This book covers the recent progress on genome research in tropical crop plants, including the development of molecular markers, genomic and cDNA libraries, expressed sequence tags (ESTs), genetic and physical maps, gene expression profiles and whole genome sequences.
The first section of this book provides background information for tropical agriculture of its crops. The second section consists of concise summaries of genomic research for the economically most important tropical crop plant species.
Introduction.- International Programs and the Use of Modern Biotechnologies for Crop Improvement.- Transgenics for New Plant Products, Applications to Tropical Crops.- Genomics of Banana and Plantain (Musa spp.), Major Staple Crops in the Tropics.- Genomics of Phaseolus Beans, a Major Source of Dietary Protein and Micronutrients in the Tropics.- Genomics of Theobroma cacao, "the Food of the Gods".- Chickpea, a Common Source of Protein and Starch in the Semi-Arid Tropics.- Genomics of Citrus, a Major Fruit Crop of Tropical and Subtropical Regions.- Genomics of Coffee, One of the World's Largest Traded Commodities.- Cowpea, a Multifunctional Legume.- Genomics of Eucalyptus, a Global Tree for Energy, Paper, and Wood.- Ginger and Turmeric, Ancient Spices and Modern Medicines.- Genomics of Macadamia, a Recently Domesticated Tree Nut Crop.- Genomics of Tropical Maize, a Staple Food and Feed across the World.- Molecular Research in Oil Palm, the Key Oil Crop for the Future.- Genomics of Papaya, a Common Source of Vitamins in the Tropics.- Genomics of Peanut, a Major Source of Oil and Protein.- Genomics of Pineapple, the Crown of Tropical Fruits.- Genomics of Tropical Solanaceous Species: Established and Emerging Crops.- Genomics of Sorghum, a Semi-Arid Cereal and Emerging Model for Tropical Grass Genomics.- Sugarcane: a Major Source of Sweetness, Alcohol, and Bio-energy.- Genomics of Wheat, the Basis of Our Daily Bread.- Genomics of Yams, a Common Source of Food and Medicine in the Tropics.
Paul H. Moore is the Research Leader of the USDA's Tropical Plant Physiology, Disease and Production Unit at the Hawaiian Agricultural Research Center located in AIEA, Hawaii. Ray Ming is an Associate Professor of the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
From the reviews: "This book forms a part of a series of books on the study of plant genomics. It has been structured to provide and discuss recent genetic and genomic studies on the principal cultivated plants and existing genetic models. With this, it aims to improve the identification, characterization and clonage of agriculturally important genes. ! gives an opportunity to both investigators and students to update methods, strategies, applications and perspectives on tropical plant genomics of agricultural interest." (Rosario Dominguez Ciespo Hirata, Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2010)