Learn to integrate molecular genetic techniques with traditional plant breeding methods This comprehensive book provides the latest authoritative scientific information on improvement of both temperate and tropical crops. Crop Improvement: Challenges in the Twenty-First Century brings together expert plant breeders and geneticists to address issues related to crop adaptability and stability across environments for important food and fiber crops. It emphasizes the need to integrate molecular genetic techniques with traditional plant breeding methods to develop hardier, more productive crops. Crop Improvement includes the latest research on physiological and biochemical responses of plants to drought and heat stress, which should help breeders develop effective strategies for improving resistance to abiotic stresses. In addition, this helpful book elucidates the use of mixed models and best linear unbiased prediction. To make the book comprehensive, chapters discuss stability analysis in crop performance trials and genotype-by-environment interactions.Crop Improvement includes detailed information on breeding specific crops, including: rice tropical maize sorghum common bean sugar beet bananas and plantain cottonCrop Improvement offers both practical information and up-to-date research. It also suggests a vision of new directions and partnerships that are expected to evolve in this century. This book is an essential resource for practicing plant breeders and geneticists at universities, government agencies, and industry. It should also be of use to teachers and students engaged in crop breeding.

Research data is expensive and precious, yet it is seldom fully utilized due to our ability of comprehension. Graphical display is desirable, if not absolutely necessary, for fully understanding large data sets with complex interconnectedness and interactions. The newly developed GGE biplot methodology is a superior approach to the graphical analysis of research data and may revolutionize the way researchers analyze data. GGE Biplot Analysis: A Graphical Tool for Breeders, Geneticists, and Agronomists introduces the theory of the GGE biplot methodology and describes its applications in visual analysis of multi-environment trial (MET) data and other types of research data. The text includes three parts: I) Genotype by environment interaction and stability analysis, II) GGE biplot and multi-environment trial (MET) data analysis, and III) GGE biplot software and applications in analyzing other types of two-way data. Part I presents a comprehensive but succinct treatment of genotype-by-environment (G x E) interaction in order to provide an overall picture of the entire G x E issue and to show how GGE biplot methodology fits in. Part II describes and demonstrates the numerous utilities of a GGE biplot in visualizing MET data. Part III describes the "GGE biplot" software and extends its application to the analysis of genotype by trait data, QTL mapping data, diallel cross data, and host by pathogen data. Altogether, this book demonstrates that the GGE biplot methodology is a superior data-visualization tool and allows the researcher to graphically extract and utilize the information from MET data and other types of two-way data to the fullest extent. GGE Biplot Analysis makes this useful technology accessible on a wider scale to plant and animal breeders, geneticists, agronomists, ecologists, and students in these and other related research areas. The information presented here will greatly enhance researchers' ability to understand their data and will mak

Genotype-by-Environment Interaction (GEI) is a prevalent issue among crop farmers, plant breeders, geneticists, and production agronomists. This book brings together contributions from expert plant breeders and quantitative geneticists to better understand the relationship between crop performance and environment. This information can reduce the cost of extensive genotype evaluation by eliminating unnecessary testing sites and by fine-tuning breeding programs. Molecular aspects of GEI are discussed for the first time and key bibliographical references on GEI are included in an appendix.

Genotype-by-Environment Interaction (GEI) is a prevalent issue among crop farmers, plant breeders, geneticists, and production agronomists. This book brings together contributions from expert plant breeders and quantitative geneticists to better understand the relationship between crop performance and environment. This information can reduce the cost of extensive genotype evaluation by eliminating unnecessary testing sites and by fine-tuning breeding programs.
Molecular aspects of GEI are discussed for the first time and key bibliographical references on GEI are included in an appendix.

According to the United Nations, 77 million people are expected to face water shortage by 2025, if people continue to use water at the current rate. More water than available would be needed to grow the world's food during the next decade. As a result of scarcity of water, global annual food production losses could reach 350 million tons by 2025. Divided into six main sections, this volume outlines strategies to conserve soil and water resources to help ensure both water and food security: - Challenges to ensure water and agricultural sustainability - Sustainable strategies for managing water and soil resources and groundwater recharge technologies - Soil-quality issues - Water-quality issues, with special reference to groundwater pollution with arsenic - Management in different agroclimatic environments, with particular reference to rainfed agriculture - Biotechnological applications for drought-tolerant crop varieties with improved water use efficiency, water conservation strategies, and sustainable agronomic alternatives. This guide on agricultural sustainability is intended for scientists and advanced students in agronomy, soil science, agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, plant breeding, plant genetics, plant biotechnology, water resources, hydrology, geography, and other agriculture-related fields.

