Author: Jose M. Seguí-Simarro
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889197832
Category : Botany
Languages : en
Pages : 121
Book Description
Doubled haploids (DHs) are powerful tools to reduce the time and costs needed to produce pure lines to be used in breeding programs. DHs are also useful for genetic mapping of complex qualitative traits, to avoid transgenic hemizygotes, for studies of linkage and estimation of recombination fractions, for screening of recessive mutants. These are just some of the advantages that make DH technology one of the most exciting fields of present and future plant biotechnology. All of the DH methods have model species where these technologies have been developed, or that respond every efficiently to their corresponding induction treatment. However, not all the species of economical/agronomical interest respond to these methodologies as they should be in order to obtain DHs on a routine basis. Indeed, many of them are still considered as low-responding or recalcitrant to these treatments, including many of the most important crops worldwide. Although many groups are making significant progresses in the understanding of these intriguing experimental pathways, little is known about the origin, causes and ways to overcome recalcitrancy. It would be very important to shed light on the particularities of recalcitrant species and the special conditions they need to be induced. In parallel, the knowledge gained from the study of basic aspects in model species could also be beneficial to overcome recalcitrancy. In this e-book, we present a compilation of different approaches leading to the generation of DHs in model and in recalcitrant species, and different studies on new and relevant aspects of this process, useful to extract common traits and features, to know better these processes, and eventually, to elucidate how to make DH technology more efficient.
Doubled Haploidy in Model and Recalcitrant Species
Author: Jose M. Seguí-Simarro
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889197832
Category : Botany
Languages : en
Pages : 121
Book Description
Doubled haploids (DHs) are powerful tools to reduce the time and costs needed to produce pure lines to be used in breeding programs. DHs are also useful for genetic mapping of complex qualitative traits, to avoid transgenic hemizygotes, for studies of linkage and estimation of recombination fractions, for screening of recessive mutants. These are just some of the advantages that make DH technology one of the most exciting fields of present and future plant biotechnology. All of the DH methods have model species where these technologies have been developed, or that respond every efficiently to their corresponding induction treatment. However, not all the species of economical/agronomical interest respond to these methodologies as they should be in order to obtain DHs on a routine basis. Indeed, many of them are still considered as low-responding or recalcitrant to these treatments, including many of the most important crops worldwide. Although many groups are making significant progresses in the understanding of these intriguing experimental pathways, little is known about the origin, causes and ways to overcome recalcitrancy. It would be very important to shed light on the particularities of recalcitrant species and the special conditions they need to be induced. In parallel, the knowledge gained from the study of basic aspects in model species could also be beneficial to overcome recalcitrancy. In this e-book, we present a compilation of different approaches leading to the generation of DHs in model and in recalcitrant species, and different studies on new and relevant aspects of this process, useful to extract common traits and features, to know better these processes, and eventually, to elucidate how to make DH technology more efficient.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889197832
Category : Botany
Languages : en
Pages : 121
Book Description
Doubled haploids (DHs) are powerful tools to reduce the time and costs needed to produce pure lines to be used in breeding programs. DHs are also useful for genetic mapping of complex qualitative traits, to avoid transgenic hemizygotes, for studies of linkage and estimation of recombination fractions, for screening of recessive mutants. These are just some of the advantages that make DH technology one of the most exciting fields of present and future plant biotechnology. All of the DH methods have model species where these technologies have been developed, or that respond every efficiently to their corresponding induction treatment. However, not all the species of economical/agronomical interest respond to these methodologies as they should be in order to obtain DHs on a routine basis. Indeed, many of them are still considered as low-responding or recalcitrant to these treatments, including many of the most important crops worldwide. Although many groups are making significant progresses in the understanding of these intriguing experimental pathways, little is known about the origin, causes and ways to overcome recalcitrancy. It would be very important to shed light on the particularities of recalcitrant species and the special conditions they need to be induced. In parallel, the knowledge gained from the study of basic aspects in model species could also be beneficial to overcome recalcitrancy. In this e-book, we present a compilation of different approaches leading to the generation of DHs in model and in recalcitrant species, and different studies on new and relevant aspects of this process, useful to extract common traits and features, to know better these processes, and eventually, to elucidate how to make DH technology more efficient.
