In modern days, crop improvement is a multidisciplinary division of agriculture. In this book, entitled, Breeding, Biotechnology and Seed Production of Field Crops, emphasis has been given on principles, methods and practices in plant breeding, biotechnology in crop improvement and seed production of field crops. The book has been written for all sections of learners, educators and staff-members of seed industries. Particular importance has been underlined for postgraduate students who specialize in plant breeding and seed science. Each chapter of the book has been designed as per the recommended of syllabus of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for the postgraduate students of various Agricultural Universities in our country. This book has been divided into two major parts- i) Principles of crop breeding and ii) Methods and practices of crop improvement and seed production of individual field crop. The book contains total of 18 chapteFirst three chapters are related to shed light on the basic-principles and remaining chapters deal with methods and practices of individual crop for improvement and seed production. We hope that the book will be ready to lend a hand to the advanced undergraduate students doing plant breeding in elective, postgraduate students who opted plant breeding, teachers, researchers and staff-members of private seed companies of this field of specialization.

The text provides a detailed study on principles, methods and practices in plant breeding. It also discusses the applications of biotechnology for crop improvement and seed production of field crops. The book brings forth some innovative concepts and the latest tools and techniques being employed for crop production. It covers researches which shed light on the genetic, physiological and medicinal aspects of field crops. It aims to serve as a valuable reference to biotechnologists, agriculturists and interested readers. The book also aims to outline future researches and challenges in this field.

While preparing the first edition of this textbook I attended an extension short course on writing agricultural publications. The message I remember was "select your audience and write to it. " There has never been any doubt about the audience for which this textbook was written, the introductory course in crop breeding. In addition, it has become a widely used reference for the graduate plant-breeding student and the practicing plant breeder. In its prepa ration, particular attention has been given to advances in plant-breeding theo ry and their utility in plant-breeding practice. The blend of the theoretical with the practical has set this book apart from other plant-breeding textbooks. The basic structure and the objectives of the earlier editions remain un changed. These objectives are (1) to review essential features of plant re production, Mendelian genetic principles, and related genetic developments applicable in plant-breeding practice; (2) to describe and evaluate established and new plant-breeding procedures and techniques, and (3) to discuss plant breeding objectives with emphasis on the importance of proper choice of objec tive for achieving success in variety development. Because plant-breeding activities are normally organized around specific crops, there are chapters describing breeding procedures and objectives for the major crop plants; the crops were chosen for their economic importance or diversity in breeding sys tems. These chapters provide a broad overview of the kinds of problems with which the breeder must cope.

The plant breeder and his work; Reproduction in crop plants; Genetics and plant breeding: gene recombination; Genetics and plant breeding: variations in chromosome number; Genetics and plant breeding: mutation; Fertility regulating mechanisms and their manipulation; Plant introduction, acclimatization and germ plasm conservation; Methods of breeding: self-pollinated crops; Methods of breeding: cross-polinated crops, asexually propagated crops; Techniques in breeding field crops; Breeding wheat and triticale breeding wheat; Breeding rice; Breeding barley and oats breeding barley; Breeding soybeans; Breeding corn; Breeding sorghum and millet breeding sorghum; Breeding cotton; Breeding sugar beets; Breeding forage crops; Seed production practices.

This edited book is a comprehensive compilation of principles, conventional and molecular approaches used to develop improved varieties and hybrids of major crops in light of their origin, evolution, taxonomy, production and productivity and need by human civilization. The book covers breeding prospects of all important food and commercial crops. It highlights the importance of breeding tools and techniques in ensuring food security. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, agriculture scientists, capacity builders, and policymakers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, soil science, and environmental sciences. National and international agricultural scientists and policymakers will find this book useful.

Get cutting-edge information to improve crop breeding and productivity! Crop improvement will become progressively important over the next few decades as the world’s population is expected to top 10 billion people, with more than eight billion in developing countries alone. Genetic and Production Innovations in Field Crop Technology: New Developments in Theory and Practice tackles this enormous challenge by detailing the latest available research and innovations for crop breeders and physiologists for the twenty-first century. Respected multidisciplinary scientists comprehensively discuss cutting-edge advances in field crop technology and genetic production as they keep an eye on the goal of providing nutrition to a hungry world. Genetic and Production Innovations in Field Crop Technology emphasizes an integrated approach to solve global crop production problems and increase crop productivity. Crop research experts review methods of globally improving crop yield, food product efficiency, and providing adequate nutrition in diet. The authors discuss various types of field crops, including corn, soybeans, winter wheat, cassavas, rubber, sunflowers, and barley, as well as review the exciting innovations on the food production horizon. The text is extensively referenced and includes useful graphs and tables to clearly present data. Genetic and Production Innovations in Field Crop Technology presents: visionary articles by authorities in agricultural sciences statistical design axioms and modern plot techniques discussions of integration of crop physiology and plant breeding information on systematic collection and preservation of germplasm explanations of genetic diversity in soybeans corn breeding and production research—including the economics—in the United States research on cassava breeding in less favorable environments to alleviate poverty strategies for improving yielding potential of rubber in sub-optimal environments information on fine-tuning wheat genotype-by-environment interaction methodology reviews of QTL identification, mega-environment classification, and effective strategies for marker-based selection via GGE biplot analyses research on statistical properties and practical usefulness of the Scheffe-Calinski and Shukla models relative to genotype-by-environment interaction Genetic and Production Innovations in Field Crop Technology: New Developments in Theory and Practice belongs in every agricultural university library. Crop breeders, geneticists, agronomists and horticulturists, educators, and students will find this an invaluable research source for now and for the future.