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Advances in Plant Breeding Strategies: Agronomic, Abiotic and Biotic Stress Traits
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ISBN: 9783319225180 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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Plant breeders and geneticists are under constant pressure to sustain food production by using innovative breeding strategies and introducing minor crops which are well adapted to marginal lands, provide a source of nutrition, and have abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, to feed an ever-increasing human population. The basic concept of this book is to examine the use of innovative methods augmenting traditional plant breeding towards the development of new crop varieties under different environmental conditions to achieve sustainable food production. The book consists of two volumes. This is volume 2 which contains 18 chapters highlighting breeding strategies for specific plant traits including improved nutritional and pharmaceutical properties as well as enhanced tolerance to insects, diseases, drought, salinity and temperature extremes expected under predicted global climate change. Chapters addressing these topics are grouped into four parts: Part I, Sustainability, Nutrition and Pharmaceuticals; Part II, Forage and Tree Traits; Part III, Abiotic Stress Tolerance; and Part IV, Biotic Stress Resistance.  The book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, scientists, commercial producers and seed companies as well as consultants and policymakers interested in agriculture, particularly in modern breeding technologies.


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Cacao Diseases : A History of Old Enemies and New Encounters
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ISBN: 9783319247892 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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This book reviews the current state of knowledge concerning cacao pathogens and methods for their management. Topics discussed include the history, biology and genetic diversity of Moniliophthora (which causes witches’ broom and frosty pod rot) and Phytophthora species (which causes black pod rot) that cause diseases resulting in major losses to cacao production. Emerging pathogens such as Cacao swollen shoot virus and Ceratobasidium theobromae (which causes vascular streak dieback) are also discussed in detail, along with many pathogens of significant local concern. Most of these pathogens represent major risks to global cacao production should they expand into new areas, breaking out of their current limited distributions. By considering cacao diseases as a group, similarities in the available tools and techniques used in their management become apparent, as do their limitations. Gaps in our current knowledge of cacao pathogens and the management of the diseases they cause are detailed, and suggestions for future research directions are provided. This insight allows readers to consider cacao disease threats from a more comprehensive, global perspective and paves the way for an improved synergy of efforts between the various research programs, agencies, and industries, both private and public, with vested interests in cacao production, and cacao farmers.


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Current Trends in Plant Disease Diagnostics and Management Practices
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ISBN: 9783319273129 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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Plant diseases play an important role on our daily lives. Most of plant diseases are visible and are caused by biotic and/or abiotic factors. Symptoms are usually the results of a morphological change, alteration or damage to plant tissue and/or cells due to an interference of the plant’s metabolism. All basic structures of vascular plants are subject to attack by pathogens. The failure in accurate disease diagnosis and management may lead to huge losses in plant production and related commodities, which causes nutritional food scarcity. Typically, the appearance of a biotic symptom will indicate the relatively late stage of an infection and/or colonization of a pathogen. Expert detection, accurate diagnosis, and timely management play a significant role in keeping plants free from pathogens. In this book expert scholars share their research knowledge and key literature which are vital toward the diagnosis of plant diseases across the globe, addressing traditional plant pathology techniques, as well as advanced molecular diagnostic approach.


Digital
Breeding in a World of Scarcity : Proceedings of the 2015 Meeting of the Section “Forage Crops and Amenity Grasses” of Eucarpia
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ISBN: 9783319289328 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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This book includes papers presented at the 2015 meeting of the Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses Section of Eucarpia. The theme of the meeting “Breeding in a world of scarcity” was elaborated in four sessions: (1) scarcity of natural resources, (2) scarcity of breeders, (3) scarcity of land and (4) scarcity of focus. Parts I to IV of this book correspond to these four sessions. Session 1 refers to the consequences of climate change, reduced access to natural resources and declining freedom in using them. Plant breeding may help by developing varieties with a more efficient use of water and nutrients and a better tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Session 2 refers to the shrinking number of field breeders. There is a need for a mutual empathy between field- and lab-oriented breeding activities, integrating new methods of phenotyping and genotyping. Session 3 underscores the optimal use of agricultural land. Forage needs to be intensively produced in a sustainable way, meeting the energy, protein and health requirements of livestock. Well-adapted varieties, species and mixtures of grasses and legumes are needed. Session 4 refers to the fading of focus in primary production triggered by a range of societal demands. There are few farmers left and they are asked to meet many consumer demands. Both large-scale, multi-purpose species and varieties and specialized niche crops are required. Part V summarizes the conclusions of two open debates, two working group meetings and two workshops held during the conference. The debates were devoted to the future of grass and fodder crop breeding, and to feed quality breeding and testing. The conference hosted meetings of the working groups “Multisite rust evaluation” and “Festulolium”. Workshops focused on “genomic selection and association mapping” and on “phenotyping” with applications in practical breeding research. Part V contains also short sketches of breeding ideas presented as short communications. .


