This book provides information on genome complexity and evolution, transcriptome analysis, miRNome, simple sequence repeats, genome relationships, molecular cytogenetics, polyploidy induction and application, flower and embryo development. Orchids account for a great part of the worldwide floriculture trade both as cut flowers and as potted plants and are assessed to comprise around 10% of global fresh cut flower trade. A better understanding of the basic botanical characteristics, flower regulation, molecular cytogenetics, karyotypes and DNA content of important orchids will aid in the efficient development of new cultivars. The book also describes the composition, expression and function of various microRNAs and simple sequence repeats. Information on their involvement in all aspects of plant growth and development will aid functional genomics studies.

Orchid Biotechnology II presents a series of recent works on both basic and applied researches in biotechnology progress for Phalaenopsis and Oncidium orchids. These include the development of flower, ovule, gynostemium and perianth, the discovery of new orchid-infecting viruses and virus movement, secondary metabolites, technology of DNA endoduplication and genetic transformation, growth regulation by micronutrition and orchid mycorrhiza, and plant growth substances for flowering. The diversity and specialization in orchid floral morphology have fascinated botanists and collectors for centuries. The orchid industry has been growing substantially in the past ten years worldwide. This book focuses on the recent advances in the research of orchid biotechnology from the past ten years in Taiwan. To advance the orchid industry, enhancement of basic research as well as advanced biotechnology will provide a good platform to improve flower quality and breeding of new varieties.

This book provides a first hand and complete information on orchid biotechnology for orchid lovers, graduate students, researchers and industry growers. It contains comprehensive genomics and transcriptomics data, and a thorough discussion of the molecular mechanism of orchid floral morphogenesis. The contributors to the book are all orchid enthusiasts with more than 20 years' experience in the field.With more than 25,000 species, orchids are the most species-rich of all angiosperm families. They show wide diversity of epiphytic and terrestrial growth forms and have successfully colonized almost every habitat on earth. Orchids are fantastic for their spectacular flowers with highly evolved petal, labellum, and fused androecium and gynoecium, gynostemium, to attract pollinators for effective pollination. In addition, orchids have attracted the interest of many evolutionary biologists due to their highly specialized evolution and adaptation strategies.Orchid Biotechnology III covers the most update knowledge of orchid biotechnology research on Phalaenopsis, Oncidium, Cymbidium, Anoectohilus, Paphiopedilum, and Erycina pusilla. It will provide graduate students, researchers, orchid lovers and breeders with an opportunity to understand the mechanism why the orchids are so mysterious and spectacular. Hopefully, this information will be helpful for breeders to enhance orchid breeding and create even more elegant and grace flowers.

"Based on groundbreaking research that has the power to change the lives of countless children--and the adults who love them." --Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts. A book that offers hope and a pathway to success for parents, teachers, psychologists, and child development experts coping with difficult children. In Tom Boyce's extraordinary new book, he explores the "dandelion" child (hardy, resilient, healthy), able to survive and flourish under most circumstances, and the "orchid" child (sensitive, susceptible, fragile), who, given the right support, can thrive as much as, if not more than, other children. Boyce writes of his pathfinding research as a developmental pediatrician working with troubled children in child-development research for almost four decades, and explores his major discovery that reveals how genetic make-up and environment shape behavior. He writes that certain variant genes can increase a person's susceptibility to depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and antisocial, sociopathic, or violent behaviors. But rather than seeing this "risk" gene as a liability, Boyce, through his daring research, has recast the way we think of human frailty, and has shown that while these "bad" genes can create problems, they can also, in the right setting and the right environment, result in producing children who not only do better than before but far exceed their peers. Orchid children, Boyce makes clear, are not failed dandelions; they are a different category of child, with special sensitivities and strengths, and need to be nurtured and taught in special ways. And in The Orchid and the Dandelion, Boyce shows us how to understand these children for their unique sensibilities, their considerable challenges, their remarkable gifts.

Plastid Genome Evolution, Volume 85 provides a summary of recent research on plastid genome variation and evolution across photosynthetic organisms. It covers topics ranging from the causes and consequences of genomic changes, to the phylogenetic utility of plastomes for resolving relationships across the photosynthetic tree of life. This newly released volume presents thorough, up-to-date information on coevolution between the plastid and nuclear genomes, with chapters on plastid autonomy vs. nuclear control over plastid function, establishment and genetic integration of plastids, plastid genomes in alveolate protists, plastid genomes of glaucophytes, the evolution of the plastid genome in chlorophyte and streptophyte green algae, and more. Provides comprehensive coverage of plastid genome variation by leading researchers in the field Presents a broad range of taxonomic groups, ranging from single and multicellular algae, to the major clades of land plants Includes thorough, up-to-date information on coevolution between the plastid and nuclear genomes

The diversity and specialization in orchid floral morphology have fascinated botanists and collectors for centuries. In the past 10 years, the orchid industry has been growing substantially worldwide. This interesting book focuses on the recent advances in orchid biotechnology research since the last 10 years in Taiwan. To advance the orchid industry, enhancement of basic research as well as advanced biotechnology will provide a good platform to improve the flower quality and breeding of new varieties. Important topics covered include the new knowledge of basic genome, through floral morphogenesis, floral ontology, embryogenesis, micropropagation, to functional genomics such as EST, virus-induced gene silencing, and genetic transformation.

This reference work provides an authoritative and comprehensive review of the latest developments in orchids’ biology, biotechnology and phytochemistry, and it also explores the applications of orchids in medicinal chemistry, nutrition and cosmetics industry. Chapters from expert contributors are organised into six sections and cover the entire gamut of orchid research and uses. In this work, readers will learn about topics such as biogeography and diversity of orchids, their biology and environmental factors, their horticulture and phytochemistry, and their use in agri-food, medicinal and perfumery industries. This book will appeal to graduate students, scholars, researchers interested in botany, agriculture, pharmacy, biotechnology and phytochemistry. Industrial scientists and those involved in marketing flowers and phytochemicals, plants and their extracts will also understand the importance of this reference work.