Breeding of Horticultural Crops : Principles and Practices

Contents: Preface. 1. Principles of Plant Breeding. 2. Conceptual Framework for Plant Breeding. 3. Plant Breeding: Impact of Biotechnology. 4. Organic Plant Breeding. 5. Molecular Plant Breeding. 6. Marker-Assisted Selection in Crop Breeding. 7. Role of Molecular Markers in Plant Breeding. 8. Inbreeding Depression in Polyploids. 9. Potato Breeding. 10. Organic Breeding of Brambles. 11. Organic Breeding of Garlic. 12. Prunus Tree Crop Breeding. 13. Organic Seed Production and Variety Development. 14. Bioinformatics in Plant Breeding. 15. Breeding of Transgenic Crops. 16. Future of Crop Breeding Technologies. Bibliography. Index.

“The goal of this book is to address the principles and practices of horticultural plant breeding. In this respect it may be enlightening to distinguish between horticultural and agronomic crops because the case can be made that there is a fundamental difference between these crops that may affect the future course of genetic improvement. The difference between horticultural and agronomic crops is primarily one of usage. Horticultural crops are those that serve to fit the special food and esthetic needs of humans. They are crops that not only make life possible but make life worth living. In horticultural crops, quality is supreme.

The book has been designed for students, researchers in the field of agriculture, botany, horticulture, plant biotechnology, genetics and above all to a horticultural lover. With latest and updated information, the book has been compiled in a simple and easy language.” (jacket)