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Science and the Economic Crisis : Impact on Science, Lessons from Science
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ISBN: 9783319295282 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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This book not only explores the ways in which the economic crisis and associated austerity policies have adversely impacted the physical and human infrastructure and conduct of scientific research, but also considers how science can help us to understand the crisis and provide original solutions. Starting with a detailed but accessible analysis of the scientific method and the nature of scientific prediction, the book proceeds to address the failure to forecast the economic crisis and the origins of the continuing inertia in economic policy and theory. Attention is drawn in particular to the shortcomings of neoclassical economics in terms of its description of the economic system as being mechanical in nature and characterized by equilibrium. This perspective mirrors the limitations and outdated ideas of nineteenth century physics, which the book contrasts with the insights offered by modern physics. The impact of neoliberal ideologies on scientific research is also discussed in detail, highlighting their stifling effect on innovation and diversification. In closing, the book emphasizes the need for state intervention to guide and support scientific research as the core engine of economic development that will deliver a sustainable future.


Digital
Innovations in Dryland Agriculture
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ISBN: 9783319479286 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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In this book leading scientists in the field describe the basic principles of dryland agriculture, and synthesize recent experiences and innovations in dryland agriculture research and development. It is a ready reference on the subject and reinforces the understanding for its utilization to develop environmentally sustainable and profitable food production systems. Various elements of dryland agriculture are described, highlighting associated breeding and modelling efforts, analysing the experiences and challenges of dryland agriculture in different regions, and it proposes some practical innovations and new areas of research in this critical area of agriculture. This book is an invaluable source of information for scientists, teachers and students in the fields of agronomy, ecology, environmental sciences, range management, land and water management and sustainable livestock grazing systems.


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Production and Breeding of Chilli Peppers (Capsicum spp.)
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ISBN: 9783319065328 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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The book contains aspects of production, genetics and breeding of Capsicum species with emphasis on fruit quality, yield and its nutritional characteristics among with some specific chapters focusing on breeding and physiological features of potted ornamental Chili and responses to abiotic stress and postharvest of fruits. .


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The Biased Mind : How Evolution Shaped our Psychology Including Anecdotes and Tips for Making Sound Decisions
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ISBN: 9783319165196 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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Using a wealth of anecdotes, data from academic literature, and original research, this very accessible little book highlights how we all struggle to cope with the maelstrom of choices, influences and experiences that come our way. The authors have slogged through piles of dry research papers to provide many wonderful nuggets of information and surprising insights. For example: Why is an upside-down red triangle such a powerful warning sign on the road? What is the best kind of alibi? What makes the number 7 so special? Why is it better to whisper words of love into the left ear? Will that recent marriage last? Why is it that the French eat snails but not slugs? The reader will discover the amazing tools and shortcuts that millennia of evolution have built into our brains. And this knowledge is power! Knowing more about how the human mind connects the dots helps us understand why decision-making is so tricky. With insights from evolutionary psychology, we become better equipped to understand ourselves and others, and to interact and communicate more effectively.


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Plant Breeding: Past, Present and Future
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ISBN: 9783319232850 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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The United Nations predicts that the global human population will rise from the 7 billion reached in 2011 to 9 billion by 2050, and that world food production will need to increase between 70 and 100 per cent in just 40 years. Most of this increase will need to come from bridging the yield gap between what is currently achieved per unit of land and what should be possible in future, given the most appropriate farming methods and storage of food and the availability of suitably adapted cultivars, including adaptation to climate change. Breeding such cultivars is the challenge for a new generation of plant breeders who will need to decide what germplasm and which breeding methods to use, and the types of cultivar to produce. They will also need to consider new opportunities made possible by technological advances in the manipulation of DNA, the chemical basis of heredity. This book aims to help them in their endeavours by reviewing past achievements, currently successful practices and emerging methods and techniques. Theoretical considerations are presented when thought helpful. The book is divided into four parts: Part I is an historical introduction finishing with future goals; Part II deals with the origin, recognition and selection of genetic variants that affect qualitative and quantitative traits in a desired way, and concludes with genome evolution and polyploidy; Part III explains how the mating systems of crop species determine the genetic structures of their landraces and hence the types of high yielding cultivars that have been bred from them: synthetic (including open-pollinated), clonal, hybrid and inbred line (including mixtures); Part IV considers three complementary options for future progress: use of sexual reproduction in further conventional breeding, base broadening and introgression; mutation breeding; and genetically modified crops. It concludes with strategies for achieving durable resistance to pests and diseases.


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The Physics of Stocks and Flows of Energy Systems : Applications in Energy Policy
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ISBN: 9783319248295 Year: 2016 Publisher: Cham Springer International Publishing

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Using a system dynamics approach, this book illustrates the physics of fundamental accumulation processes (stocks and flows) across the demand and supply sectors of energy systems. Examples of system dynamics simulation models are presented where these accumulation processes are driving the behavior of the system. Based on these modeling efforts, two cases (the socio-economic and environmental implications of the energy policy of Pakistan and the dynamics of green power in Ontario, Canada) are analyzed and discussed. By studying the dynamics of the fundamental structures of an energy system, the reader gains an enhanced understanding of the stocks and flows of complex systems as well as their role in energy policy. This book is of use to managers and practitioners, teachers, researchers, and students of design and assessment of policy making for complex, dynamic energy systems.

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