The book introduces readers to the latest developments in biotechnological methods used for improving the cultivation of silkworms. The text focuses on implementing biotechnological approaches, ranging from basic to advanced techniques, on enhancing silk production, increasing abiotic stress resilience, improving disease tolerance, and developing resistance in silkworm crops. With the current climate crisis and growing demand for high-quality silk, biotechnological applications have become essential in addressing the urgent need to increase silk production. The field of sericulture has made significant breakthroughs, such as identifying DNA markers, linkage association, genome-wide association studies, generating mutants, and introducing transgenic silkworms. Developing silkworms with improved cocoon yield and disease resistance is crucial to boost silk production. The book covers fundamental principles and recent advancements and delves into various methodologies employed inseri-biotechnology for improving silkworm crops. These methodologies include next-generation sequencing for DNA sequencing, using molecular markers to enhance abiotic stress tolerance (specifically high temperature and humidity conditions), expression analysis, RNA interference, gene knockout approaches to bolster disease resistance, and transcriptomics to enhance economically significant parameters such as silk content. The book explains these topics in detail and includes contemporary research appraisals, extensive discussions, and an evaluation of the benefits and risks associated with the use of biotechnological tools. This book serves as an invaluable reference for researchers and academics in biotechnology, molecular biology, and sericulture while also serving as an informative starting point for budding researchers.
Covers research achievements in the fields of developmental biology, physiology, and pathology. Chapters discuss sericulture techniques, cocoons, dormancy and hormones, clones, the apple biting silkworm, the sable mutation, separation of male and female eggs, and genetic engineering. An appendix explains the technical terminology. Numerous illustrations are included.
The genesis of the volume, Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Markers, has been the occasion of the retirement of Professor Sant Saran Bhojwani from the Department of Botany, University of Delhi. For Professor Bhojwani, retirement only means relinquishing the chair as being a researcher and a teacher which has always been a way of life to him. Professor Bhojwani has been an ardent practitioner of modern plant biology and areas like Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Breeding have been close to his heart. The book contains original as well as review articles contributed by his admirers and associates who are experts in their area of research. While planning this contributory book our endeavour has been to incorporate articles that cover the entire gamut of Plant Biotechnology, and also applications of Molecular Markers. Besides articles on in vitro fertilization and micropropagation, there are articles on forest tree improvement through genetic engineering. Considering the importance of conservation of our precious natural wealth, one article deals with cryopreservation of plant material. Chapter on molecular marker considers DNA indexing as markers of clonal fidelity of in vitro regenerated plants and prevention against bio-piracy. A couple of write-ups also cover stage-specific gene markers, DNA polymorphism and genetic engineering, including raising of stress tolerant plants to sustain productivity and help in reclamation of degraded land.
Plant genomics and biotechnology have recently made enormous strides, and hold the potential to benefit agriculture, the environment and various other dimensions of the human endeavor. It is no exaggeration to claim that the twenty-first century belongs to biotechnology. Knowledge generation in this field is growing at a frenetic pace, and keeping abreast of the latest advances and calls on us to double our efforts. Volume II of this two-part series addresses cutting-edge aspects of plant genomics and biotechnology. It includes 37 chapters contributed by over 70 researchers, each of which is an expert in his/her own field of research. Biotechnology has helped to solve many conundrums of plant life that had long remained a mystery to mankind. This volume opens with an exhaustive chapter on the role played by thale cress, Arabidopsis thaliana, which is believed to be the Drosophila of the plant kingdom and an invaluable model plant for understanding basic concepts in plant biology. This is followed by chapters on bioremediation, biofuels and biofertilizers through microalgal manipulation, making it a commercializable prospect; discerning finer details of biotic stress with plant-fungal interactions; and the dynamics of abiotic and biotic stresses, which also figure elsewhere in the book. Breeding crop plants for desirable traits has long been an endeavor of biotechnologists. The significance of molecular markers, marker assisted selection and techniques are covered in a dedicated chapter, as are comprehensive reviews on plant molecular biology, DNA fingerprinting techniques, genomic structure and functional genomics. A chapter dedicated to organellar genomes provides extensive information on this important aspect. Elsewhere in the book, the newly emerging area of epigenetics is presented as seen through the lens of biotechnology, showcasing the pivotal role of DNA methylation in effecting permanent and transient changes to the genome. Exclusive chapters deal with bioinformatics and systems biology. Handy tools for practical applications such as somatic embryogenesis and micropropagation are included to provide frontline information to entrepreneurs, as is a chapter on somaclonal variation. Overcoming barriers to sexual incompatibility has also long been a focus of biotechnology, and is addressed in chapters on wide hybridization and hybrid embryo rescue. Another area of accomplishing triploids through endosperm culture is included as a non-conventional breeding strategy. Secondary metabolite production through tissue cultures, which is of importance to industrial scientists, is also covered. Worldwide exchange of plant genetic material is currently an essential topic, as is conserving natural resources in situ. Chapters on in vitro conservation of extant, threatened and other valuable germplasms, gene banking and related issues are included, along with an extensive account of the biotechnology of spices – the low-volume, high-value crops. Metabolic engineering is another emerging field that provides commercial opportunities. As is well known, there is widespread concern over genetically modified crops among the public. GM crops are covered, as are genetic engineering strategies for combating biotic and abiotic stresses where no other solutions are in sight. RNAi- and micro RNA- based strategies for crop improvement have proved to offer novel alternatives to the existing non-conventional techniques, and detailed information on these aspects is also included. The book’s last five chapters are devoted to presenting the various aspects of environmental, marine, desert and rural biotechnology. The state-of-the-art coverage on a wide range of plant genomics and biotechnology topics will be of great interest to post-graduate students and researchers, including the employees of seed and biotechnology companies, and to instructors in the fields of plant genetics, breeding and biotechnology.
