Agronomy and crop production Books

Book SynopsisThis is the story of the bean, the staple food cultivated by humans for over 10,000 years. From the lentil to the soybean, every civilization on the planet has cultivated its own species of bean. The humble bean has always attracted attention - from Pythagoras'' notion that the bean hosted a human soul to St. Jerome''s indictment against bean-eating in convents (because they tickle the genitals), to current research into the deadly toxins contained in the most commonly eaten beans. Over time, the bean has been both scorned as poor man''s meat and praised as health-giving, even patriotic. Attitudes to this most basic of foodstuffs have always revealed a great deal about a society. Featuring a new preface from author Ken Albala, Beans: A History takes the reader on a fascinating journey across cuisines and cultures.Trade ReviewA vividly entertaining history of the humble bean takes the reader on a curious, surprising and exciting journey across epochs, continents and cultures. * Raymond Blanc *Charming. * New York Times *I would strongly urge a reading of Beans by Ken Albala which entertainingly unravels that most complicated of legumes through space and time. * The Guardian *Fresh and engaging from the start ... A must have for any serious foodie. * The Telegraph *Extraordinarily detailed and amusing. ... It is a totally endearing mixture of expertise and whimsy and should, by rights, be a bestseller. * The Times *Albala's range of geographical, historical and cultural references is extremely impressive. * Ian Sansom, Saturday Guardian *A great read, full of exotic and intriguing information and thoroughly recommended. * Times Higher Education Supplement *Albala traces the histories of a wide range of beans and the result is an enthusiastic book which deploys commendable scholarship with the lightest of touches. * History Today *Who ever knew that beans were so complicated and interesting. Told in fascinating detail by Ken Albala, Beans: A History is an instructional book that reads like a novel. * Charlie Palmer *Here is the first biography of beans presented by Ken Albala in vivid prose. Gut-buster or aphrodisiac, lowly legume or savior of civilization, the bean is more significant than we ever realized. * Darra Goldstein *Beans is a lyrical book. It is a tale well told filled with unusual twists and turns with surprises popping up in almost every paragraph. * Andrew F. Smith, editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America *Lucky beans who have at last found their Homer. Who knew that the history of the Western world and parts of Asia could be illumined through the evolution of the lowly bean in its multiple forms from fava to soy? No one is better equipped than this skilled historian to wrap history, science, legend, folklore and fakelore in an entertaining narrative that delights while it informs. This is the most digestible bean dish I've ever encountered and all I want is more. * Betty Fussell, author of The Story of Corn and I Hear America Cooking: The Cooks and Recipes of American Regional Cuisine *In this delightful, informative bean biography, the author unravels the history, science and culture of beans across the world. * Sainsbury Magazine *Surprisingly readable and full of fascinating detail. ... Beans: A History would make a valuable addition to the bookshelf of anyone hungry to know the cultural and gastronomic history of the food on their plate. * Oxford Vegetarians *I was immediately hooked. What a great combination of scholarly commitment and good humour! * Jane Bowler, The Vegetarian *There appears to be very little Ken Albala doesn't know about the humble bean. ... an authentic and inclusive history. * Australian Gormet Pages Newsletter *A light-hearted and entertaining narrative. * Artisan *With not a pod left unshelled, Beans is just plain fun to read thanks to author Ken Albala's sense of humour, devotion to scholarly detail and breezy writing style. * The Roanoke Times *By successfully integrating history, geography, botany, and politics into understanding beans, Albala demonstrates the wonder of liberal education itself. * The AAG Review of Books *Table of ContentsList of Recipes Preface, Acknowledgements and a Note on Recipes 1. Introduction 2. Lentils: Fertile Crescent 3. Lupines: Europe and Andes 4. Fava Beans: Europe 5. Peas, Chickpeas and Pigeon Peas 6. Oddballs and Villains 7. Mung and the Vignas: India 8. Black-eyed Peas: Africa, Soul Food 9. Phaseolus vulgaris: Mexico and the World 10. Limas and the Lesser Phaseoli: Andes 11. Tepary beans: Native Americans 12. Soy: China, Japan and the World Postscript Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisSustainable Crop Production - Recent Advances addresses various nutrient, crop, and soil management issues, including recent advances in sustainable food production in the context of the changing climate. Chapters present case studies on long-term field experiments in specific locations with a focus on the state of the art of sustainable agriculture production systems.

