This book tells the story behind the first Spirodela genome sequencing project. Further, it describes the current genomics applications of these findings, and efforts to sequence new genomes within the family. The closing chapters address the sequencing of the over 1 Gigabase Wolffia genomes, which could have major impacts on genome evolution and agricultural research. The duckweed or Lemnaceae family is a collection of 5 genera and 37 species of the smallest, fastest-growing flowering plants. Many of these aquatic monocotyledonous plants can grow all over the world, in a variety of climates. Given their simplified and neotenous morphology, duckweeds have been researched for several decades as a model species for plant physiology and ecotoxicological research, contributing to our understanding e.g. of flowering response, plant circadian systems, sulfur assimilation pathways and auxin biosynthesis. In addition, duckweed-based treatment has been a favorite and feasible means, especially in developing countries, of removing phosphorus and pharmaceutical chemicals from sewage and wastewater. With a dry annual mass yield per hectare of up to 80 tonnes (equivalent to 10 tonnes of protein), duckweed is also a promising aquatic crop in new modern and sustainable agriculture. Besides being an excellent primary or supplemental feedstock for the production of livestock and fish, duckweed biomass can be utilized as a potential resource for human nutrition, biofuel, or bioplastics, depending on water quality as well as protein or starch accumulating procedures. These academic and commercial interests have led to international efforts to sequence the Spirodela polyrhiza genome, the smallest and most ancient genome in the family.

A concise, up-to-date and fully-integrated discussion of present-day plant taxonomy.

Life originated and evolved in water. Later the The tropical countries where the need to under plants moved out of water, conquered the land and stand the natural ecosystems is far greater because became dominant over it. The evolution through they are under intensive pressure from develop the millennia resulted in enormous complexity of ment from a rapidly growing human population, form, tissue organisation, reproductive mechan have generally devoted much less attention to the isms and specialisation of taxa in different niches. studies of aquatic ecosystems. The Indian subconti At some stage during evolution, some plants devel nent is a well-recognised biogeographic region with oped appropriate morphological and physiological a distinct geological history, climate, soils and adaptations and reverted back to the aquatic and/ biota. It is also distinct in the history of human civilisation and cultures which have a profound bear or semi-aquatic habitat. These plants, perhaps with the exception of a few ing on the natural ecosystems. This book is in with beautiful flowers, have attracted little atten tended to provide the state of our knowledge of the tion from mankind. The fact that humans evolved aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation in the inland in a tropical forest or savanna environment appears freshwaters of the subcontinent. The book covers responsible for a permanent bias in human atti only the herbaceous vegetation, since there is al tudes towards land and its biota.

The first of two related books that kick off the Food Biotechnology series, Functional Foods and Biotechnology: Sources of Functional Foods and Ingredients, focuses on the recent advances in the understanding of the role of cellular, metabolic, and biochemical concepts and processing that are important and relevant to improve functional foods and food ingredients targeting human health benefits. This volume explores sources of ecologically-based diversity of functional foods and food ingredients that are available to enhance diverse nutritional values and functional benefits of foods for better human health outcomes, especially focusing on emerging diet and lifestyle-linked non-communicable chronic disease (NCDs) challenges. The contributors with expertise in the field of Food Biotechnology and Functional Food Ingredients have integrated the recent advances in some common as well as novel sources of functional foods and ingredients from diverse ecological and cultural origins. Further, these chapters also highlight human health relevant bioactive profiles and associated functionalities of these health-promoting compounds, including preventative functional roles for common NCD-linked health benefits. FEATURES: Provides ecological and metabolic rational to integrate novel functional food and functional ingredient sources in wider health-focused food system innovations. Examines the value-added role of select functional foods and food ingredients to improve NCD-linked health benefits such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and human gut improvement Includes insights on system-based solutions to advance climate resilient and health focused food diversity based on diverse biotechnological approaches to design and integrate functional food and food ingredient sources Overall, the rationale of this book series is focused on Metabolic-Driven Rationale to Advance Biotechnological Approaches for Functional Foods, the synopsis of which is presented as the Introduction chapter, which is followed by a chapter on current understanding about regulatory guidelines for health claims of functional foods and food ingredients. Special topics on nonnutritive sweeteners, caroteneprotein from seafood waste, and Xylooligosaccharides as functional food ingredients for health-focused dietary applications are integrated in this book. Additionally, ecologically and metabolically-driven functional roles of common food sources such as corn, and barley and some novel food sources, such as ancient emmer wheat, black soybean, fava bean, herbs from Lamiaceae and functional protein ingredients and minerals from Lemnaceae are also highlighted in this volume. The overall goal is to provide insights on role of these functional food and ingredient sources for their integration in wider health-focused food systems, which will help food scientists, food industry personnel, nutritionists, crop science researchers, public health professionals, and policy makers to make appropriate decisions and to formulate strategies for improving health and well-being. A related book focuses on biological and metabolically driven mobilization of functional bioactives and ingredients and their analysis that is relevant in health and wellness.

Bioremediation and Bioeconomy: A Circular Economy Approach provides a common platform for scientists from various backgrounds to find sustainable solutions to environmental issues, including remediation of emerging pollutants, usage of contaminated land and wastewater for bioproducts such as natural fibers, biocomposites, and fuels, to boost the economy. The need for transitioning to a sustainable use of natural resources is now more evident than ever as industrialization and pollution are global phenomena. Biodiversity is being used as raw material for environmental decontamination, and this field has grown phenomenally in recent years, having emerged less than 3 decades ago. On the other hand, the volume of contaminated substrates (water, soil, and air) is increasing due to anthropogenic and technogenic sources of organic and inorganic contaminants. Bioremediation and Bioeconomy: A Circular Economy Approach will address the bottlenecks and solutions to the existing limitations in field scale and the relevant techniques. Provides a compilation of new information on bioremediation not found in other books in the present market Presents the link between bioremediation, bioeconomy, and the circular economy Includes strategies for using contaminated substrates for producing bioresources and co-generation of value chain and value addition products