This book provides updated and all-inclusive data and evidences for Moringa botany, cytogenetical analysis, genetic resources and diversity, classical genetics, traditional breeding, tissue culture, genetic transformation, whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics and elucidation on applications of functional genomics, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, processing and value addition besides providing perspectives of medicinal and therapeutic properties of Moringa. Moringa gained global attention in the recent past owing to its unique blend of affordable nutraceutical and pharmaceutical compounds in all parts of the plants. Scientific literatures supporting its health benefits besides the studies on its utility in various fields are scattered on several reports. This book is written by renowned global subject experts by compiling and narrating it in a sober style.

It is said that "necessity is the mother of invention". To be sure, wheels and pulleys were invented out of necessity by the tenacious minds of upright citi zens. Looking at the history of mankind, however, one has to add that "Ieisure is the mother of cultural improvement". Man's creative genius flourished only when his mind, freed from the worry of daily toils, was permitted to entertain apparently useless thoughts. In the same manner, one might say with regard to evolution that "natural selection mere(y tnodifted, while redundanry created". Natural selection has been extremely effective in policing alleHe mutations which arise in already existing gene loci. Because of natural selection, organisms have been able to adapt to changing environments, and by adaptive radiation many new species were created from a common ancestral form. Y et, being an effective policeman, natural selection is extremely conservative by nature. Had evolution been entirely dependent upon natural selection, from a bacterium only numerous forms of bacteria would have emerged. The creation of metazoans, vertebrates and finally mammals from unicellular organisms would have been quite impos sible, for such big leaps in evolution required the creation of new gene loci with previously nonexistent functions. Only the cistron which became redun dant was able to escape from the relentless pressure of natural selection, and by escaping, it accumulated formerly forbidden mutations to emerge as a new gene locus.

For thousands of years, moringa (Moringa oleifera) has been used as a food crop and as a medicinal plant. Almost all of moringa’s plant parts have multiple uses, particularly the leaves and seed pods, which are highly nutritious. During the past several decades, more attention has focused on exploring and expanding the multiple uses and benefits of this miracle tree. Advances in research and development are rapidly progressing in the areas of botany and germplasm improvement, agronomy, nutrition, natural medicine, and its commercialization by the food and cosmetics industry. Recent developments are not only focusing on using moringa as a food crop, but also as an industrial commodity, with applications such as water clarification, livestock feed, and biofuel. This book presents much information collected from various sources including field research studies conducted by organizations involved in developing and promoting moringa as one of the most useful plants, articles written by individuals with experience and knowledge about moringa, as well as other books and publications cited in this present edition.

Since the publication of the third edition of the Handbook of Plant and Crop Stress, continuous discoveries in the fields of plant and crop environmental stresses and their effects on plants and crops have resulted in the compilation of a large volume of the latest discoveries. Following its predecessors, this fourth edition offers a unique and comprehensive collection of topics in the fields of plant and crop stress. This new edition contains more than 80% new material, and the remaining 20% has been updated and revised substantially. This volume presents 10 comprehensive sections that include information on soil salinity and sodicity problems; tolerance mechanisms and stressful conditions; plant/crop responses; plant/crop responses under pollution and heavy metal; plant/crop responses under biotic stress; genetic factors and plant/crop genomics under stress conditions; plant/crop breeding under stress conditions; empirical investigations; improving tolerance; and beneficial aspects of stressors. Features: Provides exhaustive coverage written by an international panel of experts in the field of agriculture, particularly in plant/crop stress areas Contains 40 new chapters and 10 extensively revised and expanded chapters Includes three new sections on plant breeding, stress exerted to weeds by plants, and beneficial aspects of stress on plants/crops Numerous case studies With contributions from 100 scientists and experts from 20 countries, this Handbook provides a comprehensive resource for research and for university courses, covering soil salinity/sodicity issues and plant/crop physiological responses under environmental stress conditions ranging from cellular aspects to whole plants. The content can be used to plan, implement, and evaluate strategies to mitigate plant/crop stress problems. This new edition includes numerous tables, figures, and illustrations to facilitate comprehension of the material as well as thousands of index words to further increase accessibility to the desired information.