Progress and Opportunities of Doubled Haploid Production
Author: Muhammad Asif
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3319007327
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 84
Book Description
Deals with the historical perspectives and the current status of doubled haploid production along with its practical implications in basic and applied research. It highlights various haploid production methods with a comprehensive discussion on their pros and cons, bottlenecks, and embryogenic pathways. The review also describes in detail the results of molecular and genomic studies conducted to investigate the underlying principles of this spectacular technique that has changed the status of many species from recalcitrant to responsive over the last ninety years.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3319007327
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 84
Book Description
Deals with the historical perspectives and the current status of doubled haploid production along with its practical implications in basic and applied research. It highlights various haploid production methods with a comprehensive discussion on their pros and cons, bottlenecks, and embryogenic pathways. The review also describes in detail the results of molecular and genomic studies conducted to investigate the underlying principles of this spectacular technique that has changed the status of many species from recalcitrant to responsive over the last ninety years.
Rice Improvement
Author: Jauhar Ali
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030665305
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 507
Book Description
This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. By 2050, human population is expected to reach 9.7 billion. The demand for increased food production needs to be met from ever reducing resources of land, water and other environmental constraints. Rice remains the staple food source for a majority of the global populations, but especially in Asia where ninety percent of rice is grown and consumed. Climate change continues to impose abiotic and biotic stresses that curtail rice quality and yields. Researchers have been challenged to provide innovative solutions to maintain, or even increase, rice production. Amongst them, the ‘green super rice’ breeding strategy has been successful for leading the development and release of multiple abiotic and biotic stress tolerant rice varieties. Recent advances in plant molecular biology and biotechnologies have led to the identification of stress responsive genes and signaling pathways, which open up new paradigms to augment rice productivity. Accordingly, transcription factors, protein kinases and enzymes for generating protective metabolites and proteins all contribute to an intricate network of events that guard and maintain cellular integrity. In addition, various quantitative trait loci associated with elevated stress tolerance have been cloned, resulting in the detection of novel genes for biotic and abiotic stress resistance. Mechanistic understanding of the genetic basis of traits, such as N and P use, is allowing rice researchers to engineer nutrient-efficient rice varieties, which would result in higher yields with lower inputs. Likewise, the research in micronutrients biosynthesis opens doors to genetic engineering of metabolic pathways to enhance micronutrients production. With third generation sequencing techniques on the horizon, exciting progress can be expected to vastly improve molecular markers for gene-trait associations forecast with increasing accuracy. This book emphasizes on the areas of rice science that attempt to overcome the foremost limitations in rice production. Our intention is to highlight research advances in the fields of physiology, molecular breeding and genetics, with a special focus on increasing productivity, improving biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and nutritional quality of rice.
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030665305
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 507
Book Description
This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. By 2050, human population is expected to reach 9.7 billion. The demand for increased food production needs to be met from ever reducing resources of land, water and other environmental constraints. Rice remains the staple food source for a majority of the global populations, but especially in Asia where ninety percent of rice is grown and consumed. Climate change continues to impose abiotic and biotic stresses that curtail rice quality and yields. Researchers have been challenged to provide innovative solutions to maintain, or even increase, rice production. Amongst them, the ‘green super rice’ breeding strategy has been successful for leading the development and release of multiple abiotic and biotic stress tolerant rice varieties. Recent advances in plant molecular biology and biotechnologies have led to the identification of stress responsive genes and signaling pathways, which open up new paradigms to augment rice productivity. Accordingly, transcription factors, protein kinases and enzymes for generating protective metabolites and proteins all contribute to an intricate network of events that guard and maintain cellular integrity. In addition, various quantitative trait loci associated with elevated stress tolerance have been cloned, resulting in the detection of novel genes for biotic and abiotic stress resistance. Mechanistic understanding of the genetic basis of traits, such as N and P use, is allowing rice researchers to engineer nutrient-efficient rice varieties, which would result in higher yields with lower inputs. Likewise, the research in micronutrients biosynthesis opens doors to genetic engineering of metabolic pathways to enhance micronutrients production. With third generation sequencing techniques on the horizon, exciting progress can be expected to vastly improve molecular markers for gene-trait associations forecast with increasing accuracy. This book emphasizes on the areas of rice science that attempt to overcome the foremost limitations in rice production. Our intention is to highlight research advances in the fields of physiology, molecular breeding and genetics, with a special focus on increasing productivity, improving biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and nutritional quality of rice.
