There is growing demand for more food crops. Agricultural yield is however challenged by two concerns: availability of arable land and reduced water resources for irrigation. Biotechnology offers several tools that can be used appropriately for sustainable agriculture. Recent advances in molecular biology and recombinant DNA technology can make increased production and pest resistant crops with increased nutritive value a reality. The book has 21 chapters contributed by eminent scientists from all over the country. It discusses the various techniques and aspects of biotechnology that can bring about crop improvement. The book serves as a textbook for postgraduate students and researchers working in the fields of plant biotechnology and horticulture and a reference book for undergraduates.



Contents:

Biotechnology in Indian Agriculture: R Keshavachandran and KV Peter / The Cell Biology of Plant Cell Culture and Development: K Nirmal Babu, SP Geetha, A Anu, D Minoo and V Sumathi / Hormonal Regulation of In Vitro Morphogenesis: PA Nazeem and PS Smitha / Maintenance of Asepsis in Tissue Culture: D Girija / Micropropagation Principles and Practices: R Keshavachandran and Sandhya Sudhan / Media Requirements of In Vitro Culture: R Keshavachandran and Sandhya Sudhan / Haploid Production: JB Mythili and Pious Thomas / Triploid Production: Pious Thomas and JB Mythili / In Vitro Pollination and Fertilization: NS Rangaswamy and KR Shivanna / Embryo Culture: K Rajmohan / Protoplast Isolation and Culture: Pratap Kumar Pati, Madhu Sharma and Paramvir Singh Ahuja / Somatic Hybridization: Pratap Kumar Pati, Madhu Sharma and Paramvir Singh Ahuja / In Vitro Selection with Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Cultures: P Vidhyasekaran / Synthetic Seeds: P Suprasanna, TR Ganapathi, VA Bapat and PS Rao / Methods of Genetic Transformation in Plants: KC Bansal, R Keshavachandran and Sandhya Sudhan / Germplasm Storage: Rekha Chaudhury and SK Malik / GM Technology and Biosafety Regulations: Renu Swarup / Patents in Biotechnology: Malathi Lakshmikumaran, Shilpi Bhattacharya and Nilanjana Sensarkar / Molecular Markers and their Applications in Plant Species: Malathi Lakshmikumaran, V Sabharwal, N Chauhan and MS Negi / Useful Genes for Plant Genetic Engineering: P Rajendran / Biotechnology in the Conservation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: S Natesh



Author Bio:

Dr R Keshavachandran is Professor, Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, and Coordinator, Bioinformatics Centre, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur. KV Peter is Professor of Horticulture and Former Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur.