This volume, Transgenic Crops VI, includes the following broad topic sections: Oils and Fibers, Medicinal Crops, Ornamental Crops, Forages and Grains, Regulatory and Intellectual Property of Genetically Manipulated Plants. It is an invaluable reference for plant breeders, researchers and graduate students in the fields of plant biotechnology, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, genetics, and both plant cell and molecular biology.

There has been tremendous progress in the genetic transformation of agricultural crops, and plants resistant to insects, herbicides,and diseases have been produced, field tested and patented. Transgenic Crops III compiles this information on ornamental, aromatic, medicinal and various other crops. It comprises 26 chapters and is divided into two sections. I. Ornamental, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants: Anthurium, Antirrhinum, Artemisia, Begonia, Campanula, carnation, chrysanthemum, Dendrobium, Eustoma, Gentiana, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Hyoscyamus muticus, Hyssopus officinalis, ornamental Ipomoea, Leontopodium alpinum, Nierembergia, Phalaenopsis, Rudbeckia, Tagetes, and Torenia. II. Miscellaneous Plants: Craterostigma plantagineum, Flaveria bidentis, Moricandia Solanum brevidens, and freshwater wetland monocots. The book is of special interest to advanced students, teachers and research workers in the fields of plant breeding, genetics, molecular biology, plant tissue culture and plant biotechnology in general.

Since the first transgenic plants were produced back in the early 1980s, there have been substantial developments towards the genetic engineering of most crops of our world. Initial studies using isolated plant cells and removing their cell walls to form protoplasts, offered the possibility of transferring genetic material by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer, chemical agents or electrical charges. However, in those cases were isolated protoplasts could be transformed, often, a shoot regeneration system was not available to induce the production of transgenic plants and any such regenerated plants were subject to mutation or chromosomal of cultured plant organs, such as leaf abnormalities. By the mid-1980s, the use disks, offered the convenience of combining gene transfer, plant regeneration and selection of transformants in a single system. This approach, enabled the production of stable, phenotypically-normal, transgenic potato and tomato plants in culture. By the late 1980s, the use of biolistics offered a means of inserting foreign genes into plant cells which where inaccessible to Agrobacterium infection. Even today, this technology is now standard practice for the production of some transgenic plants.

The status of crop biotechnology before 2001 was reviewed in Transgenic Crops I-III, but recent advances in plant cell and molecular biology have prompted the need for new volumes. This volume is devoted to fruit, trees and beverage crops. It presents the current knowledge of plant biotechnology as an important tool for crop improvement and includes up-to-date methodologies.

Genetically modified crops are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering methods. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples in food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases, or environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, or resistance to chemical treatments, or improving the nutrient profile of the crop. Recently rapid advances in the development and commercialization of transgenic crops across the world have been witnessed both in terms increased crop coverage and economic benefits. Genetically modified foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. The main aim of genetically modified crops is to produce a food that is able to survive even if any harmful chemicals or pesticides or herbicides are sprayed. Other benefit of genetically modified crops is to make food stay fresh for a long time. Some of genetically modified crops and food are corn, tomato, beets, potatoes, sprouts and alfalfa. It involves the insertion or deletion of genes. Examples in non-food crops include production of pharmaceutical agents, biofuels, and other industrially useful goods, as well as for bioremediation. This book covers those facets, from the source of the gene, compositions of a gene construct, method of gene delivery, and result of gene integration and expression, to effects of the transgene on plants and the ecology.

Development of transgenic crop plants, their utilization for improved agriculture, health, ecology and environment and their socio-political impacts are currently important fields in education, research and industries and also of interest to policy makers, social activists and regulatory and funding agencies. This work prepared with a class-room approach on this multidisciplinary subject will fill an existing gap and meet the requirements of such a broad section of readers. Volume 1 with ten chapters contributed by 31 eminent scientists from nine countries deliberates on the basic concepts, strategies and tools for development of transgenic crop plants, including topics such as: explants used for the generation of transgenic plants, gene transfer methods, organelle transformation, selection and screening strategies, expression and stability of transgenes, silencing undesirable genes, transgene integration, biosynthesis and biotransformation and metabolic engineering of pathways and gene discovery.

With contributions from nearly 130 internationally renowned experts in the field, this reference details advances in transgenic plant construction and explores the social, political, and legal aspects of genetic plant manipulation. It provides analyzes of the history, genetics, physiology, and cultivation of over 30 species of transgenic seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Stressing the impact of genetic engineering strategies on the nutritional and functional benefit of foods as well as on consumer health and the global market economy, the book covers methods of gene marking, transferring, and tagging public perceptions to the selective breeding, hybridization, and recombinant DNA manipulation of food.

This volume presents the current knowledge of plant biotechnology as an important tool for crop improvement. It covers cereals, vegetables, root crops, herbs and spices. This volume is an invaluable reference for plant breeders, researchers and graduate students in the fields of plant biotechnology, agronomy, horticulture, genetics and both plant cell and molecular biology.