Non-staple crops (sometimes known as underutilized, semidomesticated, orphan and/or forgotten crops) usually refer to under-researched grain and legume compared to staple crops, such as sweetpotato, buckwheat, millet, barley, pea, mung beans, and adzuki beans, which contain unique and beneficial nutrients that staple crops do not have. Combining them with staple foods is an important guarantee for a nutrition-balanced diet. With the deepening of research, the current research on non-staple crops has gradually started to create a wide range of materials, identify varieties and quality, improve yield, respond to environmental conditions and regulate growth and development. Therefore, it is an important research objective to improve the important agronomic traits of non-staple crops, including anthocyanins in sweetpotato, rutin in buckwheat, vitamins in millet, β-glucan in barley, etc. through both cultivation and molecular breeding methods and to create new germplasm resources with high yield and abundant nutrients. Recently, notable successes have been made using genomic-related approaches to uncover the genes responsible for important phenotypes in non-staple crops. The genetic basis of metabolomic divergence and domestication has been revealed in buckwheat, and the QTLs for controlling agronomic traits such as flesh color of sweetpotato have been obtained, however the function of related genes still needs further investigation. In addition, biotic and abiotic stresses in extreme climatic conditions change the yield and quality of crops by affecting the growth and development of crops and important metabolic regulation processes. Non-staple crops are often climate-resilient and grown in marginal regions with low-input conditions, including examples for tolerance of drought stress in cowpea and buckwheat, tolerance of heat in cassava and tolerance of barren in sweetpotato. Investigating the mechanism of their environmental adaptability would provide new insights for breeding of not only non-staple crops but also staple crops that are limited in the tolerance of a changing climate to ensure future food security. It is of great theoretical significance and practical application value to study the molecular regulatory network of non-staple crops under these stress conditions. • Using cultivation measures, plant growth regulators, fertilizers, and other methods to improve the environmental stress resistance and important agronomic traits in non-staple crops. • Revealing molecular mechanisms and regulatory network under all kinds of environmental stresses in non-major crops and improving stress tolerance through genetic engineering. • Identifying key regulatory genes of important agronomic traits in non- staple crops and improving molecular breeding methods.

The mechanisms underlying endurance and adaptation to environmental stress factors in plants have long been the focus of intense research. Plants overcome environmental stresses by development of tolerance, resistance or avoidance mechanisms, adjusting to a gradual change in its environment which allows them to maintain performance across a range of adverse environmental conditions. Plant Acclimation to Environmental Stress presents the latest ideas and trends on induced acclimation of plants to environmental stresses under changing environment. Written by experts around the globe, this volume adds new dimensions in the field of plant acclimation to abiotic stress factors. Comprehensive and lavishly illustrated, Plant Acclimation to Environmental Stress is a state-of-the-art guide suited for scholars and researchers working in the field of crop improvement, genetic engineering and abiotic stress tolerance.

The basic concept of this book is to examine the use of innovative methods augmenting traditional plant breeding towards the development of new crop varieties under different environmental conditions to achieve sustainable food production. This book consists of two volumes: Volume 1 subtitled Breeding, Biotechnology and Molecular Tools and Volume 2 subtitled Agronomic, Abiotic and Biotic Stress Traits. This is volume 2 which contains 18 chapters highlighting breeding strategies for specific plant traits including improved nutritional and pharmaceutical properties as well as enhanced tolerance to insects, diseases, drought, salinity and temperature extremes expected under predicted global climate change.

Advances in Rice Research for Abiotic Stress Tolerance provides an important guide to recognizing, assessing and addressing the broad range of environmental factors that can inhibit rice yield. As a staple food for nearly half of the world's population, and in light of projected population growth, improving and increasing rice yield is imperative. This book presents current research on abiotic stresses including extreme temperature variance, drought, hypoxia, salinity, heavy metal, nutrient deficiency and toxicity stresses. Going further, it identifies a variety of approaches to alleviate the damaging effects and improving the stress tolerance of rice. Advances in Rice Research for Abiotic Stress Tolerance provides an important reference for those ensuring optimal yields from this globally important food crop. - Covers aspects of abiotic stress, from research, history, practical field problems faced by rice, and the possible remedies to the adverse effects of abiotic stresses - Provides practical insights into a wide range of management and crop improvement practices - Presents a valuable, single-volume sourcebook for rice scientists dealing with agronomy, physiology, molecular biology and biotechnology

Transgenic crops offer the promise of increased agricultural productivity and better quality foods. But they also raise the specter of harmful environmental effects. In this new book, a panel of experts examines: • Similarities and differences between crops developed by conventional and transgenic methods • Potential for commercialized transgenic crops to change both agricultural and nonagricultural landscapes • How well the U.S. government is regulating transgenic crops to avoid any negative effects. Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants provides a wealth of information about transgenic processes, previous experience with the introduction of novel crops, principles of risk assessment and management, the science behind current regulatory schemes, issues in monitoring transgenic products already on the market, and more. The book discusses public involvementâ€"and public confidenceâ€"in biotechnology regulation. And it looks to the future, exploring the potential of genetic engineering and the prospects for environmental effects.

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.

Advancement in Crop Improvement Techniques presents updates on biotechnology and molecular biological approaches which have contributed significantly to crop improvement. The book discusses the emerging importance of bioinformatics in analyzing the vast resources of information regarding crop improvement and its practical application and utilization. Throughout this comprehensive resource, emphasis is placed on various techniques used to improve agricultural crops, providing a common platform for the utility of these techniques and their combinations. Written by an international team of contributors, this book provides an in-depth analysis of existing tools and a framework for new research. - Reviews techniques used for crop improvement, from selection and crossing over, to microorganismal approaches - Explores the role of conventional biotechnology in crop improvement - Summarizes the combined approaches of cytogenetics and biotechnology for crop improvement, including the importance of molecular techniques in this process - Focuses on the emerging role of bioinformatics for crop improvement