S.M. Jain - Böcker

The basic purpose of this book is to describe the relative value of each method of improving various agricultural crops by using parasexual techniques. While no book can be a complete source of all the information on a subject, a range of topics were selected to highlight the recent developments in mutagenesis (conventional approach and molecular biology) and in vitro induced variation in plant breeding. We have deliberately kept short the title of this book, simply emphasizing somaclonal variation and induced mutation. This book is divided into three sections. Section 1 contains 13 chapters mainly on somaclonal variation (SCV), covering SCV in crop improvement, SCV in ornamentals, cereals and forage grasses, banana, and forest trees, cytogenetic basis of SCV, in vitro selection, gametoclonal variation, protoclonal variation, and solanaceous medicinal plants. Section 2 deals with induced mutation, and is covered in 10 chapters mainly on mutagenesis in sugarcane, fruit trees, apomixsis, ornamental plants, disease resistance, cereals and legumes, and vegetatively propagated plants.

This book volume has been divided into three sections and contains a total of 23 chapters. Section A contains eleven chapters covering topics such as studies of embryo development and cell biology of white spruce, proliferative somatic embryogenesis in woody species, somatic embryo germination and desiccation tolerance in conifers, performance of conifer somatic seedlings, apoptosis during early somatic embryogenesis, water relation parameters in conifer embryos, image analysis of somatic embryos, somatic embryogenesis in woody legumes, cold storage and crypreservation, and commercialization of plant somatic embryogenesis. Section B comprisis six chapters dealing with angiosperm woody plants such as somatic embryogenesis in myrtaceous plants, Laurus nobilis, Simarouba glauca, Magnolia spp., Juglans cinera, and somatic embryogenesis and evaluation of variability in somatic seedlings of Quercus serrata by RAPD markers. The chapters contained in Section C are focussed on somatic embryogenesis in gymnosperms, including Pinus patula, Encephalartos, Picea wilsonii, Pinus banksiana, hybrid firs, and Taxus.All the mansucripts have been peer reviewed and revised accordingly to improve the quality of these chapters. The final manuscripts were submitted as camera- ready to publication, and editors had no opportunity to go through them again before the final printing. Authors were advised to prepare final camera-ready manuscripts carefully to avoid any mistakes. Therefore, editors are not respon- sible for mistakes, if any, in this book volume. We are grateful to all the book chapter contributors for submitting their manuscripts in time, and to the reviewers for giving their free time to review the manuscripts.

Covering topics such as somatic embryogenesis in Ocotea catharinensis, Tilia spp., Swiententia macrophylla, Eucalyptus grandii and E. dunni, Gnetum ula, Araujia sericifera, Aralia elata, Hoheria angustifolia, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Indian tree legumes. Section B contains three chapters dealing with somatic embryogenesis in selected fruit trees, including kiwi fruit (Actinida sp.), avocado (Persea americana), and Prunus spp. Section C comprises two chapters related to somatic embryogenesis in commercial plantation crops such as tea (Camellia sinensis) and coffee. Section D has two chapters on genetic transformation of conifers, and somatic embryos of fruit trees and grapevine.

This overview of various aspects of plant molecular biology that are relevant to the improvement of woody plants, is divided into two volumes. In Volume 1, background information on genetic engineering and molecular marker techniques is emphasized, whereas Volume 2 contains specific examples of species in which sufficient progress has been made. The first few chapters in Section 1 of Volume 1 focus on the current status of transgenic expression in plants and molecular aspects of development in woody plants, while the latter half of this section includes chapters on molecular biology of cell wall biosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism. Section 2 of Volume 1 covers tissue culture of woody plants and its relevance to molecular biology research, and the role of molecular markers in evolution, genome mapping, and aiding in breeding programmes for the selection of desired genotypes. Volume 2 covers general aspects of the technology of gene transfer in woody plants and several examples of the applications of the techniques of molecular biology to woody species.

Covering various aspects of plant molecular biology that are relevant to the improvement of woody plants, this book divided into two volumes. In Volume 1, background information on genetic engineering and molecular marker techniques is emphasized, whereas Volume 2 contains specific examples of species in which sufficient progress has been made to date. It covers general aspects of the technology of gene transfer in woody plants and several examples of the current status of the applications of the techniques of molecular biology to woody species.

