance of fertigated rice under micro irrigation, and evaluation of performance of drip-irrigated crops. This valuable book is a must for those struggling to find ways to address the need to maintain efficient crop production in the midst of water shortages. With chapters from hands-on experts in the field, the book will be an invaluable reference and guide to effective micro irrigation methods.

Tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pistachio have long been grown for consumption and as a food ingredient. It is estimated that 4 million metric tons of tree nuts are produced each year. These crops face particular challenges such as safety in the face of allergens and mycotoxin contamination. There is a need to increase production but in a more sustainable way in the face of climate change. This collection reviews the wealth of research addressing these challenges. Part 1 discusses the growing number of studies on the health benefits of tree nuts. Part 2 addresses safety issues. The remaining two parts assess advances in genetics and breeding of tree nuts, as well as advances in cultivation and the management of pests and diseases of tree nuts. With its distinguished editors and international team of expert authors, this collection will be a standard reference for horticultural scientists and those working in forestry and agroforestry science, as well as government and other research centres.

Current and projected worldwide shortages of energy, fertilizer, and irrigation water, coupled with a rapidly expanding population, are prompting agricultural scientists to seek, identify, and develop new crop species. Such crops should be energy- and water-efficient, well adapted to marginal lands, suited to intensive culture, and productive of ma

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.

"Improving organic crop production provides a valuable resource for the current 'state of the art' on understanding mechanisms in these systems that are both similar and different from those in conventional systems....The book is especially recommended for libraries and other places that will provide access to large numbers of interested people, and as it gives a valuable overview on current organic farming to graduate students and others in academia." review by Professor Charles Francis in Agronomy Journal Global sales of organic products have grown significantly, yet organic farming remains a small percentage of overall agricultural production with lower yields than conventional methods. Organic crop cultivation thus faces a range of challenges if it is to grow significantly. This volume reviews the wealth of research addressing these challenges. Part 1 reviews developments in improving cultivation across the value chain, from breeding more robust, low input varieties to ways of maintaining soil health and improving crop nutrition. Part 2 discusses the key topic of pests and diseases with reviews of integrated pest and weed management as well as organic plant protection products. Part 3 covers ways of monitoring the environmental impact of organic farming whilst the final part of the book discusses ways of supporting organic cultivation in the developing world. With its distinguished editor and an international team of expert authors, this will be a standard reference for all those interested in understanding, improving and promoting organic farming.

Plant molecular biology came to the fore in the early 1980s and there has been tremendous growth in the subject since then. The study of plant genes and genomes, coupled with the development of techniques for the incorporation of novel or modified genes into plants, eventually led to the commercialisation of genetically modified (GM) crops in the mid-1990s. This was seen as the start of a biotechnological revolution in plant breeding. However, plant biotechnology became one of the hottest debates of the age and, in Europe at least, has been mired in controversy and over-regulation. Nevertheless, recent years have seen further technological innovation in the development of a range of techniques that enable scientists to make specific changes to target genes.Through a detailed history and development of the science and techniques that underpin crop biotechnology, this title is concise, comprehensive and readable. As well as new sections on genome editing, this edition includes expanded sections on current GM crops and future developments in plant biotechnology, and updated sections on techniques, legislation and the GM crop debate.The previous edition of this book, titled Genetically Modified Crops, 2nd Edition, was published in November 2011.

Potatoes are one of the world's key food crops. Their nutritional value, and the fact that they can be grown with relatively few inputs in a wide range of environments, makes them an important food security crop. However, yields in developing countries are held back by factors such as poor cultivation practices and the impact of pests and diseases, whilst more intensive systems need to become more 'climate smart' both to minimise their environmental impact and adapt to climate change. This volume looks at key research on improving cultivation techniques at each stage in the value chain for potato production. Chapters in Part 1 range from modelling growth to nutrient and irrigation management as well as post-harvest storage. Part 2 reviews advances in understanding and managing fungal, bacterial and viral diseases as well as the management of insect and nematode pests. With its distinguished editor and international team of expert authors, this will be a standard reference for potato scientists, growers, government and non-government agencies supporting potato cultivation. Volume 1 looks at breeding and aspects of quality.

