This book presents the latest information on the genetics and genomics of the globe artichoke. It focuses on the latest findings, tools and strategies employed in genome sequencing, physical map development and QTL analyses, as well as genomic resources. The re-sequencing of four globe artichoke genotypes, representative of the core varietal types in cultivation, as well as the genotype of cultivated cardoon, has recently been completed. Here, the five genomes are reconstructed at the chromosome scale and annotated. Moreover, functional SNP analyses highlight numerous genetic variants, which represent key tools for dissecting the path from sequence variation to phenotype, as well as for designing effective diagnostic markers. The wealth of information provided here offers a valuable asset for scientists, plant breeders and students alike.

Our lives and well being intimately depend on the exploitation of the plant genetic resources available to our breeding programs. Therefore, more extensive exploration and effective exploitation of plant genetic resources are essential prerequisites for the release of improved cultivars. Accordingly, the remarkable progress in genomics approaches and more recently in sequencing and bioinformatics offers unprecedented opportunities for mining germplasm collections, mapping and cloning loci of interest, identifying novel alleles and deploying them for breeding purposes. This book collects 48 highly interdisciplinary articles describing how genomics improves our capacity to characterize and harness natural and artificially induced variation in order to boost crop productivity and provide consumers with high-quality food. This book will be an invaluable reference for all those interested in managing, mining and harnessing the genetic richness of plant genetic resources.

This book compiles the latest information on different kinds of natural, plant-based super sweeteners. A book on alternative, natural super sweeteners is extremely timely and useful, especially, in light of the decreasing cultivable area, ever increasing demand for sucrose, and the well identified ills of sugar consumption. Every year more than 5.0 million people die due to diabetes and diabetes-associated diseases like cardiovascular, kidney disorder, liver cancer etc. This book describes the use of non-saccharide super sweet principles to counter such maladies. The readers will get an in-depth understanding of different kinds of sweeteners, molecular basis of sweetness, their general classification, plant source with photo-plates etc. The chapters explain different kinds of super-sweet principles. This book emphasizes on the propagation, cultivation and conservation of NSSS plants (NSSSP) and extraction of super sweet principles and granting of generally recognised as safe (GRAS) certificate to sweeteners. The concluding chapter describes the eco-physiological difference between saccharide super sweet and non saccharide sweet plants. The book also describes commercial production of selected potential Natural Super Sweeteners. This book will be of great interest to researchers, extension workers as well as postgraduate students in Food science nutrition, ayurveda, plant physiology, Unani, naturopathy, biochemistry and plant breeding. It would also be of interest to industry stakeholders in sweetener industry and alternative sweetener manufactures.

Plant breeders and geneticists are under constant pressure to sustain and expand food production by using innovative breeding strategies and introducing minor crops, which are well adapted to marginal lands, provide a source of nutrition, and have abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, to feed an ever-increasing human population. The basic concept of this book is to examine the use of innovative methods, augmenting traditional plant breeding, towards the improvement and development of new crop varieties, under the increasingly limiting environmental and cultivation factors, to achieve sustainable agricultural production and enhanced food security. Three volumes of the book series Advances in Plant Breeding Strategies were published in 2015, 2016 and 2018, respectively: Volume 1. Breeding, Biotechnology and Molecular Tools; Volume 2. Agronomic, Abiotic and Biotic Stress Traits and Volume 3. Fruits. In 2019, the following four volumes were published: Volume 4. Nut and Beverage Crops, Volume 5. Cereals, Volume 6. Industrial and Food Crops and Volume 7. Legumes. In 2021, three volumes are being concurrently published: Volume 8. Vegetable Crops: Bulbs, Roots and Tubers, Volume 9. Vegetable Crops: Fruits and Young Shoots and Volume 10. Vegetable Crops: Leaves, Flowerheads, Green Pods, Mushrooms and Truffles. This Volume 10, subtitled Vegetable Crops: Leaves, Flowerheads, Green Pods, Mushrooms and Truffles, consists of 14 chapters focusing on advances in breeding strategies using both traditional and modern approaches for the improvement of individual vegetable crops. Chapters are arranged in 4 parts according to the edible vegetable parts. Part I: Leaves - Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. var. pekinensis), Rocket salad (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa Mill.), Spring onion (Allium fistulosum L.),Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.) and Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.); Pat II: Flowerheads and Green Pods - Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.), Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L.), Garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) and Yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc.); Part III: Mushrooms - Enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes (Curtis) Singer) and Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Sing.); Part IV: Truffles - Desert truffles (Terfezia spp.) and White truffle (Tuber magnatum Picco and T. borchii Vittad.). Each chapter comprehensively reviews the contemporary literature on the subject and reflects the experiences of the authors. Chapters are written by internationally-reputable scientists and subjected to a review process to assure quality presentation and scientific accuracy. Each chapter begins with an introduction covering related backgrounds and provides in-depth discussion of the subject supported with high-quality color photos, illustrations and relevant data. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research directions, a comprehensive list of pertinent references to facilitate further reading, and appendixes of genetic resources and concerned research institutes. This book series is a valuable resource for advanced students, researchers, scientists, commercial producers and seed companies as well as consultants and policymakers interested in agriculture, particularly in modern breeding technologies.