The rapid progress on somatic embryogenesis and its prospects for potential application to improving woody plants prompted this book. The editors believed that such a treatise was needed and would be useful to researchers and students. Volume 6 is dedicated to Professor Harry Waris, Helsinki, Finland, who did pioneer work on somatic embryogenesis. The volume is divided into three sections and contains a total of 26 chapters. Section A comprises seven chapters covering topics such as: historical insights into some contemporary problems in somatic embryogenesis (SE); thin cell layer for somatic embryogenesis induction in woody trees; SE in tropical fruit and forest trees; SE in fruit and forest arid trees; the status of SE in Indian forest trees; SE research in fruit trees in India; and applications of SE for the improvement of tropical fruit trees. Section B comprises 15 chapters, dealing with: SE in oil palm, hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), pistachio (Pistacia vera L.), Araucaria angustifolia, Quercus suber, Aspidosperma polyneuron, Acacia senegal, Simmondsia chiensis, Cupressus sempervirens, pecan (Carya illinoinensis), rattan (Calamus spp.), tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea, longan (Dimocarpus longan Lor.), Aegle marmelos, and Euonymus europaeus. Section C comprises three chapters related to cryo-storage of citrus, conifers and rubber. All the chapters have been peer-reviewed and revised.

The key technology for biomass production of woody species is propagation via micropropagation. Development of in vitro culture techniques has made it possible to commercially propagate useful trees, both forest and fruit trees. In this book comprehensive information is provided on micropropagation of economically important forest and fruit trees, which is usually available in scattered literature. Topics cover a wide range, from tropical forest and fruit trees for paper or food supply, to Prunus species for local craft bark production. Micropropagation of fagus, eucalyptus, acacia, aegle and fruit trees such as grapevine, bananas, apples, avocado, papaya, pistachio, olive, kiwifruit, litchi, and tea is described. General subjects on light quality, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, pathogen elimination, molecular markers, bioreactor, photoautotrophism, thin cell layer and in vitro germplasm conservation are also described.

This book includes 20 different chapters, where the authors have addressed various aspects of the cultivation, taxonomy, socio-economic importance and breeding and development as applied to neglected and underutilized crops. The first chapter deals with the more general aspects of the cultivation and propagation of these crops, thirteen chapters concentrate on specific neglected crops, nine of which focus on seed propagated crops and the remaining four on vegetative propagated ones, while the last five chapters describe the uses, importance, propagation and improvement of neglected and under-utilized crops from different regions of the world.

The basic purpose of this book is to describe the relative value of each method of improving various agricultural crops by using parasexual techniques. While no book can be a complete source of all the information on a subject, a range of topics were selected to highlight the recent developments in mutagenesis (conventional approach and molecular biology) and in vitro induced variation in plant breeding. We have deliberately kept short the title of this book, simply emphasizing somaclonal variation and induced mutation. This book is divided into three sections. Section 1 contains 13 chapters mainly on somaclonal variation (SCV), covering SCV in crop improvement, SCV in ornamentals, cereals and forage grasses, banana, and forest trees, cytogenetic basis of SCV, in vitro selection, gametoclonal variation, protoclonal variation, and solanaceous medicinal plants. Section 2 deals with induced mutation, and is covered in 10 chapters mainly on mutagenesis in sugarcane, fruit trees, apomixsis, ornamental plants, disease resistance, cereals and legumes, and vegetatively propagated plants.Section 3 describes the molecular aspects of mutagenesis and somaclonal variation, insertional mutagenesis (T-DNA mutagenesis, transposons), and molecular methods for identifying somaclonal variation, RAPD markers in banana somaclones, and transgene expression.

This book volume has been divided into three sections and contains a total of 23 chapters. Section A contains eleven chapters covering topics such as studies of embryo development and cell biology of white spruce, proliferative somatic embryogenesis in woody species, somatic embryo germination and desiccation tolerance in conifers, performance of conifer somatic seedlings, apoptosis during early somatic embryogenesis, water relation parameters in conifer embryos, image analysis of somatic embryos, somatic embryogenesis in woody legumes, cold storage and crypreservation, and commercialization of plant somatic embryogenesis. Section B comprisis six chapters dealing with angiosperm woody plants such as somatic embryogenesis in myrtaceous plants, Laurus nobilis, Simarouba glauca, Magnolia spp., Juglans cinera, and somatic embryogenesis and evaluation of variability in somatic seedlings of Quercus serrata by RAPD markers. The chapters contained in Section C are focussed on somatic embryogenesis in gymnosperms, including Pinus patula, Encephalartos, Picea wilsonii, Pinus banksiana, hybrid firs, and Taxus.All the mansucripts have been peer reviewed and revised accordingly to improve the quality of these chapters. The final manuscripts were submitted as camera- ready to publication, and editors had no opportunity to go through them again before the final printing. Authors were advised to prepare final camera-ready manuscripts carefully to avoid any mistakes. Therefore, editors are not respon- sible for mistakes, if any, in this book volume. We are grateful to all the book chapter contributors for submitting their manuscripts in time, and to the reviewers for giving their free time to review the manuscripts.

