This book covers the biotechnology of all the major fruit and nut species. Since the very successful first edition of this book in 2004, there has been rapid progress for many fruit and nut species in cell culture, genomics and genetic transformation, especially for citrus and papaya. This book covers both these cutting-edge technologies and regeneration pathways, protoplast culture, in vitro mutagenesis, ploidy manipulation techniques that have been applied to a wider range of species. Three crop species, Diospyros kaki (persimmon), Punica granatum (pomegranate) and Eriobotrya japonica (loquat) are included for the first time. The chapters are organized by plant family to make it easier to make comparisons and exploitation of work with related species. Each chapter discusses the plant family and the related wild species for 38 crop species, and has colour illustrations. It is essential for scientists and post graduate students who are engaged in the improvement of fruit, nut and plantation crops.

"Fruits and Nuts" form the largest group among crop plants. Several constraints such as long life cycle have caused comparatively slow research progress in the past. The chapters on 20 fruit and nut crops authored by 56 renowned scientists from 12 countries include for the first time comprehensive reviews on a variety of fruits and nuts. The huge amount of information hitherto dispersed in journals is now available in a clearly structured reference work.

The present book is a comprehensive, easy-to-use illustrated reference that provides essential facts on the world's top fruit crops. It attempts to describe the significant features of many of them including listing important cultivars and plant material together with principal growing concerns. Biotechnology is generally a technique that is used to modify the products of living organisms with the help of cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, to generate unique organisms with new traits. An overview of advances in biotechnology for fruit crop improvement is presented. Biotechnologies include: in vitro regeneration, embryo rescue, somaclonal variation, haploid, protoplast fusion, non-morphological markers, in vitro conservation of germplasm and recombinant DNA technology or genetic engineering. Novel strategies emanating from these new technologies offer tremendous potential to overcome some of the limitations of sexual hybridization. The application of biotechnology to fruit crops are discussed with an emphasis on limitations of conventional improvement methods and possible biotechnological resolutions. The present study gives us a wonderful panorama about the knowledge of biotechnology being used for the benefit of mankind, not only in India but also the world over, in one way or the other. The feature of this study lies in the balanced coverage of all the advancement of biotechnology. Keeping this in mind the present book has been shaped on various aspects of canopy management of biotechnology and fruit crops. This book covers all important fruits of temperate, tropical and sub-tropical.

Horticultural crops are high value crops ensuring maximum returns to the growers with multiple scopes for value addition. Market driven agriculture prescribes quality in every stage of production and total quality management is a challenge to the horticulturist. Present volume on 'Biotechnology of horticultural crops' elaborates the scientific crop management of horticultural crops starting from selection of soil and activities related to production and handling of fresh produces in the field. Scope of value addition, organic farming, protected cultivation, export potential and economic analysis of production are included. The average per capita availability of fruits and vegetables in India is inadequate to meet requirements for nutritional and protective diet of the population. Of the total horticulture production, only 67 % is used for local consumption while 30 % is subjected to post harvest losses, 2 % for export and 0.8 % for processing. There is immense scope for developing horticultural produce market. Changing food habits, life styles and health consciousness and purchasing power have created an unprecedented opportunity for farmers and horticultural entrepreneur. Horticultural research and development which placed India as the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables, largest producer and consumer of cashew nut, tea spices, third largest producer of coconut, forth largest producer and consumer of rubber and sixth largest producer of coffee in the world. Today, as a result synergy between focused research, technological and policy initiatives, high efficiency inputs, horticulture in India, has become a sustainable and viable venture for the small and marginal farmers. Besides, the sector has also started attracting entrepreneurs for taking up horticulture as a commercial venture. Therefore, there is a great scope for the horticulture industry to grow and flourish.

The genetic modification of foods is one of the most significant developments in food processing, and one of the most controversial. This important collection reviews its application to fruit and vegetables. Part 1 looks at techniques and their applications in improving production and product quality. Part 2 discusses how genetic modification has been applied to specific crops, whilst Part 3 considers safety and consumer issues.