Springer Alien Gene Transfer in Crop Plants, Volume 2: Achievements and Impacts

Genetic engineering and biotechnology along with conventional breeding have played an important  role in developing superior cultivars by transferring economically important traits from distant, wild and even unrelated  species to the cultivated varieties which otherwise could not have been possible with conventional breeding. There is a vast amount of literature pertaining to the genetic improvement of crops over last few decades. However, the wonderful results achieved by crop scientists in food legumes’ research and development over the years are scattered in different journals of the World. The two volumes in the series ‘Alien Gene Transfer in Crop Plants’ address this issue and offer a comprehensive reference on the developments made in major food crops of the world. These volumes aim at bringing the contributions from globally renowned scientists at one platform in a reader-friendly manner. The second volume entitled, “Alien Gene Transfer in Crop Plants: Achievements and Impact” will deal more with the practical aspects. This volume will cover achievements of alien gene transfer in major food crops of the world and their impact on development of newer genetic variability and additional avenues for selection; development of superior cultivars for increased yield, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, improved nutritional and industrial quality; innovation of new techniques and positive as well as negative environmental implications. This volume has been divided into four groups with an aim to cover all major cereals, pulses, oilseeds and other crops (vegetable and horticultural crops) which are of economic importance. From the Back Cover Alien gene transfer in crop plants from wild and genetically distinct resources enables engineered breeding to impart resistance to diseases and pests, tolerance to temperature extremities, problem soils and reduced water availability, as well as to improve yield, nutrition and storage. Encouraged by the success of alien gene transfer in crop plants, researchers have devised strategies to bring in useful genes even from across genome boundaries. Consequently, hundreds of genes of interest have been transferred in different crop species, thereby widening their genetic base and improving genetic potential. However, the success in improving crop plants through alien introgressions has remained variable in different crop species. While some crops have benefited tremendously from this  approach, others are less successful. This book provides a comprehensive reference on the practical aspects of alien introgressions in agricultural crops. Chapters written by eminent scientists from different countries around the world describe achievements and impacts of alien gene transfer in most important cereals, pulses, oil crops, vegetables and sugarcane. About the Author Pratap Dr. Aditya Pratap, born on October 18, 1976, is currently working as a Senior Scientist (Plant Breeding) in the Crop Improvement Division, Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur. He obtained his Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Breeding and Genetics from CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, INDIA in 1999 and 2003. Holding a brilliant academic and service record, he has been associated with crop research since last ten years and has worked on genetic improvement of crop plants including wheat, triticale, rapeseed-mustard, chickpea and Vigna species and has been instrumental in development of haploidy breeding protocol in cereals through chromosome elimination technique. He has been associated with the development and release of five crop varieties including two in rapeseed-mustard (RSPT2 and RSPR03), two in green gram (IPM 02-14 and IPM 02-3) and one in facultative winter wheat (Him Pratham) and registered two extra early maturing greengram genotypes (IPM 205-7 and IPM 409-4) while a few other varieties are in pipeline. His research interests include