This book is the first comprehensive compilation of deliberations on botany, medicinal importance, genetic diversity, classical genetics and breeding, in vitro biosynthesis, somatic embryogenesis, genetic transformation, molecular mapping, genome sequence, and functional genomics of Catharanthus roseus. Catharanthus is the most important medicinal plant in the world that contains about 130 therapeutic alkaloids out of which vinblastine and vincristine are the two highly used anticancer drugs sold by the pharmaceutically industries. Altogether, the book contains about 10 chapters authored by globally reputed experts on the relevant field of this plant. This book is useful to the students, teachers and scientists in the academia and relevant private companies interested in horticulture, genetics, breeding, pathology, entomology, physiology, molecular genetics and breeding, in vitro culture and genetic engineering, and structural and functional genomics. This book is also useful to pharmaceutical industries.

This book deliberates on the concept, strategies, tools, and techniques of allele mining in vegetable crops and its application potential in genome elucidation and improvement including studying allele evolution, discovery of superior alleles, discerning new haplotypes, assessment of intra- and interspecific similarity, and studies of gene expression and gene prediction. Available gene pools in global germplasm collections specifically consisting of wild allied species and local landraces for almost all major crops have facilitated allele mining. Development of advanced genomic techniques including PCR-based allele priming and Eco-TILLING based allele mining are being widely used now for mining superior alleles. Allele's discovery has become more relevant now for employing molecular breeding to develop designed crop varieties matching consumer needs and with genome plasticity to adapt the climate change scenarios. All these concepts and strategies along with precise success stories are presented in the chapters dedicated to the major vegetable crops. The first book on the novel strategy of allele mining in vegetable crops for precise breeding Presents genomic strategies for mining superior alleles underlying agronomic traits from genomic resources Depicts case studies of PCR-based allele priming and Eco-TILLING based allele mining Elaborates on gene discovery and gene prediction in major vegetable crops This book will be useful to the students and faculties in various plant science disciplines including genetics, genomics, molecular breeding, agronomy, and bioinformatics; the scientists in seed industries; and, the policymakers and funding agencies interested in crop improvement.

Intensive agriculture has generally resulted in higher productivity, but also in a trend towards decreasing levels of agro-biodiversity, which represents a key point in ensuring the adaptability and resilience of agro-ecosystems in the global challenge to produce more and better food in a sustainable way. The biodiversity of vegetable crops includes genetic diversity—both as species diversity (interspecific diversity) and as a diversity of genes within a species (intraspecific diversity) with regard to the vegetable varieties grown—and the diversity of agro-ecosystems (agro-biodiversity). The purpose of this Special Issue is to publish high-quality research papers addressing recent progress and perspectives on different aspects related to the biodiversity of vegetable crops. Original, high-quality contributions that have not yet been published, or that are not currently under review by other journals have been sought. The papers in this Special Issue cover a broad range of aspects and report recent research results regarding agro-biodiversity, which continues to be of significant relevance for both genetic and agricultural applications. All contributions are of significant relevance and could stimulate further research in this area.

This book is the first volume in a collection of contributions arising from a multidisciplinary project developed in the field of agri-food value chain analysis. The respective papers combine a range of disciplines to analyse major agri-food challenges in Europe and South America, offering readers a practical understanding of how risk and uncertainties can be managed by means of validated data and results from agri-food systems analysis. Experts from agronomy, information communication and technology, operations and supply chain management share their findings and propose novel approaches. Given its scope, the book will be of interest to a broad readership who want to learn about current agri-food challenges and requirements, and to professionals whose work involves real-life industry requirements, food and/or farming.