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Book SynopsisThe cannabis plant, as a hemp, could contribute better than previously thought to achieving the goals of the UN Sustainable Development Report, the so-called Agenda 2030 and its 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). From a health perspective, its medicinal use is the main focus, but it is also used in cosmetic products and in food offerings for humans and animals. In the context of the increasing climate crisis, hemp helps especially to cope with the CO2 problem: in agriculture by binding the CO2 similar to reforestation, in industry as a recyclable raw material substitute for example as a plastic substitute, in clothing, in technology or in construction. At the moment, unfortunately, the immense prices and high demand show a different picture, from citizens who want to but can't or aren't allowed to, from farmers who have to overcome immense bureaucratic hurdles to an industry that is deterred by complex rules and laws to invest. The essential shows how this potential could also be realized in Germany.Table of ContentsIntroduction - What is at stake.- Sustainability.- Hemp as a crop.- UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).- What needs to be done?.

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Book SynopsisThis open-access book provides a comprehensive overview of current methodologies for improving resistance to leaf rust in coffee, one of the world's most important cash crops and beverages. Coffea arabica L. (Arabica) accounts for about 60% of the world's coffee production. Coffee leaf rust (CLR), caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix is the major disease affecting Arabica coffee resulting in losses of over $1 billion annually. The geographical distribution of CLR is expanding due to climate change. Moreover, the genetic improvement of Arabica coffee is constrained due to its very narrow genetic base. This protocol book introduces essential concepts of mutation breeding as an efficient tool to increase the genetic diversity of Arabica coffee and presents practical methods on mutation induction and screening for resistance to CLR. Current breeding approaches, challenges and opportunities for Arabica coffee improvement are briefly reviewed and a survey of common coffee diseases with emphasis on CLR is presented. Practical protocols for mutation induction and screening for resistance to CLR are described, including novel methods for single-cell mutagenesis using in vitro cell and tissue culture techniques and for genome-wide screening of induced mutations using genomics tools. Each protocol chapter has an introduction and is supported by example results. Given the impact of recent CLR epidemics on Arabica coffee production in Latin America, the book is intended to serve as a timely reference and guide for students and researchers in the agricultural sciences, plant pathologists and breeders, as well as growers and end-users interested in producing novel coffee genotypes for genetic studies, breeding, and commercial applications.Table of ContentsIntroduction coffee breeding and challenges Choice of materials for mutation induction in arabica coffee Improved in-vitro establishment and germination of Coffea arabica seed Induced mutagenesis in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) using chemical agents Mutation induction using gamma irradiation and high frequency embryogenic callus from coffee (Coffea arabica) Chemical mutagenesis of Coffea arabica mature seed using EMS Physical mutagenesis of coffee seeds In-vitro regeneration of Coffea arabica var. Venecia through somatic embryogenesis Protocol on mutation induction in Coffea arabica using in vivo grafting and cuttings Protocol on mutation induction in coffee using in vitro tissue cultures Screening for resistance to coffee leaf rust Protocol to send samples of coffee leaf rust to CIFC Coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) inoculation and evaluation under laboratory conditions Development of a PCR-Based Molecular Detection Technique for the Early Diagnosis of Coffee Leaf Rust Caused by Hemileia vastatrix Protocols for chromosome preparations: molecular cytogenetics and studying genome organization in coffee

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Book Synopsis1. Origin and History of Sesame.- 2. Production and Trade of Sesame.- 3. Biotechnology of Sesame for Development of High Yielding Varieties.- 4. Agro-techniques for Cultivation of Sesame.- 5. Organic Production of Sesame: Status, Techniques, and Market.- 6. Techniques for Oil Extraction from Sesame and its Quality Analysis and comparison with other oilseed crops.- 7. Indigenous sesame products for food and health.- 8. Nutritional Quality of Sesame and its Health Implications.- 9. Food Applications of Sesame and new product development.- 10. Ameliorative Effect of using Sesame Oil against Toxicity.- 11. Biodiesel Production from Sesame Oil: Processes and Analysis.- 12. Sesame waste to valuable products.- 13. Towards Sustainable Agriculture of Sesame crop: Challenges and Recommendations.

