Horticultural Plant Breeding is a complete and comprehensive resource for the development of new cultivars or clones of horticultural crops. It covers the basic theories that underpin plant breeding and applies Mendelian, quantitative and population inheritance practices in smaller populations where the individual plant has high value. Specific traditional breeding methods are also covered, with an emphasis on how these methods are adapted for horticultural species. In addition, the integration of biotechnologies with traditional breeding methodologies is explored, with an emphasis on specific applications for fruits, vegetables and ornamental crop species. Presented in focused sections, Horticultural Plant Breeding addresses historical perspectives and context, and genetics as a critical foundation of plant breeding. It highlights treatments of the various components of breeding programs, such as breeding objectives, germplasm, population engineering, mating systems, enhanced selection methods, established breeding methods applicable to inbreeding and outcrossing situations, and post-breeding activities. Provides a complete and comprehensive resource for those involved in the development of new cultivars or clones of horticultural crops Guides readers to the most appropriate breeding strategy including potential integration of traditional and biotechnology strategies that will best achieve a cost-effective outcome Will include access to 20 narrated slide sets to facilitate additional understanding

This book was written by soybean experts to cluster in a single publication the most relevant and modern topics in soybean breeding. It is geared mainly to students and soybean breeders around the world. It is unique since it presents the challenges and opportunities faced by soybean breeders outside the temperate world.

Part 1 of this volume reviews advances in gene editing techniques such as insertion-based genome edits, base editing, guide RNAs and CRISPR/Cas off targeting. Part 2 surveys applications of gene editing in key cereal and vegetable crops.

"The evolution from hunting and gathering to farming happened about 10,000 years ago, independently and diffusely in several places in the world. Plant breeding has been part of agriculture since its beginning. Plant breeding is a critical tool in the fight for food security and responsible environmental stewardship in the 21st century. For more than one hundred years, Plant Breeding and Genetics has been widely recognized for developing novel breeding methodologies and discovering economically important genes and varieties. In fact, it is difficult to say whether agriculture influenced plant breeding or vice-versa. Most probably, both have evolved together towards enhancing the quality and yield of cultivated crops. From the beginning of agriculture until today, plant breeding has undergone many changes but even more changes are likely to occur in the future. During the last 50 years plant breeding has entered a molecular era based on molecular tools to analyze DNA, RNA and proteins and associate such molecular results with plant phenotype. Breeding better cultivars has become a highly efficient way to improve plant production for yield, quality and reduced input. Still plant breeders, scientists as well as society have ample interest in widespread public understanding of the use of new as well as old technologies for improvement of our cultivated plants. This is not least to avoid future communication problems with the general public like experienced with genetically modified plants during recent years. This volume Plant Breeding and Genetics aims to present some of the recent advances of 21st century plant breeding, exemplifying novel views, approaches, research efforts, achievements, challenges and perspectives in breeding of some crop species. The book chapters have presented the latest advances and comprehensive information on selected topics that will enhance the reader's knowledge of contemporary plant breeding. It also provides some updated discussions on current advances, challenges, and future perspectives of plant genome studies and applications. The book should prove useful to students, researchers, and experts in the area of conservation biology, genetic diversity, and molecular biology. "

Our requirement for plant breeders to be successful has never been greater. However one views the forecasted numbers for future population growth we will need, in the immediate future, to be feeding, clothing and housing many more people than we do, inadequately, at present. Plant breeding represents the most valuable strategy in increasing our productivity in a way that is sustainable and environmentally sensitive. Plant breeding can rightly be considered as one of the oldest multidisciplinary subjects that is known to humans. It was practised by people who first started to carry out a settled form of agriculture. The art, as it must have been at that stage, was applied without any formal underlying framework, but achieved dramatic results, as witnessed by the forms of cultivated plants we have today. We are now learning how to apply successfully the results of yet imperfect scientific knowledge. This knowledge is, however, rapidly developing, particularly in areas of tissue culture, biotechnology and molecular biology. Plant breeding's inherent multifaceted nature means that alongside obvious subject areas like genetics we also need to consider areas such as: statistics, physiology, plant pathology, entomology, biochemistry, weed science, quality, seed characteristics, repro ductive biology, trial design, selection and computing. It therefore seems apparent that modern plant breeders need to have a grasp of wide range of scientific knowledge and expertise if they are successfully to a exploit the techniques, protocols and strategies which are open to them.