Academic Press Wild Germplasm for Genetic Improvement in Crop Plants

Wild Germplasm for Genetic Improvement in Crop Plants addresses the need for an integrated reference on a wide variety of crop plants, facilitating comparison and contrast, as well as providing relevant relationships for future research and development. The book presents the genetic and natural history value of wild relatives, covers what wild relatives exist, explores the existing knowledge regarding specific relatives and the research surrounding them and identifies knowledge gaps. As understanding the role of crop wild relatives in plant breeding expands the genetic pool for abiotic and biotic stress resistance, this is an ideal reference on this important topic. Review Provides the only comprehensive overview of wild germplasm presenting multiple crops About the Author Dr. Muhammad Tehseen Azhar works as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan-Pakistan, where his primary responsibility is teaching to graduate and post-graduate classes. Additionally, his focus is on the screening and development of segregating population resulting in the development of several bulks of cotton with more yield and fibre traits. Dr. Azhar has specific interest in the development of cotton germplasm having tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Being a Borlaug Alumnus, he worked with various cotton geneticists; namely, Dr. Richard Percy, Dr. Lori L. Hinze and Dr. James Frelichowski during a Norman E. Borlaug Fellowship at Texas A&M University and USDA-ARS, USA. Dr. Azhar is also an Endeavour Alumnus and was appointed as an Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Plant Biology, UWA. Recently, he was appointed as an Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Agriculture Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. In addition, Dr. Azhar was appointed as a Chair of Germplasm and Genetic Stock in International Cotton Genome Initiative (ICGI). Shabir Hussain Wani is Scientist cum Assistant Professor at Shere-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir where his research focuses on plant breeding and genetics/plant biotechnology. Included among his awards are: Fellow of the Linnean Society of London-2017 YOUNG SCIENTIST Award (2017), Indian Ecological Society Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana. Young Scientist of the Year 2016, International foundation for Environment and Ecology Kolkata India. YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD – 2016, Society for Advancement of Human and Nature (SADHNA) YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry YOUNG SCIENTIST Award (2015), Society for Plant Research, Meerut, India YOUNG SCIENTIST Award (2009), Society for Promotion of Plant Science Research. Jaipur National University, Jaipur. FELLOW OF SOCIETY FOR PLANT RESEARCH AWARD – 2011-12