Doubled Haploid Production in Crop Plants
Author: M. Maluszynski
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 940171293X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 451
Book Description
The production of doubled haploids has become a necessary tool in advanced plant breeding institutes and commercial companies for breeding many crop species. However, the development of new, more efficient and cheaper large scale production protocols has meant that doubled haploids are also recently being applied in less advanced breeding programmes. This Manual was prepared to stimulate the wider use of this technology for speeding and opening up new breeding possibilities for many crops including some woody tree species. Since the construction of genetic maps using molecular markers requires the development of segregating doubled haploid populations in numerous crop species, we hope that this Manual will also help molecular biologists in establishing such mapping populations. For many years, both the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have supported and coordinated research that focuses on development of more efficient doubled haploid production methods and their applications in breeding of new varieties and basic research through their Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the Joint F AO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. The first F AO/IAEA scientific network (Coordinated Research Programme - CRP) dealing with doubled haploids was initiated by the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section in 1986.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 940171293X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 451
Book Description
The production of doubled haploids has become a necessary tool in advanced plant breeding institutes and commercial companies for breeding many crop species. However, the development of new, more efficient and cheaper large scale production protocols has meant that doubled haploids are also recently being applied in less advanced breeding programmes. This Manual was prepared to stimulate the wider use of this technology for speeding and opening up new breeding possibilities for many crops including some woody tree species. Since the construction of genetic maps using molecular markers requires the development of segregating doubled haploid populations in numerous crop species, we hope that this Manual will also help molecular biologists in establishing such mapping populations. For many years, both the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have supported and coordinated research that focuses on development of more efficient doubled haploid production methods and their applications in breeding of new varieties and basic research through their Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the Joint F AO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. The first F AO/IAEA scientific network (Coordinated Research Programme - CRP) dealing with doubled haploids was initiated by the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section in 1986.
Smart Plant Breeding for Field Crops in Post-genomics Era
Author: Devender Sharma
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 981198218X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 424
Book Description
This book emphasizes on cutting-edge next-generation smart plant breeding approaches for maximizing the use of genomic resources generated by high-throughput genomics in the post-genomic era. Through this book the readers would learn about the recent development in the genomic approaches such as genotype by sequencing (GBS) for genomic analysis (SNPs, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism), whole-genome re-sequencing (WGRS) and RNAseq for transcriptomic analysis (DEGs, Differentially Expressed Genes). To maximize the genetic gains in the cereal/food crops, the book covers topics on transgenic breeding, genome editing, high-throughput phenotyping, reliable/precision phenotyping and genomic information-based analysis. In the era of climate change and the ever-increasing population, food security and nutritional security are the primary concern of plant breeders, growers, and policymakers to address the UN’s sustainable development goals. Chapters of this book cohere around these goals and covers techniques such as (QTL mapping, association studies, candidate gene identification), omics, RNAi [through micro RNA (miRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA) and artificial micro RNA (amiRNA)]. It also covers other genomic techniques like antisense technology, genome editing (CRISPR/cas9, base editing) and epigenomics that assist the crop improvement programmes to fulfil the UNs sustainable development goals. It explores the influence of rapidly available sequencing data assisting in the next generation breeding programmes. This volume is a productive resource for the students, researchers, scientists, teachers, public and private sector stakeholders involved in the genetic enhancement of cereal crops.