Woody plants constitute an artificial and heterogeneous group of plants that share some common phenotypic characteristics but otherwise have no strong evolutionary relationships, nor do they share a common habitat. They are a primary source of fiber and timber, and also include many edible fruit species. Their unique phenotypic behavior includes a perennial habit associated with extensive secondary growth. Additional characteristics of woody plants include: developmental juvenility and maturity with respect to growth habit, flowering time, and morphogenetic response in tissue cultures; environmental control of bud dormancy and flowering cycles; variable tolerance to abiotic stresses, wounding and pathogens; and long distance transport of water and nutrients. Woody plants, particularly tree species, have been the focus of numerous physiological studies to understand their specialized functions, however, only recently have they become the target of molecular studies. Recent advances in our understanding of signal transduction pathways for environmental responses in herbaceous plants, including the identification and cloning of genes for proteins involved in signal transduction, should provide useful leads to undertake parallel studies with woody plants. Molecular mapping techniques, coupled with the availability of cloned genes from herbaceous plants, should provide shortcuts to cloning relevant genes from woody plants. The unique phenotypes of these plants can then be targeted for improvement through genetic engineering. In this book we present a broad coverage of various aspects of plant molecular biology that are relevant to the improvement of woody plant.

This book covers various aspects of plant molecular biology that are relevant to the improvement of woody plants, and is divided into two volumes. In Volume 1, background information on genetic engineering and molecular marker techniques is emphasized, whereas Volume 2 contains specific examples of species in which sufficient progress has been made to date. The first few chapters in Section 1 of Volume 1 focus on the current status of transgene expression in plants and molecular aspects of development in woody plants, while the latter half of this section includes chapters on molecular biology of cell wall biosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism. Section 2 of Volume 1 covers tissue culture of woody plants, and its relevance to molecular biology research, and the role of molecular markers in evolution, genome mapping, and aiding in breeding programs for the selection of desired genotypes. Volume 2 covers general aspects of the technology of gene transfer in woody plants and several examples of the current status of the applications of the techniques of molecular biology to woody species.

The rapid progress on somatic embryogenesis and its prospects for potential application to improving woody plants prompted us to edit this book initially in three volumes, and now an additional three more volumes. We were all convinced that such a treatise was needed and would be extremely useful to researchers and students. This volume 6 is dedicated to Prof. Harry Waris, Helsinki, Finland, who did pioneer work on somatic embryogenesis during the time when Prof. Steward and others were actively engaged in this area. His former student Prof. Liisa Simols, University of Helsinki, Finland, has written a dedication 'Harry Waris, a pioneer in somatic embryogenesis' to her teacher Prof. Waris. This volume is divided into three sections and contains a total of 26 chapters.Section A comprises seven chapters covering topics such as: Historical insights into some contemporary problems in somatic embryogenesis (SE); Thin cell layer for somatic embryogenesis induction in woody trees; SE in tropical fruit and forest trees; SE in fruit and forest arid trees; Status of SE in Indian forest trees; SE research in fruit trees in India; Applications of SE for the improvement of tropical fruit trees. Section B comprises 15 chapters, dealing with: SE in oil palm, hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), pistachio (Pistacia vera L.), Araucaria angustifolia, Quercus suber, Aspidosperma polyneuron, Acacia senegal, Simmondsia chiensis, Cupressus sempervirens, pecan (Carya illinoinensis), rattan (Calamus spp.), tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea, longan (Dimocarpus longan Lor.), Aegle marmelos, and Euonymus europaeus. Section C comprises three chapters related to cryo-storage of citrus, conifers and rubber. All the chapters have been peer-reviewed and revised accordingly to improve the quality of the chapters.We are thankful to all: (a) contributory authors for their co-operation in submitting manuscripts in time, and (b) reviewers for spending their valuable time in reviewing the manuscripts.

Global warming, environmental changes, water shortage, and sustainable development are the most up-to-date issues, which have challenged mankind. Researchers worldwide are engaged in addressing some of these problems, including reduction in carbon dioxide accumulation, and enrichment of perennial woody species on the terrestrial ecosystem. About 12 million hectares of the world's forests disappear every year. By 2025, the world population will reach 7. 5 billion, and the forest area will be reduced to well below 50 % of the current area. Reforestation is an important to prevent the loss of forest resources including timber, biodiversity and water resources. Therefore, subsequent volume of reforestation over the deforested land should be followed to safeguard the forests and maintain its size, which will require a continuous supply of planting material. Similarly fruit trees, including tropical and subtropical fruit trees, are consumed both as fresh and in the processed form including juices, beverages, and dried fruits. They are an important source of nutrition e. g. rich in vitamins, sugars, aromas and flavour compounds, and raw material for food processing industries. The production, cultivation and maintenance of tree species provide highly sustainable production systems that conserve soils, microenvironment and biodiversity. Fruit trees have longjuvenile periods and large tree size. In many fruit trees e. g. avocado and others controlled crosses are difficult to make due to massive fruit drop.