This edited book is a comprehensive compilation of principles, conventional and molecular approaches used to develop improved varieties and hybrids of major crops in light of their origin, evolution, taxonomy, production and productivity and need by human civilization. The book covers breeding prospects of all important food and commercial crops. It highlights the importance of breeding tools and techniques in ensuring food security. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, agriculture scientists, capacity builders, and policymakers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, soil science, and environmental sciences. National and international agricultural scientists and policymakers will find this book useful.
Burgeoning world population, decreased water supply and land resources, coupled with climate change, result in severe stress conditions and a great threat to the global food supply. To meet these challenges, exploring Omics Technologies could lead to improved yields of cereals, tubers and grasses that may ensure food security. Improvement of yields through crop improvement and biotechnological means are the need-of-the-hour, and the current book “OMICS-Based Approaches in Plant Biotechnology”, reviews the advanced concepts on breeding strategies, OMICS technologies (genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics) and bioinformatics that help to glean the potential candidate genes/molecules to address unsolved problems related to plant and agricultural crops. The first six chapters of the book are focused on genomics and cover sequencing, functional genomics with examples on insecticide resistant genes, mutation breeding and miRNA technologies. Recent advances in metabolomics studies are elucidated in the next 3 chapters followed by 5 chapters on bioinformatics and advanced techniques in plant biotechnology and crop breeding. The information contained in the volume will help plant breeders, plant biotechnologists, plant biochemists, agriculture scientists and researchers in using this applied research to focus on better crop breeding and stress adaptation strategies.
Explains why biotechnology is a relevant and volatile issues. Begins with a history of biotechnology and its effect on agriculture, medicine, and the environment. Equal space is devoted to discussing the efforts of human-rights advocates, animal-rights advocates, and environmentalists to create definitive governmental regulations for this budding industry.
A Handbook of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 1 compiled based on the syllabus of different competitive exams in Agriculture and Allied subjects. This book encompasses 6 units and they are Importance of Agriculture, Fundamentals of Crop Production, Agricultural Meteorology, Natural Resources Management (Soil Science, Dryland Agriculture, Watershed and Wasteland Management, Water Management), Crop Management and Allied Agricultural Activities (Crop Management, Agricultural Microbiology, Mushroom, Bee keeping, Silkworm Rearing, Agricultural Engineering and Animal Husbandry), Crop Improvement (Plant Breeding, Plant Biotechnology), Seed Science and Technology. One liner version of book is extremely valuable for preparation of competitive exams like Union and State Public Service Commissions, Agricultural Research Services - National Eligibility Test (ARS - NET), Institute of Banking Personnel Services (IBPS), PG entrance exams of State Agricultural Universities (SAU's), All India Entrance Examinations for UG and PG admissions to agriculture, National Seeds Corporations (NSC), Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Tamil Nadu Public Service Examinations (Agricultural Officer, Assistant Agricultural Officer), JRF, SRF, RA of Central and State Government schemes and externally funded schemes and other competitive examinations.
Designed to inform and inspire the next generation of plant biotechnologists Plant Biotechnology and Genetics explores contemporary techniques and applications of plant biotechnology, illustrating the tremendous potential this technology has to change our world by improving the food supply. As an introductory text, its focus is on basic science and processes. It guides students from plant biology and genetics to breeding to principles and applications of plant biotechnology. Next, the text examines the critical issues of patents and intellectual property and then tackles the many controversies and consumer concerns over transgenic plants. The final chapter of the book provides an expert forecast of the future of plant biotechnology. Each chapter has been written by one or more leading practitioners in the field and then carefully edited to ensure thoroughness and consistency. The chapters are organized so that each one progressively builds upon the previous chapters. Questions set forth in each chapter help students deepen their understanding and facilitate classroom discussions. Inspirational autobiographical essays, written by pioneers and eminent scientists in the field today, are interspersed throughout the text. Authors explain how they became involved in the field and offer a personal perspective on their contributions and the future of the field. The text's accompanying CD-ROM offers full-color figures that can be used in classroom presentations with other teaching aids available online. This text is recommended for junior- and senior-level courses in plant biotechnology or plant genetics and for courses devoted to special topics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also an ideal reference for practitioners.
