About Book

Plant biotechnology has been practiced for decades. Plant biotechnology is the study and practice of breeding plants in order to make them profitable. From manipulation of plant gene structure to the use of plants for bioenergy, biotechnology interventions in plant and agricultural science. The process involves giving better characteristics to plants by various methods like molecular markers, reverse breeding, doubled haploids, genetic modifications, pharming, etc. In present times it studies the cross-breeding, texture and color of plants and other mechanisms. It can be accomplished through different techniques from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation to more complex techniques. This book elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to plant biotechnology. A number of latest researches have been included herein to keep the readers up-to-date with the global concepts in this area of study. It deals with gene dispersal, genetic diversity, molecular markers, microsatellite markers and phylogenetic classification. Most of the topics introduced in it cover new techniques and the applications of the subject. This book is an essential guide for both academicians and those who wish to pursue this discipline further.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Critical Aspects on the Use of Microsatellite Markers for Assessing Genetic Identity of Crop Plant Varieties and Authenticity of their Food Derivatives.........................................................................................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. The Italian agriculture scenery and the utility of SSR markers to

develop a reference method for genotyping plant varieties........2

2. Applications of SSR markers for the genetic characterization of

crop plant varieties...............................................................................6

3. What number and how to select a panel of SSR marker loci

according to their linkage map position and polymorphism

information content..............................................................................7

4. The choice of the best microsatellite motifs and the problem of

the null alleles......................................................................................14

5. Comparisons across studies of SSR-based genotyping: Reference

marker sets and reference plant varieties......................................16

6. Conclusions..........................................................................................18

Chapter 2 Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Chlorophytum borivilianum

(Santp. and Fernan.) Using Molecular Markers: An Endangered Medicinal Plant.........................................................................................41

Abstract.................................................................................................41

1. Introduction..........................................................................................42

2. Materials and methods......................................................................44

3. Results...................................................................................................47

4. Discussion.............................................................................................54

5. Conclusion............................................................................................58

Acknowledgements.............................................................................59

Chapter 3 Genetic Strategies to Enhance Plant Biomass Yield and

Quality-Related Traits for Bio-Renewable Fuel and Chemical

Productions.................................................................................................66

Abstract.................................................................................................66

1. Introduction..........................................................................................67

2. Biomass feed-stocks for biorefinery applications.........................67

3. Genetic strategies to modify plant biomass properties...............68

4. Conclusions and future perspectives..............................................95

5. Glossary.................................................................................................97

Chapter 4 Genetic Diversity in Bananas and Plantains (Musa spp.) ..........108

1. Introduction........................................................................................108

2. Musa genome.....................................................................................109

3. DNA markers.....................................................................................111

4. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)......................................120

5. Molecular cytogenetic.......................................................................123

6. Protein polymorphism.....................................................................128

7. Conclusion..........................................................................................129

Chapter 5 Opium Poppy: Genetic Upgradation Through Intervention of Plant

Breeding Techniques..............................................................................143

1. Introduction........................................................................................143

2. Geographical distribution ..............................................................144

3. Economic importance of opium poppy and its derivatives ...146

4. Breeding objectives ..........................................................................148

5. Conventional breeding strategies applied for genetic upgradation

of opium poppy ...............................................................................154

7. Creation of variability through hybridization ...........................157

8. Screening and evaluation for oil and fatty acids ......................160

9. Stability analysis for identification of stable and adaptable

varieties...............................................................................................161

10. Mutation breeding approaches .....................................................162

11. Polyploidy approaches ...................................................................164

12. Other conventional approaches ....................................................165

13. Future prospects ..............................................................................171

Chapter 6 Mutagenesis in Plant Breeding for Disease and Pest

Resistance..................................................................................................180

1. Introduction........................................................................................180

2. Disease and pest resistance in plants...........................................181

3. Breeding for disease and pest resistance ....................................187

4. Conclusions .......................................................................................197

Chapter 7 Genetic Diversity in Banana and Plantains Cultivars from Eastern

DRC and Tanzania Using SSR and Morphological Markers, Their

Phylogenetic Classification and Principal Components

Analyses....................................................................................................212

Abstract...............................................................................................212

1. Introduction........................................................................................213

2. Materials and methods....................................................................214

3. Results and discussion.....................................................................218

4. Conclusion and suggestion.............................................................224

Acknowledgements...........................................................................224

Conflict of interest............................................................................224

Chapter 8 Founder Placement and Gene Dispersal Affect Population

Growth and Genetic Diversity in Restoration Plantings of

American Chestnut.................................................................................227

1. Introduction ......................................................................................227

2. Methods .............................................................................................229

3. Results ................................................................................................234

4. Discussion .........................................................................................241

5. Acknowledgements .........................................................................245

Citation......................................................................................................249

Index...........................................................................................................251

About Author

Zayne Adam pursued his M.Sc. in Plant Science and Biotechnology from Public University, Leeds. He has conducted works on genetically modified food production. Adam serves as an Associate Lecturer at University College, Leiden and has been presented the “Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching Award”. He has also served as a reviewer in several well-known scientific journals. He has attended numerous agricultural conferences and symposiums and has presented 7 papers in this field.