Medicinal Plant Responses to Stressful Conditions discusses the effects of multiple biotic and abiotic stressors on medicinal plants. It features information on biochemical, molecular and physiological strategies used to mitigate or alleviate detrimental effects of biotic and abiotic stressors. The book contains chapters featuring medicinal plants of importance covering subjects including genomics, functional genomics, metabolomics, phenomics, proteomics and transcriptomics under biotic and abiotic stress of medicinal plants and their molecular responses. It suggests exogenous application of different types of stimulants to enhance medicinal plant production in such conditions. Features: Details all aspects of biotic and abiotic stressors in various important medicinal plant species. Chapters cover evidence-based approaches in the diagnosis and management of medicinal plants under stressful conditions. Includes information on ways to mitigate effects from biotic stress (diseases and pests) or abiotic stress (high salinity, drought, temperature extremes, waterlogging, wind, high light intensity, UV radiation, heavy metals and mineral deficiencies). A volume in the Exploring Medicinal Plants series, this book is an essential resource for plant scientists, botanists, environmental scientists and anyone with an interest in herbal medicine.

Ruminants contribute significantly to human food security. However, the production of ruminants contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are responsible for climate change. GHGs such as methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide are produced from different processes of ruminant production. Ruminant enteric methane is a substantial component of methane produced by agriculture. This book presents novel and established methods in quantifying and reducing enteric methane emission from ruminants in different production systems. The book covers different types of ruminants including cattle, sheep, and goats. The chapters are contributed by scientists and authors from different parts of the world, demonstrating the importance of this problem and the universal drive for immediate and sustainable solutions. Although, biologically speaking, the production of enteric methane cannot be reduced to zero, high emissions are an indicator of inefficient digestion of feed in the rumen and low utilisation of feed energy. By presenting research that could lead to robust and yet practical quantification methods and mitigation strategies, this book not only contributes to the discourse and new knowledge on the magnitude of the problem but also brings forward potential solutions in different livestock production systems.

"In this fascinating look at the race to secure the global food supply, environmental journalist and professor Amanda Little tells the defining story of the sustainable food revolution as she weaves together stories from the world's most creative and controversial innovators on the front lines of food science, agriculture, and climate change"--

This report is the second in a series of three evaluating underexploited African plant resources that could help broaden and secure Africa's food supply. The volume describes the characteristics of 18 little-known indigenous African vegetables (including tubers and legumes) that have potential as food- and cash-crops but are typically overlooked by scientists and policymakers and in the world at large. The book assesses the potential of each vegetable to help overcome malnutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and create sustainable landcare in Africa. Each species is described in a separate chapter, based on information gathered from and verified by a pool of experts throughout the world. Volume I describes African grains and Volume III African fruits.

Medicinal and aromatic crops (MACs) are high-value crops since the natural products obtained from them are low-volume high-value commodities that have numerous applications in various sectors such as the food, beverage, food supplement, flavor and fragrance, perfumery and cosmetics, pharmaceutical and aromatherapy industries. In addition, the plant biomass is used in the production of teas and medical applications in traditional and also modern medicines. MACs are important mainly because they contain plant secondary metabolites such as essential oils, alkaloids, glygosides, saponins, tannins, vitamins and other bioactives. Plant secondary metabolites are differentiated from plant primary metabolites of photosynthesis and respiration since they are directly involved in growth and development of plants. Some MACs are used as spices and culinary herbs since they contain mainly essential oils, and are used as tonic to the digestive system, appetite modification and other systems and may facilitate nutrient uptake and utilization from various foods. A significant amount of MACs and their natural products have also demonstrated antimicrobial, antifungal and bactericidal activity and significant antioxidant capacity. In the past, MACs and their natural products have been used as a source for various medicines, in food and beverage production and in aroma products. Essentials of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops summarizes the current knowledge on medicinal and aromatic crops, including the agronomical practices of important MACs and their products, their beneficial effects and utilization of MAP and their products. The chapters provide a comprehensive guide to the most important and used medicinal and aromatic crops and their use in functional foods, nutraceuticals and as bioactives against various ailments, providing researchers, teachers, chemists, food scientists, agronomists and agroecologists in academia, industry and government a fully up to date singular source on this important topic.