Genetic Analyses of Plant and Molecular Marker-Assisted Breeding

Plants have a complex gene pool that is capable of identifying invading pathogens and initiating effective defense mechanisms. Plant genetics refers to a specialized field of biology and botany that is concerned with the study of genes, genetic variation and heredity in plants. Molecular marker-assisted breeding (MAB) is a method for plant improvement that applies molecular biotechnologies to practical breeding and selection. MAB combines traditional plant breeding with the tools of molecular biology and genetics, prominently making use of molecular markers. MAB offers a number of benefits as compared with conventional breeding methods. It involves genetic manipulation performed at the DNA level for improving the traits of interest in plants. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts and emerging trends in the genetic analyses of plants and molecular marker-assisted breeding. It consists of contributions made by international experts. This book will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.