Current Plant Science – serie

Genomic selection (GS) is a promising tool in the field of breeding especially in the era where genomic data is becoming cheaper. The potential of this tool has not been realized due to its limited adaptation in various crops. Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) has been the method of choice for plant breeders while using the genomic information in the breeding pipeline. MAS, however, fails to capture vital minor gene effects while focusing only on the major genes, which is not ideal for breeding advancement especially for quantitative traits such as yield. The main aim of statistical methodologies coming under the umbrella of GS on using the whole genome information is to predict potential candidates for breeding advancement while optimizing the use of resources such as land, manpower, and most importantly time. Lack of proper understanding of the methods and their applications is one of the reasons why breeders shy away from this tool. The book is meant for biologists, especially breeders, and provides a comprehensive idea of the statistical methodologies used in GS, guidance on the choice of models, and design of datasets. The book also encourages the readers to adopt GS by demonstrating the current scenarios of these models in some of the important crops among oilseeds, vegetables, legumes, tuber crops, and cereals. For ease of implementation of GS, the book also provides hands-on scripts on GS data design and modeling in a popular open-source statistical program. Additionally, prospective in GS model development and thereby enhancement in crop improvement programs is discussed.

Genomic selection (GS) is a promising tool in the field of breeding especially in the era where genomic data is becoming cheaper. The potential of this tool has not been realized due to its limited adaptation in various crops. Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) has been the method of choice for plant breeders while using the genomic information in the breeding pipeline. MAS, however, fails to capture vital minor gene effects while focusing only on the major genes, which is not ideal for breeding advancement especially for quantitative traits such as yield. The main aim of statistical methodologies coming under the umbrella of GS on using the whole genome information is to predict potential candidates for breeding advancement while optimizing the use of resources such as land, manpower, and most importantly time. Lack of proper understanding of the methods and their applications is one of the reasons why breeders shy away from this tool. The book is meant for biologists, especially breeders, and provides a comprehensive idea of the statistical methodologies used in GS, guidance on the choice of models, and design of datasets. The book also encourages the readers to adopt GS by demonstrating the current scenarios of these models in some of the important crops among oilseeds, vegetables, legumes, tuber crops, and cereals. For ease of implementation of GS, the book also provides hands-on scripts on GS data design and modeling in a popular open-source statistical program. Additionally, prospective in GS model development and thereby enhancement in crop improvement programs is discussed.

This book is a comprehensive compilation of current knowledge on the integrated approaches and strategies of sustainable crop improvement. It encompasses a broad spectrum of subjects including the latest developments and understandings of diverse stress management techniques for sustainable crop enhancement, accelerated breeding, and genome editing. It also delves into the development of next-generation crop varieties through genomic selection to ensure food and nutritional security. It showcases biofortification as a solution to combat hidden hunger by increasing the iron, zinc, and vitamin content in staple crops and millets as resilient and nutritious crops, a key player in future food systems. Innovations in grafting and the enhancement of nutritional quality in vegetable crops are explored, along with novel technologies like plasma treatments and bioengineering to improve food and non-food crops. This book deliberates on the digital tools like high throughput phenotyping, bioinformatics, and machine learning, integrated with classical breeding to enhance crop nutrition, resilience, and sustainability for future food and nutritional security.Key features– Enhances researchers' cognitive framework concerning state-of-the-art technologies for cereals enhancement, thereby facilitating the advancement of scientific knowledge in this domain.– Reviews post-harvest and value addition as well as nutrition and human health.– Facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the intricate information network underlying fundamental traits in cereals, thereby enabling researchers to unravel the underlying mechanisms governing key traits.– Accentuates on the utilization of diverse omics methodologies and the implementation of potential cutting-edge techniques to enhance the understanding of cereal genetics and breeding, thus contributing to the expansion of knowledge in this field.– Provides insights into the challenges and possibilities associated with integrating multiomics data, developing models, and deepening our understanding of the biological aspects of pivotal traits in cereals.– Showcases recent breakthroughs in integrative and systems biology techniques, while illuminating prospects in this field, thus paving the way for further advancements in the study of cereals.

Sustainable agriculture and food security have become major global issues in the face of increasing world population and climate change. This book is a comprehensive compilation of current knowledge on integrated approaches and strategies of crop production for agricultural sustainability and food security. It covers a wide range of advanced topics including bioremediation, nano-technological approaches in food and agriculture, waste management, regenerative and climate-resilient agriculture, industrial intervention in agriculture, microbe augmentation for soil restoration, weed management in organic production, postharvest technology, and value addition, and revolutionizing rural agricultural industry. The book provides inclusive coverage of various holistic approaches and strategies aimed at promoting agricultural sustainability and ensuring food security. This also deliberations on sustainable farming practices, agroecology, biodiversity conservation, climate-smart agriculture, and resource management. The book aims at educating readers, whether they are policymakers, researchers, or students, about the importance of adopting holistic approaches of crop production to address the challenges facing agriculture and food security in today's world. Due to rapidly changing agricultural landscape, complex challenges, knowledge gaps and local contexts, and education and capacity building, this book should serve as a new and complementary resource to address these emerging challenges in agriculture and food security.Key features– Focuses on the concepts, technologies and success stories of crop production, sustainability and food security.– Provides an update on modern technologies in agriculture, climateresilient and regenerative agriculture– Food security is illustrated with food and industrial microbiology and novel food technologies,– Postharvest technologies as well as nutrition and human health are discussed– Covers production sustainability and technological advancement in agriculture linked to achieving food security.