This book contains the papers and posters presented at the Eucarpia Fruit Breeding Section Meeting held at Wädenswil/Einsiedeln, Switzerland from August 30 to September 3, 1993. It gives an overview of the latest trends in temperate fruit breeding in Europe and overseas. Three subjects were considered in special workshops: durability of scab resistance in apple, biotechnology and molecular markers. One important aim of modern fruit breeding is stable resistance to pests and diseases. Molecular markers might help to identify the genetic basis of important characters related to disease and pest resistance and components of yield and quality. Gene transfer has been successfully applied in several fruit species. However, public opinion in many countries does not favour this new technology and its products. Despite these new approaches, traditional breeding methods still predominate; many aspects of traditional breeding are considered in this book. Genetic resources and their exploitation are dealt with in a special chapter. Aspects of breeding minor crops such as walnut, almond, hippophae, cornel, etc. are also considered. Progress in Temperate Fruit Breeding is meant for fruit breeders, pomologists, lecturers, students and growers.

Plant biotechnology is a most interesting branch for academicians and researchers in recent past. Now days, it becomes a very useful tool in agriculture and medicine and is regarded as a popular area of research especially in biological sciences because it makes an integral use of biochemistry, molecular biology and engineering sciences in order to achieve technological application of cultured tissues, cell and microbes. Plant tissue culture (PTC) refers to a technique of cultivation of plant cells and other parts on artificial nutrient medium in controlled environment under aseptic conditions. PTC requires various nutrients, pH, carbon source, gelling agent, temperature, photoperiod, humidity etc. and most importantly the judicious use of plant growth regulators. Various natural, adenine and phenyl urea derivatives are employed for the induction and proliferation of different types of explants. Several phenyl urea derivatives were evaluated and it was observed that thidiazuron (n-phenyl-N”-1,2,3- thidiazol-5-ulurea) was found to be the most active among the plant growth regulators. Thidiazuron (TDZ) was initially developed as a cotton defoliant and showed high cytokinin like activity. In some examples, its activity was 100 times more than BA in tobacco callus assay and produces more number of shoots in cultures than Zeatin and 2iP. TDZ also showed major breakthrough in tissue culture of various recalcitrant legumes and woody species. For the last two decades, number of laboratories has been working on TDZ with different aspect and number of publications has come out. To the best of our knowledge, there is no comprehensive edited volume on this particular topic. Hence th,e edited volume is a deed to consolidate the scattered information on role of TDZ in plant tissue culture and genetic manipulations that would hopefully prove informative to various researches. Thidiazuron: From Urea Derivative to Plant Growth Regulator compiles various aspects of TDZ in Plant Tissue Culture with profitable implications. The book will provides basic material for academicians and researchers who want to initiate work in this fascinating area of research. The book will contain 26 chapters compiled by International dignitaries and thus giving a holistic view to the edited volume.

This book caters to the need of researchers working in the ever-evolving field of agricultural biotechnology. It discusses and provides in-depth information about latest advancements happening in this field. The book discusses evolution of plant tissue culture techniques, development of doubled haploids technology, role of recombinant-DNA technology in crop improvement. It also provides an insight into the global status of genetically modified crops, use of RNAi technology and mi-RNAs in plant improvement. Chapters are also dedicated for different branches of ‘omics’ science including genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, metabolomics and phenomics along with the use of molecular markers in tagging and mapping of various genes/QTLs of agronomic importance. This book also covers the role of enzymes and microbes in agriculture in productivity enhancement. It is of interest to teachers, researchers of biotechnology and agriculture scientists. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and postgraduate students of biotechnology, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences. National and international biotechnologists and agricultural scientists will also find this to be a useful read.

Plant tissue culture (PTC) technology has gained unassailable success for its various commercial and research applications in plant sciences. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are an essential part of any plant tissue culture intervention for propagation or modification of plants. A wide range of PGRs are available, including aromatic compounds that show cytokinin activities, promote cell division and micro-propagation, viz. kinetin, N6-benzyladenine and topolins. Topolins are naturally occurring aromatic compounds that have gained popularity as an effective alternative for other frequently used cytokinins in in vitro culture of plants. Among them, meta-topolin [6-(3-hydroxybenzlyamino) purine] is the most popular and its use in plant tissue culture has amplified swiftly. During the last few decades, there have been numerous reports highlighting the effectiveness of meta-topolin in micropropagation and alleviation of various physiological disorders, rooting and acclimatization of tissue culture raised plants.