Handbook of Maize: Its Biology PDF Download

Author: Jeff L. Bennetzen
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 0387794182
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 593

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Book Description
Handbook of Maize: Its Biology centers on the past, present and future of maize as a model for plant science research and crop improvement. The book includes brief, focused chapters from the foremost maize experts and features a succinct collection of informative images representing the maize germplasm collection.

Author: Michael Freeling
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461226945
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 776

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Book Description
The Maize Handbook represents the collective efforts of the maize research community to enumerate the key steps of standard procedures and to disseminate these protocols for the common good. Although the material in this volume is drawn from experience with maize, many of the procedures, protocols, and descriptions are applicable to other higher plants, particularly to other grasses. The power and resolution of experiments with maize depend on the wide range of specialized genetic techniques and marked stocks; these materials are available today as the culmination of nearly 100 years of genetic research. A major goal of this volume is to introduce this genetical legacy and to highlight current stock construction programs that will soon benefit our work, e. g. high-density RFLP maps, deletion stocks, etc. Both stock construction and maintenance are relatively straightforward in maize as a result of the ease of crossing and the longevity of stored seeds. Crossing is facilitated by the separate staminate (tassel) and pistillate (ear) flowers, a feature almost unique to maize. On the other hand, many of the genetic methodologies utilized with maize, including the precision of record keeping, can be adapted to other plants. Facile communication and a spirit of co-operation have characterized the maize genetics community since its earliest days. Starting in the 1930s, institutions such as annual Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter, the Maize Genetics Stock Center, and the annual maize genetics meeting provide continuity to the field.

Author: Jeff L. Bennetzen
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 0387778632
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 785

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Book Description
Maize is one of the world’s highest value crops, with a multibillion dollar annual contribution to agriculture. The great adaptability and high yields available for maize as a food, feed and forage crop have led to its current production on over 140 million hectares worldwide, with acreage continuing to grow at the expense of other crops. In terms of tons of cereal grain produced worldwide, maize has been number one for many years. Moreover, maize is expanding its contribution to non-food uses, including as a major source of ethanol as a fuel additive or fuel alternative in the US. In addition, maize has been at the center of the transgenic plant controversy, serving as the first food crop with released transgenic varieties. By 2008, maize will have its genome sequence released, providing the sequence of the first average-size plant genome (the four plant genomes that are now sequenced come from unusually tiny genomes) and of the most complex genome sequenced from any organism. Among plant science researchers, maize has the second largest and most productive research community, trailing only the Arabidopsis community in scale and significance. At the applied research and commercial improvement levels, maize has no peers in agriculture, and consists of thousands of contributors worthwhile. A comprehensive book on the biology of maize has not been published. The "Handbook of Maize: the Genetics and Genomics" center on the past, present and future of maize as a model for plant science research and crop improvement. The books include brief, focused chapters from the foremost maize experts and feature a succinct collection of informative images representing the maize germplasm collection.

Author: Hansjoerg Kraehmer
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119416809
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 585

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Book Description
Combines new findings on morphological aspects, the latest data on gene function in grasses, and the interaction of grasses with their habitats 45% of all arable land is covered by five grass crops: wheat, maize, rice, barley and sugar cane. This book demonstrates why crops and weeds are growing in characteristic environments today, and looks at how cropping practices may change in the future and how these changes will affect weed spectra. It explains the distribution of grasses and their role for mankind and summarizes our knowledge on grass genomes. Special emphasis is placed on the function of genes at defined developmental stages and in organs of grasses. The development of grasses is then described from the germination to fruit set with many unpublished examples. Grasses: Crops, Competitors and Ornamentals provides readers with a comparative description of selected grass organs (stem, root, leaf, inflorescence) and devotes several chapters to habitats of grasses and morphological characteristics that enable grasses to grow in special environments. In addition, some chapters deal with grasses as crops and weeds, and emphasis is placed on their adaptation to modern agriculture. Predicts how cropping practices may change in the future and how these changes will affect weed spectra Details grasses as crops and weeds, emphasizing their adaptation to modern agriculture Summarizes our knowledge on grass genomes Connects classical morphology with the latest tools in molecular biology as well as ecological aspects determining the wide distribution of grass species today Grasses: Crops, Competitors and Ornamentals will be of great interest to agricultural scientists who want to know more about crops and weeds, grassland specialists and breeders interested in special grass traits, and molecular biologists and ecologists who study the biology and habitat of grasses.

Author: Elizabeth A. Kellogg
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319153323
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 413

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Book Description
This volume is the outcome of a modern phylogenetic analysis of the grass family based on multiple sources of data, in particular molecular systematic studies resulting from a concerted effort by researchers worldwide, including the author. In the classification given here grasses are subdivided into 12 subfamilies with 29 tribes and over 700 genera. The keys and descriptions for the taxa above the rank of genus are hierarchical, i.e. they concentrate upon characters which are deemed to be synapomorphic for the lineages and may be applicable only to their early-diverging taxa. Beyond the treatment of phylogeny and formal taxonomy, the author presents a wide range of information on topics such as the structural characters of grasses, their related functional aspects and particularly corresponding findings from the field of developmental genetics with inclusion of genes and gene products instrumental in the shaping of morphological traits (in which this volume appears unique within this book series); further topics addressed include the contentious time of origin of the family, the emigration of the originally shade-loving grasses out of the forest to form vast grasslands accompanied by the switch of many members to C4 photosynthesis, the impact of herbivores on the silica cycle housed in the grass phytoliths, the reproductive biology of grasses, the domestication of major cereal crops and the affinities of grasses within the newly circumscribed order Poales. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of existing knowledge on the Poaceae (Gramineae), with major implications in terms of key scientific challenges awaiting future research. It certainly will be of interest both for the grass specialist and also the generalist seeking state-of-the-art information on the diversity of grasses, the most ecologically and economically important of the families of flowering plants.

