Biotechnology for Agricultural Breeding

Contents: Preface. 1. Agricultural biotechnology. 2. Biotechnology in food and agriculture. 3. Characterisation and conservation of genetic resources. 4. Conservation of plant genetic resources. 5. Genetic improvement. 6. Selection programmes in genetics. 7. Genetically modified food crops. 8. Transgenic crops. 9. Genetic erosion of agricultural crops. 10. Technology for producing healthy seeds. 11. Broadening gene pool of rice cultivars. 12. Crossbreeding. 13. Breeding for sustainable agriculture. 14. Breeding policy. Bibliography. Index.

"Agricultural biotechnology is an advanced technology that allows plant breeders to make precise genetic changes to impart beneficial traits to the crop plants we rely on for food and fibre. Depending on which genes are transferred, agricultural biotechnology can protect crops from diseases, increase their yield, improve their nutritional content, or reduce pesticide use. By enhancing the nutritional value of foods, biotechnology can help to improve the quality of basic diets. Agricultural biotechnology also provides benefits for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the application of biotechnology in agriculture. It integrates basic biotechnological methodologies with up-to-date agricultural practices, offering solutions to specific agricultural needs and problems from plant and crop yield to animal husbandry. It evaluates the limitations of classical methodologies and the potential of novel and emergent agriculturally related biotechnologies. It will surely be a valuable reference tool for students, libraries and active research workers." (jacket)