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 981198218X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 424
Book Description
This book emphasizes on cutting-edge next-generation smart plant breeding approaches for maximizing the use of genomic resources generated by high-throughput genomics in the post-genomic era. Through this book the readers would learn about the recent development in the genomic approaches such as genotype by sequencing (GBS) for genomic analysis (SNPs, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism), whole-genome re-sequencing (WGRS) and RNAseq for transcriptomic analysis (DEGs, Differentially Expressed Genes). To maximize the genetic gains in the cereal/food crops, the book covers topics on transgenic breeding, genome editing, high-throughput phenotyping, reliable/precision phenotyping and genomic information-based analysis. In the era of climate change and the ever-increasing population, food security and nutritional security are the primary concern of plant breeders, growers, and policymakers to address the UN’s sustainable development goals. Chapters of this book cohere around these goals and covers techniques such as (QTL mapping, association studies, candidate gene identification), omics, RNAi [through micro RNA (miRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA) and artificial micro RNA (amiRNA)]. It also covers other genomic techniques like antisense technology, genome editing (CRISPR/cas9, base editing) and epigenomics that assist the crop improvement programmes to fulfil the UNs sustainable development goals. It explores the influence of rapidly available sequencing data assisting in the next generation breeding programmes. This volume is a productive resource for the students, researchers, scientists, teachers, public and private sector stakeholders involved in the genetic enhancement of cereal crops.
Biotechnologies and Genetics in Plant Mutation Breeding
Author: Tariq Ahmad Bhat
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000613968
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
"An indispensable source for researchers, teachers, and graduate and postgraduate students interested in mutation breeding and genetic engineering. It introduces readers to contemporary knowledge and state-of-the-art technologies in the field of mutation breeding, including fundamental mechanisms and applications. . . . It will provide new directions, and avenues for enhancement of food security and food quality by using the latest techniques for the 'mutation as breeding' approach." - From Prof. Jameel M. Al-Khayri, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia This comprehensive three-volume set book aims to help combat the challenge of providing enough food for the world by the use of advanced genetic processes to improve crop production, both in quantity and quality. Volume 1: Mutagenesis and Crop Improvement discusses mutagenesis, cytotoxicity, and crop improvement, covering the processes, mutagenic effectiveness, and mechanisms. The volume emphasizes the improvement of agronomic characteristics by manipulating the genotype of plant species, resulting in increased productivity. Volume 2: Revolutionizing Plant Biology covers the use of mutagenesis and biotechnology to explore the variability of mutant genes for crop improvement. The chapters deal with in-vitro mutagenesis to exploit the somaclonal variations induced in cell culture and highlight the importance of in-vitro mutagenesis in inducing salt resistance, heat resistance, and drought resistance. Volume 3: Mechanisms for Genetic Manipulation of Plants and Plant Mutants reviews the genetic engineering techniques used to mutate genes and to incorporate them into different plant species of cereals, pulses, vegetables, and fruits. Also discussed are the principles of genetic engineering by which desired genes can be transferred from plants to animals to microorganisms and vice versa.
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000613968
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
"An indispensable source for researchers, teachers, and graduate and postgraduate students interested in mutation breeding and genetic engineering. It introduces readers to contemporary knowledge and state-of-the-art technologies in the field of mutation breeding, including fundamental mechanisms and applications. . . . It will provide new directions, and avenues for enhancement of food security and food quality by using the latest techniques for the 'mutation as breeding' approach." - From Prof. Jameel M. Al-Khayri, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia This comprehensive three-volume set book aims to help combat the challenge of providing enough food for the world by the use of advanced genetic processes to improve crop production, both in quantity and quality. Volume 1: Mutagenesis and Crop Improvement discusses mutagenesis, cytotoxicity, and crop improvement, covering the processes, mutagenic effectiveness, and mechanisms. The volume emphasizes the improvement of agronomic characteristics by manipulating the genotype of plant species, resulting in increased productivity. Volume 2: Revolutionizing Plant Biology covers the use of mutagenesis and biotechnology to explore the variability of mutant genes for crop improvement. The chapters deal with in-vitro mutagenesis to exploit the somaclonal variations induced in cell culture and highlight the importance of in-vitro mutagenesis in inducing salt resistance, heat resistance, and drought resistance. Volume 3: Mechanisms for Genetic Manipulation of Plants and Plant Mutants reviews the genetic engineering techniques used to mutate genes and to incorporate them into different plant species of cereals, pulses, vegetables, and fruits. Also discussed are the principles of genetic engineering by which desired genes can be transferred from plants to animals to microorganisms and vice versa.
