As per the reports of FAO, the human population will rise to 9 billion by the end of 2050 and 70% of more food must be produced over the next three decades to feed the additional population. The breeding approaches for crop improvement programs are dependent on the availability and accessibility of genetic variation, either spontaneous or induced by the mutagens. Plant breeders, agronomists, and geneticists are under constant pressure to expand food production by employing innovative breeding strategies to enhance yield, adaptability, nutrition, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In conventional breeding approaches, introgression of genes in crop varieties is laborious and time-consuming. Nowadays, new innovative plant breeding techniques such as molecular breeding and plant biotechnology, supplement the traditional breeding approaches to achieve the desired goals of enhanced food production. With the advent of recent molecular tools like genomics, transgenics, molecular marker-assisted back-crossing, TILLING, Eco-TILLING, gene editing, CRISPR CAS, non-targeted protein abundant comparative proteomics, genome wide association studies have made possible mapping of important QTLs, insertion of transgenes, reduction of linkage drags, and manipulation of genome. In general, conventional and modern plant breeding approaches would be strategically ideal for developing new elite crop varieties to meet the feeding requirement of the increasing world population. This book highlights the latest progress in the field of plant breeding, and their applicability in crop improvement. The basic concept of this 2-volume work is to assess the use of modern breeding strategies in supplementing conventional breeding toward the development of elite crop varieties, for obtaining desired goals of food production.

Functionality and Application of Colored Cereals: Nutritional, Bioactive and Health Aspects focuses on exploiting the full and functional possibilities of these grains. From their physical chemistry to their health benefits, this book highlights cereals with potential for enhanced products. Plant-based food colorants play an important role in conferring colors to food to increase attractiveness for consumers, improve appetite, minimize synthetic colorants, and conform to food culture. Over the last decades, the presence of anthocyanin and other bioactive compounds in colored cereal grains (maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, and rye) have attracted the attention of various food processors and researchers. Colored cereals are imperative for food processing industries as high-value pigments present in the bran layer can easily be extracted and utilized as functional foods and natural colorants. The extracted pigments such as anthocyanin can replace synthetic dyes currently used in foods, drugs and cosmetics. Additionally, natural additives improve the nutritional value, appearance, texture, flavor and storage properties of food products. - Reviews colored cereal grains morphology, composition and the diversity of the different uses of cereal grains - Includes content on the functionality and therapeutic significance of functional components of colored cereal grains - Contains global coverage of the latest research on the bioactive potential, food applications and health benefits of colored cereals

The Book “The basics of Plant Breeding” has been prepared for students of M.Sc. IV Sem (CBCS), Department of Botany, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur. It is a part of paper III (Unit 2 and 3) some of its parts have been recently introduced in course of the CBCS system (in 2021). This book covers Unit 2 and 3 of paper III (M.Sc. IV Sem, Botany). In this book, an attempt has been made to present the gist of the subject in a simple language and with suitable diagrams and it is hoped that this would be of some help to the students. The e-book contents are extracted/modified/compiled from various sources like research articles and freely available internet websites. It is organized for students to provide the total content of units 2 and 3 in one place. I acknowledge all the authors whose contents have been helpful in this book or other ways. At last, but with the deepest gratitude, I am thankful to the almighty God and the deep, unfailing, supportive affection of my husband “Sri Abhai Kumar Srivastava” so that I was able to compile this work.

This book deliberates on the various aspects of plant-based nutrition. Plant-based nutrition has numerous potential health benefits as it is low on calories nevertheless high on nutrient density and satiety, and also nutrient supplementation makes them wholesome diets.Starting with the importance of biodiversity contributing to the nutrition, the book discusses the development or utilization of nutrient-dense crops/foods with their bioavailability properties and health effects. Further, it deals with the enrichment of micronutrients through bio-fortification, fortification, the role of food matrix, and nutrient bioavailability, including the role of plant-based milk alternatives. The linkage between food and health is also being discussed in the context of anti-nutritional factors, metabolic fate of the food, and genomics. Finally, the implications of next-gen biotech crops and food safety issues imperative to define the concept of safe nutrition are discussed.With contributions from plant nutrition experts, this book serves as a one-stop reference for plant scientists, food technologists, and nutritionists looking to understand the concept of plant-based nutrition and its linkage with human health.

Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation. Genetically Engineered Crops builds on previous related Academies reports published between 1987 and 2010 by undertaking a retrospective examination of the purported positive and adverse effects of GE crops and to anticipate what emerging genetic-engineering technologies hold for the future. This report indicates where there are uncertainties about the economic, agronomic, health, safety, or other impacts of GE crops and food, and makes recommendations to fill gaps in safety assessments, increase regulatory clarity, and improve innovations in and access to GE technology.

It is now understood that biotechnology may hold the key to feeding the world through genetically engineered improvement of major agricultural crops. This work provides benchmarks of the current state of scientific development of horticultural biotechnology and also the increasing pace at which new applications from this field are being put to the test for commercial potential. The success of molecular genetic manipulation and tissue culture work in certain model systems such as the tomato and some ornamental flowers establishes a useful starting point for discussing the fundamental and applied aspects of plant biotechnology. Among the case studies presented are: gene transfer and isolation; genome structure; flower development; biotic stress; abiotic stress; and commercial applications.

This publication demonstrates the benefits of neglected and underutilized species, including amaranth, sorghum and cowpea, and their potential contribution to achieving Zero Hunger in South and Southeast Asia.

The world is now on the cusp of a new agricultural revolution, the so-called Gene Revolution, in which genetically modified (GM) crops are tailored to address chronic agricultural problems in certain regions of the world. This monograph report investigates the circumstances and processes that can induce and sustain this new agricultural revolution. The authors compare the Green Revolution of the 20th century with the GM crop movement to assess the agricultural, technological, sociological, and political differences between the two movements.