Author: Sergio O. Serna-Saldivar
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0128118865
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 692

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Book Description
Corn: Chemistry and Technology, Third Edition, provides a broad perspective on corn from expert agronomists, food scientists and geneticists. This encyclopedic storehouse of comprehensive information on all aspects of the world's largest crop (in metric tons) includes extensive coverage of recent development in genetic modification for the generation of new hybrids and genotypes. New chapters highlight the importance of corn as a raw material for the production of fuel bioethanol and the emerging topic of phytochemicals or nutraceutical compounds associated to different types of corns and their effect on human health, especially in the prevention of chronic diseases and cancer. Written by international experts on corn, and edited by a highly respected academics, this new edition will remain the industry standard on the topic. - Presents new chapters that deal with specialty corns, the production of first generation bioethanol, and the important relationship of corn phytochemicals or nutraceuticals with human health - Provides contributions from a new editor and a number of new contributors who bring a fresh take on this highly successful volume - Includes vastly increased content relating to recent developments in genetic modification for the generation of new hybrids and genotypes - Contains encyclopedic coverage of grain chemistry and nutritional quality of this extensively farmed product - Covers the production and handling of corn, with both food and non-food applications

Author: Stephen L. Goldman
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1482210584
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description
This book evaluates maize as a bioenergy fuel source from two perspectives. It explores whether the input energy needed to generate fuel significantly exceeded by the energy harvested. In examining this issue, the chapters provide assessments of the social, economic, and political impact on fuel pricing, food costs, and the environmental challenge with corn biomass the engine of change. It then examines whether corn be genetically improved so that its biomass is significantly increased, its cellulose-lignin complex made more amenable to harvesting and to processing, and grown in regions not normally associated with its cultivation of food.

Author: Ramakrishna Wusirika
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1482228122
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 313

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Book Description
Sequencing of the maize genome has opened up new opportunities in maize breeding, genetics and genomics research. This book highlights modern trends in development of hybrids, analysis of genetic diversity, molecular breeding, comparative and functional genomics, epigenomicsand proteomics in maize. The use of maize in biofuels, phytoremediation and pharmaceuticals is also highlighted. Current research trends, future research directions and challenges are discussed by a panel of experts from all over the world.

Author: Dharam Paul Chaudhary
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 8132216237
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
Maize is a globally important crop mainly utilized as feed, food and raw material for diverse industrial applications. Among cereals, it occupies third place after rice and wheat and is a staple food for a large segment of population worldwide particularly in the Asian as well as African countries. This monogram discusses various aspects of nutritional quality of maize such as quality protein maize which has been considered as most significant discovery in enhancing nutritional quality of cereals in terms of increasing the concentration of essential amino acids. The biochemistry of starch which is an important industrial product of maize has been discussed in detail. Further, the role of maize oil which is highly regarded for human consumption as it reduces the blood cholesterol concentration has also been elaborated. Naturally, maize is a rich source of carotenoids such as beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, cryptoxanthin which have highly diverse health benefits ranging from maintaining normal vision to lowering of oxidative stress. The need for biofortification of maize for provitamin A carotenoids and their role in alleviating vision impairments have also been discussed. The effect of various biotic and abiotic stresses particularly carbon dioxide and temperature on quality has been discussed thoroughly. Many value-added products as well as fermented foods that have been produced from maize which is consumed in different forms worldwide are also discussed. The aspects related to the maize application as fodder and as a source of malting have also been covered concisely. Overall, the book provides complete information about various quality aspects of maize. The various stakeholders such as maize researchers, extension specialists, students, teachers as well as farmers will be immensely benefitted from this monogram.

Author: Paolo A. Sabelli
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889196755
Category : Botany
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
The seed plays a fundamental role in plant reproduction as well as a key source of energy, nutrients and raw materials for developing and sustaining humanity. With an expanding and generally more affluent world population projected to reach nine billion by mid-century, coupled to diminishing availability of inputs, agriculture is facing increasing challenges to ensure sufficient grain production. A deeper understanding of seed development, evolution and physiology will undoubtedly provide a fundamental basis to improve plant breeding practices and ultimately crop yields. Recent advances in genetic, biochemical, molecular and physiological research, mostly brought about by the deployment of novel high-throughput and high-sensitivity technologies, have begun to uncover and connect the molecular networks that control and integrate different aspects of seed development and help determine the economic value of grain crops with unprecedented details. The objective of this e-book is to provide a compilation of original research articles, reviews, hypotheses and perspectives that have recently been published in Frontiers in Plant Science, Plant Evolution and Development as part of the Research Topic entitled "Advances in Seed Biology". Editing this Research Topic has been an extremely interesting, educational and rewarding experience, and we sincerely thank all authors who contributed their expertise and in-depth knowledge of the different topics discussed. We hope that the information presented here will help to establish the state of the art of this field and will convey how exciting and important studying seeds is and hopefully will stimulate a new crop of scientists devoted to investigating the biology of seeds.