This volume summarizes recent technological advances in the design and engineering of Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae crops. It begins with contributions on the tomato and melon genome sequence, databases for Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae research, DNA markers in the breeding of the two families, and mutant resources and TILLING platforms in tomato research. Subsequent chapters address the use of molecular techniques for the modification of important breeding traits, such as tomato fruit set, growth, ripening, and sugar accumulation, as well as disease and insect resistance in melons. The volume closes with chapters on genome editing using artificial nucleases as a future breeding tool, and on the development of an in silico crop design system. It offers a valuable resource for plant breeders, molecular biologists, and agronomists.

This book presents deliberations on molecular and genomic mechanisms underlying the interactions of crop plants to the abiotic stresses caused by heat, cold, drought, flooding, submergence, salinity, acidity, etc., important to develop resistant crop varieties. Knowledge on the advanced genetic and genomic crop improvement strategies including molecular breeding, transgenics, genomic-assisted breeding, and the recently emerging genome editing for developing resistant varieties in vegetable crops is imperative for addressing FHNEE (food, health, nutrition, energy, and environment) security. Whole genome sequencing of these crops followed by genotyping-by-sequencing has provided precise information regarding the genes conferring resistance useful for gene discovery, allele mining, and shuttle breeding which in turn opened up the scope for 'designing' crop genomes with resistance to abiotic stresses. The nine chapters each dedicated to a vegetable crop or crop group in this volume elucidate on different types of abiotic stresses and their effects on and interaction with the crop; enumerate on the available genetic diversity with regard to abiotic stress resistance among available cultivars; illuminate on the potential gene pools for utilization in interspecific gene transfer; present brief on classical genetics of stress resistance and traditional breeding for transferring them to their cultivated counterparts; depict the success stories of genetic engineering for developing abiotic stress-resistant crop varieties; discuss on molecular mapping of genes and QTLs underlying stress resistance and their marker-assisted introgression into elite varieties; enunciate on different genomics-aided techniques including genomic selection, allele mining, gene discovery, and gene pyramiding for developing adaptive crop varieties with higher quantity and quality of yields, and also elaborate some case studies on genome editing focusing on specific genes for generating abiotic stress-resistant crops

This comprehensive reference book discusses the convergent and next-generation technologies for product-derived applications relevant to agriculture, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and the environment. The field of modern biotechnology is a multidisciplinary and groundbreaking area of biology that includes several cutting-edge methods due to developments in forensics and molecular modeling. Bioinformatics is a full-fledged multidisciplinary field that combines advances in computer and information technology. Numerous applications of bioinformatics—primarily in the areas of gene and protein identification, structural and functional prediction, drug development and design, folding of genes and proteins and their complexity, vaccine design, and organism identification—have contributed to the advancement of biotechnology. Biotechnology is also essential to crop improvement in agriculture because it allows genes to transfer across plants to increase traits such as disease resistance and yield. It also plays a broad role in healthcare, including genetic testing, gene therapy, pharmacogenomics, and drug development. Bioremediation and biodegradation, using microbial technologies to clean up environmental contamination, waste management technologies, and the conversion of organic waste to biofuels. Bioinformatics plays a critical role in analyzing different types of data created by high-throughput research methods—such as genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic datasets—that are useful in addressing various problems related to disease management, clean environment, alternative energy sources, agricultural productivity, and more. Audience The book will interest biotechnology researchers and bioinformatics professionals working in the areas of applied biotechnology, bioengineering, biomedical sciences, microbiology, agriculture and environmental sciences.

This book deliberates on the concept, strategies, tools, and techniques of allele mining in vegetable crops and its application potential in genome elucidation and improvement including studying allele evolution, discovery of superior alleles, discerning new haplotypes, assessment of intra- and interspecific similarity, and studies of gene expression and gene prediction. Available gene pools in global germplasm collections specifically consisting of wild allied species and local landraces for almost all major crops have facilitated allele mining. Development of advanced genomic techniques including PCR-based allele priming and Eco-TILLING based allele mining are being widely used now for mining superior alleles. Allele's discovery has become more relevant now for employing molecular breeding to develop designed crop varieties matching consumer needs and with genome plasticity to adapt the climate change scenarios. All these concepts and strategies along with precise success stories are presented in the chapters dedicated to the major vegetable crops. The first book on the novel strategy of allele mining in vegetable crops for precise breeding Presents genomic strategies for mining superior alleles underlying agronomic traits from genomic resources Depicts case studies of PCR-based allele priming and Eco-TILLING based allele mining Elaborates on gene discovery and gene prediction in major vegetable crops This book will be useful to the students and faculties in various plant science disciplines including genetics, genomics, molecular breeding, agronomy, and bioinformatics; the scientists in seed industries; and, the policymakers and funding agencies interested in crop improvement.

Hemipterans encompass a large group of insect pests of plants that utilize mouthparts which are modified for piercing and consuming fluids from plants. In addition, hemipterans vector viral and bacterial diseases of plants. This book brings together a set of reviews and research papers that showcase the the range of activities being undertaken to advance our understanding of the multi-organismal interaction between plant, hemipterans and microbes.