Plant stresses are serious threats to the sustainability of crop yields accounting for more crop productivity losses than any other factor in rainfed agriculture. Post-harvest losses mean surplus crops do not reach market, affecting the livelihoods of farming families, and too often these families are left with no other option than to eat contaminated stored food. These constraints impact the food security of these farming families as well as the communities and countries in which they live. This book is the demonstration of a clear synergistic effect of stresses, an effect that was unexpectedly as important as either stress applied alone. This book will add to our current knowledge of abiotic stress response in plants and will provide the groundwork necessary to build future strategies for crop enhancement. The fundamental principles that underpin all biotechnology are explained and a full range of examples discussed to show how these principles are applied; from starting substrate to final product. It will be beneficial to both plant breeders and molecular biologists, because it combines the topics of physiology, tolerance genes, and breeding methods. When these topics are presented together, it is easy to compare all aspects of tolerance mechanisms and breeding methods for abiotic stresses. These comparisons are useful to understand which pathways or which genes are important for rendering more tolerance to a certain abiotic stress, and to bring forward new ideas for improving the tolerance. Features *Cover both plant biotic and abiotic stresses *Important factors in managing crops for water stress conditions *Substantially increase the sustainable productivity of smallholder farmers in developing countries *Genetic and biochemical approaches - if those approaches constitute a substantial improvement on current practices.

Geminivirus: Detection, Diagnosis and Management focuses on the latest techniques for managing diseases caused by these circular, single-stranded (ss) DNA genomes. The most significant impact of plant diseases in host populations is often caused by emerging diseases, whose incidence in a plant host is increasing as a result of long-term changes in their underlying epidemiology. Genetic changes in pathogen and host populations, as well as changes in host ecology and environment, are major factors contributing to disease emergence. Understanding plant virus evolution is crucial for modeling the within-host and between-host dynamics and genetics of virus populations. The book presents a comprehensive review of how these viruses develop, including contributing factors such as population bottlenecks during cell-to-cell movement, systemic colonization, or between-host transmission by different procedures. Presented in five sections-Detection and Diagnosis, Emergence and Diversity, Vector and Transmission, Virus-Host Interaction, and Disease Management, the book includes host range determinant and virulence factors involved in pathogenesis, virus-vector interactions during acquisition, retention, and transmission and evaluating management strategies to control Geminivirus. The book is an essential reference for students and researchers interested in plant virology, particularly begomoviruses, geminiviruses, and vector transmission biology. Introduces identification and characterization of geminiviruses that infect agricultural crops, their wild relatives, and weed hosts Discusses recombination and reassortment mechanisms influencing viral genetic diversity, virulence, and vector transmission Explores the origin, evolution, and bottlenecks of Geminiviruses

"Plant Virus-Host Interaction" contains cutting-edge research in plant molecular virology, including pathogenic viroids and transport by insect vectors, interference with transmission to control viruses, and synergism, with pivotal coverage of RNA silencing and the counter-defensive strategies used by viruses to overcome the silencing response in plants.

With a clear focus on plant virus evolution, including quantitative and population genetics, "Plant Virus-Host Interaction" provides insights on the major factors favoring disease emergence, such as genetic change in pathogen and host populations and changes in host ecology and environment. The book also examines socioeconomic implications of widespread plant viral agents. Contributions from leading experts around the globe provide varied perspectives, while comprehensive coverage ensures a complete look at this exciting field.
Covers the emergence of new viral diseasesProvides molecular approaches for virus-host interactionHighlights RNA silencing and counter-defensive strategiesDiscusses socioeconomic implications of viral spread and mitigation techniques

Bioinformatics in Agriculture: Next Generation Sequencing Era is a comprehensive volume presenting an integrated research and development approach to the practical application of genomics to improve agricultural crops. Exploring both the theoretical and applied aspects of computational biology, and focusing on the innovation processes, the book highlights the increased productivity of a translational approach. Presented in four sections and including insights from experts from around the world, the book includes: Section I: Bioinformatics and Next Generation Sequencing Technologies; Section II: Omics Application; Section III: Data mining and Markers Discovery; Section IV: Artificial Intelligence and Agribots. Bioinformatics in Agriculture: Next Generation Sequencing Era explores deep sequencing, NGS, genomic, transcriptome analysis and multiplexing, highlighting practices forreducing time, cost, and effort for the analysis of gene as they are pooled, and sequenced. Readers will gain real-world information on computational biology, genomics, applied data mining, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. This book serves as a complete package for advanced undergraduate students, researchers, and scientists with an interest in bioinformatics.

Improving Cereal Productivity through Climate Smart Practices is based on the presentations of the 4th International Group Meeting on "Wheat productivity enhancement through climate smart practices," and moves beyond the presentations to provide additional depth and breadth on this important topic. Focused specifically on wheat, and with chapters contributed by globally renowned pioneers in the field of cereal science, the book helps readers understand climate change and its effects on different aspects of wheat production in different parts of the world. This book will be important for those in research and industry seeking to contribute to the effective feeding of the world's population.

Plant Virus-Host Interaction: Molecular Approaches and Viral Evolution, Second Edition, provides comprehensive coverage of molecular approaches for virus-host interaction. The book contains cutting-edge research in plant molecular virology, including pathogenic viroids and transport by insect vectors, interference with transmission to control viruses, synergism with pivotal coverage of RNA silencing, and the counter-defensive strategies used by viruses to overcome the silencing response in plants. This new edition introduces new, emerging proteins involved in host-virus interactions and provides in-depth coverage of plant virus genes' interactions with host, localization and expression. With contributions from leading experts, this is a comprehensive reference for plant virologists, molecular biologists and others interested in characterization of plant viruses and disease management.

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.

Plant pathogenic geminiviruses have been proliferating world-wide and have, therefore, attracted considerable scientific interest during the past three decades. A widespread occurrence and vast spreading of geminivirus, resulting in yield losses of economically important food and fibre crops, poses a serious threat to sustainable agriculture. The major concerns about the frequent evolution and recombination of new viruses or strains lead to failure of resistance over time and space. This book reviews recent developments in the study of geminiviruses and the progress made in this field.

Biotechnology is one of the major technologies of the twenty-first century. Its wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary activities include recombinant DNA techniques, cloning and the application of microbiology to the production of goods from bread to antibiotics. In this edited book, the authors provide a complete overview of biotechnology. The fundamental principles that underpin all biotechnology are explained and a full range of examples are discussed to show how these principles are applied; from starting substrate to final product. With the use of comparative studies, this book also discusses the legal, agribusiness and public policy issues that connect intellectual property protection with advancements in agricultural biotechnology.

Plants under abiotic stress are those suffering from drought, extreme temperatures, flood and other natural-but non-living-factors. Abiotic stress is responsible for reduced yields in several major crops, and climate change is focusing research in this area. To minimize cellular damage cause by such stresses, plants have evolved complex, well-coordinated adaptive responses that operate at the transcriptional level. Understanding these processes is key to manipulating plant performance to withstand stress. This book deals with the role of gene silencing in the adaptation of plants to these stresses, and documents the molecular regulatory systems for the abiotic response.