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.

Good management practices (GMP) address environmental, economic and social sustainability for on-farm processes and result in safe and quality food and nonfood agricultural products. In recent years, the concept of GMP has evolved to address the concerns of different stakeholders about food production and security, food safety and quality, and the environmental sustainability of agriculture. The diverse challenges and constraints as growing population, increasing food, feed and fodder needs, natural resource degradation, climate change, new parasites, slow growth in farm income and new global trade regulations demand a paradigm shift in formulating and implementing the agricultural research programmes. The present edition of the book related to Good management practices for fruit and vegetable crops is an endeavor to provide an insight to the ground realities and consequently proven technologies that needs to be popularized. The book will try to address the major issues of Good management practices in horticultural crops and disseminate the technologies developed.

The Chemical Dialogue Between Plants and Beneficial Microorganisms provides foundational insights on plant beneficial microorganisms and their impact on the health and productivity of plants. Providing in-depth and recent updates about unexplored aspects of plant microbes interactions, the book includes the biological repertoire of arbuscular mycorrhizal association, molecular architecture of Rhizobium-plant symbiosis, and endophytes in transcriptional plasticity during host colonization by endophytes. The book also includes details about the mechanism of different plant beneficial microorganisms, how these differ, and their cross signaling. This book will be an important reference for researchers working on different plant beneficial microorganisms and their molecular arsenal.

The book is a compilation of 19 chapters authored by eminent scientists in the area. There is need to break yield barriers by GM Technology, keeping biosafety intact and as per standards. Use of biotechnology to enhance productivity is elaborated in two chapters. Water being a limiting factor is being studied wholistically. Soil fertility and its management are critical to crop productivity. Soil as a living entity needs to be viewed as the basics of horticulture. Root stocks play a vital role in rejuvenation, anchoring and better nutrient absorption. Biotic stresses like nematode pests and an array of viruses make crop growing highly challenging. Breeding methods are now available to develop varieties and hybrids which withstand stresses-biotic and abiotic- An exposure to basic sciences like plant physiology is needed to understand the source-sink ratios in crops. Marketing and trade are areas less taught but assuming top importance now. Horticulture is incomplete without study on pollinators like bees.

The book has been written covering major aspect of field crop diseases. o Each chapter has further been divided into sub-heads such as introduction and economic importance, symptoms on different parts, causal organism, disease cycle and favorable conditions. o Symptoms of important diseases have been illustrated with colored photographs which will help in their correct and easy diagnosis. o Management practices including, cultural, physical, biological, host resistance leading to integrated disease management. This book will serve immensely for teachers and students in the field of plant pathology.

This book entitled "Commercial Horticulture" would prove helpful in taking a leap to overcome the constraints imposed on horticultural development by providing knowledge of modern technologies like protected cultivation, hybrid seed production, micro irrigation, fertigation, organic farming, mechanization and processing, post harvest management, etc. which is intended to help in strengthening the horticulture industry. An introduction to these latest technologies is intended to accelerate commercialization of horticulture which would ultimately encourage the sustainability and multi-faceted growth of agriculture