Genetics and Breeding for Productivity Traits in Forage and Bioenergy Grasses
Author: John W. Forster
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3038425427
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 213
Book Description
This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Genetics and Breeding for Productivity Traits in Forage and Bioenergy Grasses" that was published in Agronomy
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3038425427
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 213
Book Description
This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Genetics and Breeding for Productivity Traits in Forage and Bioenergy Grasses" that was published in Agronomy
Advances in Haploid Production in Higher Plants
Author: Alisher Touraev
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 140208854X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 341
Book Description
The importance of haploids is well known to geneticists and plant breeders. The discovery of anther-derived haploid Datura plants in 1964 initiated great excitement in the plant breeding and genetics communities as it offered shortcuts in producing highly desirable homozygous plants. Unfortunately, the expected revolution was slow to materialise due to problems in extending methods to other species, including genotypic dependence, recalcitrance, slow development of tissue culture technologies and a lack of knowledge of the underlying processes. Recent years have witnessed great strides in the research and application of haploids in higher plants. After a lull in activities, drivers for the resurgence have been: (1) development of effective tissue culture protocols, (2) identification of genes c- trolling embryogenesis, and (3) large scale and wide spread commercial up-take in plant breeding and plant biotechnology arenas. The first major international symposium on “Haploids in Higher Plants” took place in Guelph, Canada in 1974. At that time there was much excitement about the potential benefits, but in his opening address Sir Ralph Riley offered the following words of caution: “I believe that it is quite likely that haploid research will contr- ute cultivars to agriculture in several crops in the future. However, the more extreme claims of the enthusiasts for haploid breeding must be treated with proper caution. Plant breeding is subject from time to time to sweeping claims from ent- siastic proponents of new procedures.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 140208854X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 341
Book Description
The importance of haploids is well known to geneticists and plant breeders. The discovery of anther-derived haploid Datura plants in 1964 initiated great excitement in the plant breeding and genetics communities as it offered shortcuts in producing highly desirable homozygous plants. Unfortunately, the expected revolution was slow to materialise due to problems in extending methods to other species, including genotypic dependence, recalcitrance, slow development of tissue culture technologies and a lack of knowledge of the underlying processes. Recent years have witnessed great strides in the research and application of haploids in higher plants. After a lull in activities, drivers for the resurgence have been: (1) development of effective tissue culture protocols, (2) identification of genes c- trolling embryogenesis, and (3) large scale and wide spread commercial up-take in plant breeding and plant biotechnology arenas. The first major international symposium on “Haploids in Higher Plants” took place in Guelph, Canada in 1974. At that time there was much excitement about the potential benefits, but in his opening address Sir Ralph Riley offered the following words of caution: “I believe that it is quite likely that haploid research will contr- ute cultivars to agriculture in several crops in the future. However, the more extreme claims of the enthusiasts for haploid breeding must be treated with proper caution. Plant breeding is subject from time to time to sweeping claims from ent- siastic proponents of new procedures.
Plant Breeding
Author: Ibrokhim Y. Abdurakhmonov
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 9533079320
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
Modern plant breeding is considered a discipline originating from the science of genetics. It is a complex subject, involving the use of many interdisciplinary modern sciences and technologies that became art, science and business. Revolutionary developments in plant genetics and genomics and coupling plant "omics" achievements with advances on computer science and informatics, as well as laboratory robotics further resulted in unprecedented developments in modern plant breeding, enriching the traditional breeding practices with precise, fast, efficient and cost-effective breeding tools and approaches. The objective of this Plant Breeding book is to present some of the recent advances of 21st century plant breeding, exemplifying novel views, approaches, research efforts, achievements, challenges and perspectives in breeding of some crop species. The book chapters have presented the latest advances and comprehensive information on selected topics that will enhance the reader's knowledge of contemporary plant breeding.
