Genetics And Breeding Of Wheat Crops

Wheat is a staple food cultivated for its cereal grain. Wheat plants show remarkable genetic variation. Some species of wheat are diploid, but many are polyploids, with four or six pairs of chromosomes. Certain wheat genes have a positive influence on crop yields, such as the dwarfing genes that allow the carbon fixed during photosynthesis to be diverted towards seed production and prevent lodging. The sequencing of the wheat genome and its analysis is valuable for developing an understanding of wheat genome variation, making crosses and alien progression, analyzing evolutionary biology, etc. Identifying the genes responsible for growth, energy production and metabolism also facilitate the breeding of transgenic wheat. Such wheat may be selected for good quality, abiotic stress tolerance and disease resistance, besides high grain yield. This book includes some of the vital pieces of work being conducted across the world, on various topics related to the genetics and breeding of wheat. It unfolds the innovative aspects of wheat breeding and biotechnology, which will be crucial for the progress of this field in the future. It will provide comprehensive knowledge to the readers.

This proceedings is a collection of 46 selected papers that were presented at the 12th International Wheat Genetics Symposium (IWGS). Since the launch of the wheat genome sequencing project in 2005, the arrival of draft genome sequences has marked a new era in wheat genetics and genomics, catalyzing rapid advancement in the field. This book provides a comprehensive review of the forefront of wheat research, across various important topics such as germplasm and genetic diversity, cytogenetics and allopolyploid evolution, genome sequencing, structural and functional genomics, gene function and molecular biology, biotic stress, abiotic stress, grain quality, and classical and molecular breeding. Following an introduction, 9 parts of the book are dedicated to each of these topics. A final, 11th part entitled “Toward Sustainable Wheat Production” contains 7 excellent papers that were presented in the 12th IWGS Special Session supported by the OECD. With rapid population growth and radical climate changes, the world faces a global food crisis and is in need of another Green Revolution to boost yields of wheat and other widely grown staple crops. Although this book focuses on wheat, many of the newly developed techniques and results presented here can be applied to other plant species with large and complex genomes. As such, this volume is highly recommended for all students and researchers in wheat sciences and related plant sciences and for those who are interested in stable food production and food security.

Wheat: Science and Trade is an up-to-date, comprehensive reference work designed to expand the current body of knowledge on this staple crop, incorporating new information made available by genetic advances, improvements in the understanding of wheat's biology, and changes in the wheat trade industry. Covering phylogeny and ontogeny, manipulation of the environment and optimal management, genetic improvement, and utilization and commercialization, the book focuses on the most economically significant diseases and impacts

It is ten years since Volume 1 of The World Wheat Book was completed and the intervening years have seen many changes in the world economy, in agriculture in the countries where wheat is grown, and major developments in the techniques of wheat breeding.This second volume therefore updates, but does not replace, the first volume by adding to the countries discussed, giving an update on agronomy and cropping practices, and reviewing the technological advances in wheat breeding techniques.The opening chapters summarise the history of wheat growing, the development of wheat breeding, and the current status of breeding in the countries covered. The next set of chapters looks at agronomy and cropping practices in a wide range of wheat growing regions across the world. The third set of chapters records the latest advances in wheat breeding, looking at concepts and strategies as well as current and developing techniques. The fourth set reviews the developing end uses. The final group of chapters examines specific biotic and abiotic threats from viruses, insect pests and diseases.This book is subtitled A History of Wheat Breeding. It would be even more accurate to say that it records and discusses the continuing history of wheat breeding. As stated by Pierre Pagesse, Chairman of Groupe Limagrain, in his Preface: "The future of wheat rests in our hands and in those who succeed us. Let us try to do this together in a visionary and determined manner".