Molecular Approaches to Crop Improvement (Plant Gene Research) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3211822305 ISBN 13: 9783211822302

Publisher: Springer Verlag GmbH, 1991

Synopsis

Although plant genes were first isolated only some twelve years ago and transfer of foreign DNA into tobacco cells first demonstrated some eight years ago, the application and extension of biotechnology to agricultural problems has already led to the field-testing of genetically modified crop plants. The promise of tailor-made plants containing resistance to pests or diseases as well as many other desirable characteristics has led to the almost compulsory incorporation of molecular biology into the research programs of chemical and seed companies as well as Governmental agricultural agencies. With the routine transformation of rice and the early evidence of transformation of maize the possibility of the world's major cereal crops being modified for improved nutritional value or resistance characteristics is now likely in the next few years. The increasing number of cloned plant genes and the increasing sophistication of our knowledge of the major developmental and biochemi­ cal pathways in plants should eventually allow us to engineer crop plants with higher yields and with less detrimental impact on the environment than now occurs in our current high input agricultural systems. This book draws together many of the expanding areas of plant molecular biology and genetic engineering that will make a substantial contribution to the development of the more productive and efficient crop plants that the world's farmers will be planting in the next decade.

About this title

Synopsis:

This study reviews recent advances in the application of molecular biology techniques to crop improvement. A range of agricultural and horticultural problems are approached, including the genetic engineering of insect resistance, herbicide resistance and suppression of gene expression using anti-sense RNA. The book considers major advances in cereal transformation, particularly with rice, and documents some of the uses of molecular biology in potato and other crop improvement. The molecular biology of seed protein genes and self-incompatibility genes are examined and the potential benefits of this data in the engineering of protein quality or male sterility, respectively, are considered. Recent developments in the molecular biology and control of flower colour and pigmentation are also presented.

About this edition

• Publisher: Springer Verlag GmbH
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 3211822305
• ISBN 13: 9783211822302
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 250
• Editor: Dennis E.S., Llewellyn D.J.