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Book SynopsisChapter 1. History, Origin, Botany, and Taxonomy of Minor Millets.- Chapter 2. Nutritional Composition and Nutraceutical Properties of Minor Millets.- Chapter 3. Agronomic and Cultivation Practices in Minor Millets.- Chapter 4. Genetic Resources of Small Millets: Collection, Characterization and Utilization.- Chapter 5. Advances in Hybridization Techniques in Small Millets. Chapter 6. Diseases and their Management Strategies in Small Millets.- Chapter 7. Insect Pests of Millet Crops and Their Integrated Management.- Chapter 8. Breeding Advances in Minor Millets: Achievements and Limitations.- Chapter 9. Principles of Quality Seed Production in Millets.- Chapter 10. Genomic Resources and Modern Breeding Approaches to Accelerate Genetic Gain in Minor Millets.- Chapter 11. Genome Sequencing Efforts in Minor Millets: Current Knowledge and Emerging Insights.- Chapter 12. Technology for the Development of Value Added Products in Minor Millets.- Chapter 13. Value Chain Development of Minor Millets: Challenges and Opportunities.- Chapter 14. Front Line Demonstrations in Small Millets-Dissemination and Impact Assessment.- Chapter 15. Advances in Genetic Transformation Studies in Small Millets.

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Book Synopsis1. Origin, Evolution and Classification of Vegetables.- 2. Therapeutic Value and Health Benefits of Vegetables.- 3. Specificity of Vegetables’ Natural Coloration.- 4. Vegetable Nursery Management: Foundation of Successful Production System.- 5. Vegetable Grafting: An Innovative Approach in Olericulture.- 6. Methods of Open Field Cultivation of Vegetables.- 7.  Edible landscaping: Planning and Designing.- 8. Urban and Indoor Vegetables’ Production Techniques.- 9. Protected Olericulture.- 10. Hydroponic Vegetable Production.- 11. Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Growing.- 12. Hybrid Seed Production in Vegetable crops.- 13. Mineral Nutrition of Vegetable Crops.- 14. Irrigation Management in Vegetable Crops.- 15. Weed Management in Vegetable Crops.- 16. Applications of Plant Growth Regulators in Vegetables.- 17. Constraints in Vegetables Production due to Climate Change.- 18. Understanding Drought stress, its effects and tolerance mechanism for sustainable vegetable production.- 19. Toxicity of Heavy Metals in Vegetables and their Impacts on Human Health.- 20. Applications of Biotechnology in Vegetable Crops.- 21. Hybrid Breeding in Vegetable Crops.- 22. CRISPR-based Gene Tweaking for improvement in Vegetable Crops.- 23. Postharvest Storage Life Extension and Quality Management of Vegetables.- 24. Postharvest Management of Vegetable Seeds.- 25. Prospects of Value Addition in Veggies: A Tool to Minimize Postharvest Losses.- 26.  Recent Advances in Fresh-cut Vegetables.- 27. Innovative Use of Nanotechnology in Vegetable Processing.- 28. Vegetables’ Juices, Blends and Smoothies: Preparation and Processing.

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Book Synopsis1. Climate change impact on rice production and breeding for climate resilient rice.- 2. Untapped rice genetic resources and pre-breeding in genomics era.- 3. Conservation and development of rice germplasm for Natural Farming.- 4. Doubled haploid rice breeding.- 5. Marker assisted breeding for rice improvement.- 6. Genome assisted breeding and genome-wide association studies for rice improvement.- 7. Haplotype-assisted breeding in rice.- 8. Genomic selection for phenotype prediction in rice.- 9. Genome editing for trait-specific improvement in rice.- 10. High throughput phenotyping enabled rice improvement.- 11. Artificial intelligence and machine learning for rice improvement.- 12. Fast forward breeding in rice.- 13. Application of next generation sequencing technology for rice improvement.- 14. Regulatory Framework Of Plant Variety Protection For Modernized Plant Breeding Approaches.

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