Molecular Biology and Crop Improvement

This book identifies targets for plant transformation by molecular biology for two crops of major importance in European agriculture - wheat and oilseed rape - and the potentially important protein crop faba beans. Modern techniques have enabled researchers to identify, isolate and modify plant genes, and much effort is now being devoted to improving these techniques and to adapting them to crop plants. By these means, it should prove possible to make defined changes to plants of commercial value, to improve their yield, quality and resistance to stresses, pests and diseases. This volume results from a report prepared for the Genetics and Biotechnology Division of the Commission of the European Communities by Dr Austin and his colleagues at the Plant Breeding Institute, where some of the work is being carried out. It therefore provides an authoritative account of the area for research workers and students.