Genetic modification is one of the most important and controversial issues facing the food industry. With its international team of contributors, Fruit and vegetable biotechnology analyses its major impact on fruit and vegetable cultivation and processing.The book begins with an analysis of the methods available to the biotechnologist. Part one then considers the range of traits that have been the subject of modification. Chapter 3 discusses the modification of such agronomic traits as fruit quality and resistance to various kinds of environmental stress, as well as the use of molecular markers in plant breeding. Chapter 4 looks specifically at how biotechnology can improve plant defence mechanisms. The following three chapters then consider the genetic enhancement of fruit and vegetable ripening and post-harvest life, sensory properties such colour and flavour, processing functionality, and nutritional quality. Part two includes a number of case studies illustrating how genetic modification has enhanced particular fruits and vegetables, looking at a range of fruit and vegetables such as tomato, potato, melon, broccoli and cauliflower. Part three of the book considers the important issues of consumer attitudes and risk assessment.Fruit and vegetable biotechnology is an important contribution to a key area of debate, and is essential reading for those involved both in cultivation and the processing of fruit and vegetables. - Reviews techniques and their applications in improving production and product quality - Discusses how genetic modification has been applied to specific crops - Considers safety and consumer issues

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.

An increased understanding of the developmental physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology during early growth, maturation, ripening, and postharvest conditions has improved technologies to maintain the shelf life and quality of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Postharvest Biology and Technology of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers provides a comprehensive introduction to this subject, offering a firm grounding in the basic science and branching out into the technology and practical applications. An authoritative resource on the science and technology of the postharvest sector, this book surveys the body of knowledge with an emphasis on the recent advances in the field.

Postharvest Physiology and Biochemistry of Fruits and Vegetables presents an updated, interrelated and sequenced view of the contribution of fruits and vegetables on human health, their aspects of plant metabolism, physical and chemical/compositional changes during the entire fruit development lifecycle, the physiological disorders and biochemical effects of modified/controlled atmospheres, and the biotechnology of horticultural crops. The book is written specifically for those interested in preharvest and postharvest crop science and the impact of physiological and biochemical changes on their roles as functional foods. - Deals with the developmental aspects of the lifecycle in whole fruits - Describes issues, such as the morphology and anatomy of fruits, beginning with the structural organization of the whole plant and explaining the fruit structure and its botanical classification - Addresses biotechnological concepts that control firmness, quality and the nutritional value of fruits

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have historically been used as starter cultures for the production of fermented foods, especially dairy products. Over recent years, new areas have had a strong impact on LAB studies: the application of omics tools; the study of complex microbial ecosystems, the discovery of new LAB species, and the use of LAB as powerhouses in the food and medical industries. This second edition of Biotechnology of Lactic Acid Bacteria: Novel Applications addresses the major advances in the fields over the last five years. Thoroughly revised and updated, the book includes new chapters. Among them: The current status of LAB systematics; The role of LAB in the human intestinal microbiome and the intestinal tract of animals and its impact on the health and disease state of the host; The involvement of LAB in fruit and vegetable fermentations; The production of nutraceuticals and aroma compounds by LAB; and The formation of biofilms by LAB. This book is an essential reference for established researchers and scientists, clinical and advanced students, university professors and instructors, nutritionists and food technologists working on food microbiology, physiology and biotechnology of lactic acid bacteria.

In a world of declining fossil energy, biotechnology explores multiple products and processes hidden in the rich genome of microbes, plants and animals. One of the reasons for the renewed spirit of biotechnology is supported by its capacity to swiftly incorporate the multidisciplinary advances in basic and applied sciences. This book presents a wide range of biotechnology research by the UPIBI community, teachers and students in the past 24 years. Novel methodologies, basic results and new processes are reported in several of the most dynamic fields in biotechnology such as health, energy, food and environment. This effort will certainly be an inspiration for students wishing to join research teams, for academic colleagues in search of new knowledge and for professionals exploring novel ideas or innovative solutions.

Food biotechnology’s typical developments and applications have occurred in the fields of genetics and in enzyme- and cell-based biological processes, with the goal of producing and improving food ingredients and foods themselves. While these developments and applications are usually well reported in terms of the underlying science, there is a clear lack of information on the engineering aspects of such biotechnology-based food processes. Filling this gap, Engineering Aspects of Food Biotechnology provides a comprehensive review of those aspects, from the development of food processes and products to the most important unit operations implied in food biotechnological processes, also including food quality control and waste management. The book focuses on the use of biotechnology for the production of ingredients to be used in the food industry. It addresses two relevant issues—consumer’s awareness of the relation between nutrition and good health and the importance of environmental sustainability in the food chain (i.e. production of polymers and in vitro meat). A chapter on the application of process analytical technology highlights the importance of this tool for satisfying the increasingly sophisticated and strict polices for quality control and monitoring of specific process phases. The book includes a detailed presentation of relevant unit operations developed to extract/purify the ingredients of biotechnological origin intended for food applications. In addition to examining the contributions of biotechnology to producing and improving food ingredients, the book provides a concise description of the role biotechnology plays in adding value to food processing by-products, including post-harvest losses, in relevant industries of the food sector. It builds a foundation for further research and development in the food processing industry.