Cryopreservation has proven to be an important tool for the storage and conservation of plant genetic resources. This book is a unique resource for plant scientists, providing more than 100 ready-to-use cryopreservation protocols for plant types from algae and bryophytes to a range of flowering plants. It includes techniques for diverse plant parts such as dormant buds, pollen, and apical meristems and for cell types such as suspension and callus cultures.

Potatoes are one of the world's key food crops. Their nutritional value, and the fact that they can be grown with relatively few inputs in a wide range of environments, makes them an important food security crop. However, yields in developing countries are held back by factors such as poor cultivation practices and the impact of pests and diseases, whilst more intensive systems need to become more 'climate smart' both to minimise their environmental impact and adapt to climate change. This volume reviews general developments in breeding as well as improving particular traits before discussing the challenges facing potato cultivation in particular regions. Part 1 assesses recent research on plant physiology and genetic diversity and their implications for conventional, hybrid and marker-assisted breeding. Part 2 looks at ways of breeding varieties with desirable traits such as stress resistance or improved nutritional quality. The final part of the book looks at ways of supporting smallholders in regions such as Africa and Latin America. Although a separate species, the book also includes selective coverage of research on sweet potato. With its distinguished editor and international team of expert authors, this will be a standard reference for potato scientists, growers, government and non-government agencies supporting potato cultivation. This volume is accompanied by a companion volume looking at production and storage, diseases and sustainability.

There is a growing demand for cocoa. However, cultivation is dependent on ageing trees with low yields and increasing vulnerability to disease. There is growing concern about the environmental impact of cultivation in areas soil health and biodiversity. There is therefore an urgent need to make cocoa cultivation more efficient and sustainable to ensure a successful future. These challenges are addressed in Achieving sustainable cultivation of cocoa. Part 1 reviews genetic resources and developments in breeding. Part 2 discusses optimising cultivation techniques to make the most of new varieties. Part 3 summaries the latest research on understanding and combatting the major fungal and viral diseases affecting cocoa. Part 4 covers safety and quality issues whilst the final part of the book looks at ways of improving sustainability, including the role of agro-forestry, organic cultivation and ways of supporting smallholders. With its distinguished editor and international range of expert authors, this collection will be a standard reference for cocoa scientists, growers and processors.

"The book will be of particular interest to many whether in marketing or research throughout the pesticide industry and those involved in financial and investment in agriculture, as it provides an interesting insight to the way the industry has grown and adapted to the changes in legislation and regulatory requirements on a global scale." Outlooks on Pest Management - review by Emeritus Prof. Graham Matthews, Imperial College London, UK Pesticides have played a critical but sometimes controversial role in the development of agriculture. This book provides an authoritative account of the development of the modern pesticides industry. It discusses the emergence of major pesticide companies such as Bayer, Monsanto, Rhone Poulenc, Dow, DuPont, Ciba-Geigy, Syngenta, BASF and ICI. It covers their competitive strategies such as product development, mergers/acquisitions and diversification. Individual company strategies are placed in the context of broader developments in agriculture which have driven the evolution of the industry, from the Pre-Productionist period to the contemporary world of Post-Productivism and the Sustainability Paradigm. It also reviews how companies have responded to changing national and international policy towards the role of pesticides in agriculture and efforts to regulate their use. This book will be a standard reference on understanding the growth structure, dynamics and major players in a hugely-important and influential sector in global agriculture. It will appeal to a wide range of readers, from policy makers and researchers in crop protection to financial and investment analysts focussed on agriculture, and to all those interested in the development and future of modern agriculture.

"Global tea science: Current status and future needs would suit the library of any botanical enthusiast or academic, with its comprehensive collection of relevant chapters. The humble tea leaf has might roots indeed." (Plant Science Bulletin - Botanical Society of America) Tea is the most widely-consumed beverage in the world. Like other crops, tea cultivation faces a number of challenges. With the challenge of climate change and the competition for scarce resources, there is a need to make tea cultivation more efficient and sustainable. Cultivation needs also to be more resilient to biotic and abiotic stresses, whether it be pests or more extreme weather (e.g. drought) associated with global warming. Fortunately, there is a range of research addressing these challenges. Drawing on an international range of expertise, this collection summarises this research by focusing on ways of improving the cultivation of tea at each step in the value chain, from breeding through to harvest. Part 1 reviews advances in breeding. Part 2 discusses improvements in cultivation techniques. The book then discusses plant protection and chemistry before concluding with sustainability issues. As the need for more interdisciplinary and collaborative research increases, this collection will be a standard reference for the tea research community by summarising key research trends in each topic and putting them in the context of tea cultivation as a whole.

