Taxonomically, tree crops do not con?ne to a few families, but spread across a section of genera, an attribute so unique that contributes immensely to genetic biodiversity even while cultivated at the commercial scale.
Tree species, spread across a wide range of genera, are indispensible to human life. Their breeding, poised to satisfy human needs, presents significant challenges. Tree crops face a variety of agronomic and horticultural problems in propagation, yield, appearance, quality, diseases and pest control, abiotic stresses and poor shelf-life. Additionally, shrinkage of cultivable land and the pressure of growing demand have resulted in growth of tree crops under marginal conditions that call for concerted efforts for their genetic improvement. Increased attention to the environment, sustainability and diet in recent years in turn magnifies the importance of study of these crops. With the use of modern molecular and biotechnological tools, the task of improving yield in tree crops is foremost in the acumen of future global agricultural research for sustainable production.
This 2-volume book series deals with both tropical and temperate tree crop species, and represents aneffort toward compilation of all available worldwide research on these subjects. This volume covers fruits and nuts (banana, mango, guava, papaya, grape, date palm, litchi, avocado, and cashew), oil crops (coconut, oil palm and olive), industrial crops (rubber) and beverages (coffee, tea and cocoa). The contributing authors are internationally-known specialists who provide first hand comprehensive knowledge. All contributory book chapters have been peer reviewed and revised accordingly. This book series is an indispensable reference for scientists, researchers, teachers, students, policy makers and planters.
S. Mohan Jain, Plant Biotechnologist, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
P. M. Priyadarshan, Plant Breeder, Rubber Research Institute of India.
From the reviews:
"Chapters are generally divided into several subsections, beginning with a botanical description of the crop and an overview of genetic resources available for breeding. The book highlights world production centers, crop uses, and value. ? Chapters also cover breeding techniques and the current employment of biotechnological applications for crop improvement. ? Each thoroughly referenced chapter provides an up-to-date review of literature that will be valuable for advanced readers. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and above." (R. M. Warner, Choice, Vol. 46 (11), July, 2009)
"This Tropical species volume of the Breeding plantation tree crops series ? aimed at providing 'comprehensive information on a package of conventional breeding, biotechnology and molecular tools to scientists, students and even policy makers and planters'. ? In conclusion, I would highly recommend this book to scientists (both breeders and plant biotechnologists), students, agronomists and ? tropical farmers too! It provides an updated vision on breeding and biotechnology applied to crop species of paramount economic interest for the tropical world." (Alain Rival, Annals of Botany, Vol. 104 (6), November, 2009)