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 9533079320
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
Modern plant breeding is considered a discipline originating from the science of genetics. It is a complex subject, involving the use of many interdisciplinary modern sciences and technologies that became art, science and business. Revolutionary developments in plant genetics and genomics and coupling plant "omics" achievements with advances on computer science and informatics, as well as laboratory robotics further resulted in unprecedented developments in modern plant breeding, enriching the traditional breeding practices with precise, fast, efficient and cost-effective breeding tools and approaches. The objective of this Plant Breeding book is to present some of the recent advances of 21st century plant breeding, exemplifying novel views, approaches, research efforts, achievements, challenges and perspectives in breeding of some crop species. The book chapters have presented the latest advances and comprehensive information on selected topics that will enhance the reader's knowledge of contemporary plant breeding.
From Plant Genomics to Plant Biotechnology
Author: Palmiro Poltronieri
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 1908818476
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 275
Book Description
With the appearance of methods for the sequencing of genomes and less expensive next generation sequencing methods, we face rapid advancements of the -omics technologies and plant biology studies: reverse and forward genetics, functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, the movement at distance of effectors and structural biology. From plant genomics to plant biotechnology reviews the recent advancements in the post-genomic era, discussing how different varieties respond to abiotic and biotic stresses, understanding the epigenetic control and epigenetic memory, the roles of non-coding RNAs, applicative uses of RNA silencing and RNA interference in plant physiology and in experimental transgenics and plants modified to specific aims. In the forthcoming years these advancements will support the production of plant varieties better suited to resist biotic and abiotic stresses, for food and non-food applications.This book covers these issues, showing how such technologies are influencing the plant field in sectors such as the selection of plant varieties and plant breeding, selection of optimum agronomic traits, stress-resistant varieties, improvement of plant fitness, improving crop yield, and non-food applications in the knowledge based bio-economy. - Discusses a broad range of applications: the examples originate from a variety of sectors (including in field studies, breeding, RNA regulation, pharmaceuticals and biotech) and a variety of scientific areas (such as bioinformatics, -omics sciences, epigenetics, and the agro-industry) - Provides a unique perspective on work normally performed 'behind closed doors'. As such, it presents an opportunity for those within the field to learn from each other, and for those on the 'outside' to see how different groups have approached key problems - Highlights the criteria used to compare and assess different approaches to solving problems. Shows the thinking process, practical limitations and any other considerations, aiding in the understanding of a deeper approach
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 1908818476
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 275
Book Description
With the appearance of methods for the sequencing of genomes and less expensive next generation sequencing methods, we face rapid advancements of the -omics technologies and plant biology studies: reverse and forward genetics, functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, the movement at distance of effectors and structural biology. From plant genomics to plant biotechnology reviews the recent advancements in the post-genomic era, discussing how different varieties respond to abiotic and biotic stresses, understanding the epigenetic control and epigenetic memory, the roles of non-coding RNAs, applicative uses of RNA silencing and RNA interference in plant physiology and in experimental transgenics and plants modified to specific aims. In the forthcoming years these advancements will support the production of plant varieties better suited to resist biotic and abiotic stresses, for food and non-food applications.This book covers these issues, showing how such technologies are influencing the plant field in sectors such as the selection of plant varieties and plant breeding, selection of optimum agronomic traits, stress-resistant varieties, improvement of plant fitness, improving crop yield, and non-food applications in the knowledge based bio-economy. - Discusses a broad range of applications: the examples originate from a variety of sectors (including in field studies, breeding, RNA regulation, pharmaceuticals and biotech) and a variety of scientific areas (such as bioinformatics, -omics sciences, epigenetics, and the agro-industry) - Provides a unique perspective on work normally performed 'behind closed doors'. As such, it presents an opportunity for those within the field to learn from each other, and for those on the 'outside' to see how different groups have approached key problems - Highlights the criteria used to compare and assess different approaches to solving problems. Shows the thinking process, practical limitations and any other considerations, aiding in the understanding of a deeper approach