Climate change has intensified in recent decades, which has affected crop production as well as facilitated the emergence of new diseases and insect pests, causing serious threats to agriculture. Farmers have mostly taken a crop-based approach to insect pest management (IPM); the authors of this new volume, Insect Pest Management in Different Cropping Systems, however, take the unique approach that IPM based on specific cropping systems is more efficient, resulting in reduced cultivation costs, increased yield and profitability, and decreased residue from crop produce and products. This volume presents the results of research done by crop protection scientists on integrated pest management in diverse cropping systems based on rice, wheat, maize, pulses, food legumes, oilseeds, groundnut, potato, and other horticulture crops. With chapters written by well-known and experienced scientists in their fields, this volume provides in-depth knowledge on integrated pest management in conjunction with an array of specific cropping systems, taking into consideration all the elements, including the crops, crop sequences, spatial and temporal aspects of managing an agricultural system, and other aspects. This volume will be valuable for entomologists, plant pathologists, agronomists, as well as for farmers—both small and industrial sized, agricultural extension centers, faculty and students, and many others involved with crop cultivation.

Plant Macronutrient Use Efficiency presents an up-to-date overview of the latest research on the molecular and genetic basis of macro-nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in plants, and strategies that can be used to improve NUE and nutrient-associated stress tolerance in crop plants. Plant NUE is a measure of how efficiently plants use available nutrients and an understanding of plant NUE has the potential to help improve the use of limited natural resources and to help achieve global food security. This book presents information important for the development of crop plants with improved macro-NUE, a prerequisite to reducing production costs, expanding crop production into noncompetitive marginal lands with low nutrient resources, and for helping to prevent environmental contamination. Plant Macronutrient Use Efficiency provides a comprehensive overview of the complex mechanisms regulating macro-NUE in crop plants, which is required if plant breeders are to develop modern crop varieties that are more resilient to nutrient-associated stress. Identification of genes responsible for macro-NUE and nutrient-related stress tolerance in crop plants will help us to understand the molecular mechanisms associated with the responses of crop plants to nutrient stress. This volume contains both fundamental and advanced information, and critical commentaries useful for those in all fields of plant science research.

Sorghum is one of the world's major cereals, cultivated in the semi-arid tropics for a growing range of uses. Like other crops it faces the need to meet rising demand whilst reducing its environmental impact and adapting to the challenges of climate change. This volume summarises the wealth of research addressing these challenges. Part 1 reviews the chemistry of sorghum and its physiology, before discussing its use as a food grain, in feed and as a forage and energy crop. The second part of the book discusses ways of improving cultivation in regions such as South America, Asia and Africa. With its distinguished editor and international team of expert authors, this will be a standard work for cereal scientists, sorghum breeders and growers as well as government and non-government agencies supporting sorghum cultivation. It is accompanied by a companion volume which reviews genetics, breeding and production techniques.

"In this timely publication, Dr Rott has sourced contributions from scientists working on cane throughout the tropics...Richly referenced, this is both an informed and informative book that is well written. It will appeal to both researchers and cane growers." International Sugar Journal/Agribusiness intelligence Sugarcane is the source of over three quarters of the world's sugar, and is grown widely in the tropics and sub-tropics. Despite rising demand, average yields have not increased significantly, partly because of continued vulnerability to pests and diseases. In addition, cultivation has been seen as damaging biodiversity and soil health with a negative effect on both yields and the environment. This volume summarises the wealth of research addressing these challenges. Volume 1 reviews cultivation techniques and sustainability issues. Part 1 summarises current best practice in sugarcane cultivation across the value chain, from planting through to post-harvest operations. Part 2 looks at ways of measuring the environmental impact of sugarcane cultivation as well as ways of supporting smallholders. With its distinguished editor and international team of expert authors, this will be a standard reference for sugarcane scientists, growers, government and non-governmental agencies responsible for supporting and monitoring the impact of sugarcane cultivation. It is accompanied by a companion volume reviewing breeding, pest and disease management.