Plant Biotechnology Handbook

Plant biotechnology is a precise process in which scientific techniques are used to develop molecular and cellular based technologies to improve plant productivity, quality and health; to improve the quality of plant products; or to prevent, reduce or eliminate constraints to plant productivity caused by diseases, pest organisms and environmental stresses. It can be defined as human intervention on plant material by means of technological instruments in order to produce permanent effects, and includes genetic engineering and gene manipulation to obtain transgenic plants. Plant genetic engineering is used to produce new inheritable combinations by introducing external DNA to plant material in an unnatural way. The results are genetically modified plants (GMPs) or transgenic plants. The key instrument used in plant biotechnology is the plant tissue culture (PTC) technique which refers to the in vitro culture of protoplasts, cells, tissues and organs. Plant biotechnology in use today relies on advanced technology, which allows plant breeders to make precise genetic changes to impart beneficial traits to plants. The application of biotechnology in agriculture has resulted in benefits to farmers, producers and consumers. Plant biotechnology has helped make both insect pest control and weed management safer and easier while safeguarding plants against disease. The worldwide demand for food, feed and modern textile fibers can only be met in the future with the help of plant biotechnology. It has the potential to open up whole new business areas that will totally redefine the current market scope and perception. This book majorly deals with the organisms of biotechnology, herbicide resistant plants, transgenic plants with improved storage proteins, engineering for preservation of fruits, enhancing the photosynthetic efficiency, basic requirements for nitrogen fixation, animal and plant cell cultures , insecticides, cellular characteristics which influence the choice of cell , the growth of animal and plant cells immobilized within a confining matrix, virus free clones through plant tissue culture , microbial metabolism of carbon dioxide , organisms involved in the conversion of hydrogen, hydrogen utilization by aerobic hydrogen oxidizing bacteria, overproduction of microbial metabolites, regulation of metabolite synthesis etc. The book contains measurement of plant cell growth, plant tissue culture, initiation of embryo genesis in suspension culture, micro propagation in plants, isolation of plant DNA and many more. This is very helpful book for entrepreneurs, consultants, students, institutions, researchers etc.