Plant Breeding Reviews presents state-of-the-art reviews on plant genetics and the breeding of all types of crops by both traditional means and molecular methods. Many of the crops widely grown today stem from a very narrow genetic base; understanding and preserving crop genetic resources is vital to the security of food systems worldwide. The emphasis of the series is on methodology, a fundamental understanding of crop genetics, and applications to major crops. It is a serial title that appears in the form of one or two volumes per year.

The fast-growing sugarcane plant is a major source of sugar (sucrose) in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The high productivity of the plant also makes it a key target for use as an energy crop. The fiber of the plant is used to generate electricity and produce ethanol as a fuel.Sugarcane is a hybrid of two species, each of which is genetically c

This book is a comprehensive survey of breeding principles and practices employed by sugarcane growers and researchers throughout the world. Included within its scope are important genera and species concepts, morphological information, clarification of certain generic names, a description of germplasm collection and utilization, discussion of the complex issues involved in genetic manipulation, and a summary of sugarcane improvement through breeding over the past century. The book is compiled so that information proceeds from the general to the specific. Basic concepts of evolution, taxonomy, morphology, and anatomy form the groundwork for information regarding germplasm collection, cyto-genetics, genetics, and flowering. Methods of practical application are presented in the ensuing chapters, which deal with hybridization, tissue culture, seed handling, selection criteria, and breeding for tolerance. Figures, tables, and photographs accompany text where appropriate. All key words are indexed and extensive bibliographies follow each chapter.

Physiology of Sugarcane looks at the development of a suite of well-established and developing biofuels derived from sugarcane and cane-based co-products, such as bagasse. Chapters provide broad-ranging coverage of sugarcane biology, biotechnological advances, and breakthroughs in production and processing techniques. This single volume resource brings together essential information to researchers and industry personnel interested in utilizing and developing new fuels and bioproducts derived from cane crops.

The current and potential importance of plant tissue culture techniques in crop improvement is hard to overemphasize. There are few areas where these techniques will have more possible im pact than in tropical agriculture, where the availability of high productivity varieties is sadly lacking in many species. The potential for the rapid, clonal propagation of elite individuals and the use of controlled multiline planting could have a major effect on crop yield and disease resistance in many areas of the world. This volume is a collection of papers presented at the Con ference on "Crop Improvement Through Tissue Culture", held at the Base Institute, Calcutta, India in December 1981. It attempts to bring together local research workers, familiar with the agri cultural resources of the area and tissue culture and molecular 4 level workers. It was the hope of the conference that the "cross fertilization" of ideas would lead to new approaches and activity in this area. The editors trust that this collection of papers will stimu~ late interest and research in the tissue culture and improvement of crop plants everywhere. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The symposium from which the papers in this book are drawn was held at Bose Institute, Calcutta on December 6 to December 10, 1981.