Biotechnology of Fruit and Nut Crops

Description

Biotechnology is a broad discipline in which biological processes, organisms, cells or cellular components are exploited to develop new technologies. New tools and products developed by biotechnologists are useful in research, agriculture, industry and the clinic. Genetic modification is one of the most important and controversial issues facing the food industry. This book is a comprehensive reference work on the current status of biotechnology of the major temperate, subtropical and tropical fruit and nut crop species of the world. It includes coverage of more fruit as well as nut crop species. This book analyses its major impact on fruit and vegetable cultivation and processing. It also 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, and how biotechnology can improve plant defence mechanisms. It is filled with engaging figures that strongly support the explanations in the text. It is essential reading for those involved both in cultivation and the processing of fruit and vegetables. This excellent textbook is ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in fruit biotechnology, as well as, courses related to this field.