Understand sustainable development from economic, ecological, and social perspectives As world population continues to increase, the need grows for a safe, sustainable supply of food. Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability: Considerations for the Future provides the latest research results and vital information on the process of producing an enduring food supply that is healthy for consumers and does not harm the environment. Internationally respected experts provide diverse perspectives on the issues and problems in striving for a safe, continuous food supply that is stable for future generations. Researchers and practitioners will gain insight into the current and oncoming challenges in providing food for the hungry around the world. The neglect of environmental factors would inevitably lead to the collapse of both industry and agriculture. Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability: Considerations for the Future focuses on the economic, ecological, and sociological issues that intertwine with efforts for effective agricultural sustainability in the coming years. This crucial look to the future provides a clear view of what needs to be done in long-term land use to ensure sustainability of resources, economic viability, and environmental preservation. This important resource is well-referenced and has several figures, tables, and graphs to clearly illustrate ideas. Topics in Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability: Considerations for the Future include: sustainability of agriculture issues, such as economic returns, environmental preservation, and enhancing quality of life opportunities for alleviating poverty and stopping land degradation through agroforestry management principles to improve and restore soil whole-system modeling approach to work for sustainable agricultural systems global wheat mega-environments and sustainability enhancing the productivity and sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system overcoming the use of the outmoded plow holistic model systems to help farm families become more food secure the economic impact of bacterial wilt and drought stresses in banana production the sale of environmentally friendly products in developed countries Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability: Considerations for the Future is an essential resource for crop breeders, geneticists, agronomists and horticulturists, educators, and students and belongs in every agricultural university library.

A simple solution to complicated statistical techniques and formulas! The Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breeders is an up-to-date reference source that eliminates the need for hand calculations of complicated genetic formulas and equations. Contributions from members of the C1 Division of the Crop Science Society of America include computer program codes not found in Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and other commonly available statistical packages. The book provides an invaluable shortcut to sorting through piles of literature in search of programs that may have been published in abbreviated forms or never at all. The Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breeders puts full-fledged program codes of specialized statistical and genetics-related software programs at your fingertips. It shows practicing geneticists, breeders, and students how to use specialized software through practical examples. The book is an excellent research and teaching tool in quantitative genetics and plant breeding, providing definitions of key terms and information on how to obtain desired software and key references. It also includes an extensive listing of programs available for linkage and mapping software that can be accessed through the Internet. The Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breeders presents, among others, programs related to: genotype-by-environmental interaction (GEI) and stability analysis genetic diversity estimation best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) principal component and additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analyses quantitative trait loci -by-environment (QTL x E) analysis GGE biplot analysis diallel analyses path analysis trend analysis field plot technique The Handbook of Formulas and Software for Plant Geneticists and Breeders is essential for academics and researchers working in genetics, breeding, and genomics, and as a supplement for coursework in quantitative genetics and plant breeding.

The effects of climate change can already be felt around the world, and they will likely impact all facets of human civilization-from health, livelihood security, agricultural production, and shelter to international trade. Since anthropogenic factors are mainly to blame for the current trends in global warming, human intervention will be necessary to mitigate it. With 17 authoritative chapters, Combating Climate Change: An Agricultural Perspective outlines a framework for preparing agriculture for climate change, presenting the causes and consequences of climate change and possible remediation measures. With contributions from internationally recognized scientists, the chapters cover global food security, adaptation of agriculture to fulfill its greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential, economic aspects of climate change, the soil organic carbon pool, the need for agroecological intelligence, and the development of nutrient-use-efficient crops. The text also addresses genetic mitigation of climate change effects through the development of climate-resilient crops and the use of genetic and genomic resources to develop highly productive crop cultivars, as well as the conservation of native agroecosystems. Expert contributors discuss the impacts of climate change on plant pathogens and plant disease as well as on insects and crop losses. They address abiotic stress resistance, conservation tillage as a mitigation strategy, and more. The final chapter demonstrates the practical use of the WorldClim and DIVA software for modeling current and future climates, using Timor Leste and India as examples. Covering a broad range of issues related to climate change and agriculture, this book brings together ideas for environmentally friendly technologies and opportunities to further increase and stabilize global agricultural productivity and ensure food security in face of mounting climate challenge.

