1st Edition

Biology and Breeding of Crucifers

Edited By Surinder Kumar Gupta Copyright 2009
    406 Pages 46 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    406 Pages 46 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Considerable interest has developed in recent years in crucifers and particularly in their wild relatives, as they contain genetic material that may be utilized for further evolution of superior crop varieties through introgression and distant hybridization. Until now, there has been no single volume that focuses exclusively on the biology and breeding aspects of the wild brassica species. Bringing together contributions of leading international experts, Biology and Breeding of Crucifers provides a unique perspective on this species which is so important to research in crop genetics.

    This treatise begins by exploring the systematics and phylogenies of wild crucifers. Supported by sharp close-up photos and descriptions to assist in identification of wild crucifers, the book further examines breeding methods, self-incompatibility, male sterility, germination, viability of seeds, and plant-insect interactions. Detailed accounts of comparative cytogenetics, distant hybridization, and the role of phytoalexins are also presented.

    The book contains comprehensive discussions on floral variations, biotechnology, and haploidy breeding. Reflecting the concern of botanists and plant genetic engineers in enhancing rapeseed-mustard production, the contributors also examine genetic improvement of vegetable crucifers, industrial products from wild crucifers, and the preservation and maintenance of plant genetic resources.

    The information contained in this text will assist researchers in developing ways to increase genetic variability among brassicas, improve crop productivity and quality, and adopt synergistic approaches to ensure food and nutritional security worldwide.

    Molecular Systematics and Evolution, M.A. Koch and I.A. Al-Shehbaz

    Phylogeny of Brassica and Wild Relatives, S.I. Warwick and J.C. Hall

    Biology and Ecology of Wild Crucifers, A. Pratap and S.K. Gupta

    Floral Variation in the Subtribe Brassicinae with Special Reference to Pollination Strategies and Pollen-Ovule Ratios, Y. Takahata

    Breeding Methods, S.K. Gupta and A. Pratap

    Self-Incompatibility, H. Kitashiba and T. Nishio

    Wild Germplasm and Male Sterility, S. Prakash, S.R. Bhat, and T.-D. Fu

    Plant–Insect Interaction, D.P. Abrol

    Seed Dormancy and Viability, M.S. Naeem, D. Liu, R. Raziuddin, G.L. Wan, G.X. Tang, and W.J. Zhou

    Comparative Cytogenetics of Wild Crucifers (Brassicaceae), M.A. Lysak

    Distant Hybridization, Y. Kaneko, S.W. Bang, and Y. Matsuzawa

    Phytoalexins, M. Soledade C. Pedras, and Q. Zheng

    Introgression of Genes from Wild Crucifers, H. Qiong, L. Yunchang, and M. Desheng

    Biotechnology, V. Cardoza and C.N. Stewart, Jr.

    Microsporogenesis and Haploidy Breeding, A. Pratap, S.K. Gupta, and Y. Takahata

    Genetic Improvement in Vegetable Crucifers, P. Kalia

    Industrial Products, C.D. Zelmer and P.B.E. McVetty

    Collection, Preservation, and Distribution of Wild Genetic Resources, C. Gómez-Campo

    Index

    Biography

    Dr. Gupta is on the faculty at S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology in Jammu, India.

    The book contains 18 review chapters by different authors of various aspects of the Cruciferae. The general theme is the genetic exploitation of wild species, with some emphasis on Asian oil-seed species. Several chapters are authoritative and comprehensive, covering systematics and evolution, manipulation of the sexual process, interspecific hybridization, cytogenetics and gene introgression. Some topics (e.g. cytoplasmic male sterility, C3-C4 photosynthesis, somatic hybridization) are repeated in separate chapters. The figures within each chapter are monochrome and some are of poor quality, but are replicated in high quality colour in a separate section in the centre of the book. These reviews are likely to make the book valuable to researchers and plant breeders for at least a decade.
         - Peter Crisp writing in Expl Agric. (2010), volume 46 (1), C Cambridge University Press 2009