Get cutting-edge information to improve crop breeding and productivity! Crop improvement will become progressively important over the next few decades as the world's population is expected to top 10 billion people, with more than eight billion in developing countries alone. Genetic and Production Innovations in Field Crop Technology: New Developments in Theory and Practice tackles this enormous challenge by detailing the latest available research and innovations for crop breeders and physiologists for the twenty-first century. Respected multidisciplinary scientists comprehensively discuss cutting-edge advances in field crop technology and genetic production as they keep an eye on the goal of providing nutrition to a hungry world. Genetic and Production Innovations in Field Crop Technology emphasizes an integrated approach to solve global crop production problems and increase crop productivity. Crop research experts review methods of globally improving crop yield, food product efficiency, and providing adequate nutrition in diet. The authors discuss various types of field crops, including corn, soybeans, winter wheat, cassavas, rubber, sunflowers, and barley, as well as review the exciting innovations on the food production horizon. The text is extensively referenced and includes useful graphs and tables to clearly present data. Genetic and Production Innovations in Field Crop Technology presents: visionary articles by authorities in agricultural sciences statistical design axioms and modern plot techniques discussions of integration of crop physiology and plant breeding information on systematic collection and preservation of germplasm explanations of genetic diversity in soybeans corn breeding and production researchincluding the economicsin the United States research on cassava breeding in less favorable environments to alleviate poverty strategies for improving yielding potential of rubber in sub-optimal environments information on fine-tuning wheat genotype-by-environment interaction methodology reviews of QTL identification, mega-environment classification, and effective strategies for marker-based selection via GGE biplot analyses research on statistical properties and practical usefulness of the Scheffe-Calinski and Shukla models relative to genotype-by-environment interaction Genetic and Production Innovations in Field Crop Technology: New Developments in Theory and Practice belongs in every agricultural university library. Crop breeders, geneticists, agronomists and horticulturists, educators, and students will find this an invaluable research source for now and for the future.

Research data is expensive and precious, yet it is seldom fully utilized due to our ability of comprehension. Graphical display is desirable, if not absolutely necessary, for fully understanding large data sets with complex interconnectedness and interactions. The newly developed GGE biplot methodology is a superior approach to the graphical analysis of research data and may revolutionize the way researchers analyze data. GGE Biplot Analysis: A Graphical Tool for Breeders, Geneticists, and Agronomists introduces the theory of the GGE biplot methodology and describes its applications in visual analysis of multi-environment trial (MET) data and other types of research data.

The text includes three parts: I) Genotype by environment interaction and stability analysis, II) GGE biplot and multi-environment trial (MET) data analysis, and III) GGE biplot software and applications in analyzing other types of two-way data. Part I presents a comprehensive but succinct treatment of genotype-by-environment (G x E) interaction in order to provide an overall picture of the entire G x E issue and to show how GGE biplot methodology fits in. Part II describes and demonstrates the numerous utilities of a GGE biplot in visualizing MET data. Part III describes the "GGE biplot" software and extends its application to the analysis of genotype by trait data, QTL mapping data, diallel cross data, and host by pathogen data. Altogether, this book demonstrates that the GGE biplot methodology is a superior data-visualization tool and allows the researcher to graphically extract and utilize the information from MET data and other types of two-way data to the fullest extent.

GGE Biplot Analysis makes this useful technology accessible on a wider scale to plant and animal breeders, geneticists, agronomists, ecologists, and students in these and other related research areas. The information presented here will greatly enhance researchers' ability to understand their data and will make a significant contribution toward helping to meet the challenges of food production and food security that currently face the world. Readers will be amazed to see how much more they can extract from their data by implementing the new and easily understood GGE biplot methods presented here and will soon agree that any delay in using this technique is a loss to their research achievement.