Linear Selection Indices in Modern Plant Breeding

The book remains a comprehensive and up-to-date reference work on the biology of aphids, the various methods of controlling them and the progress of integrated pest management as illustrated by ten case histories. Helmut van Emden is Emeritus Professor of Horticulture at the University of Reading, UK. He has researched on aphids for over 50 years and has wide international experience, including in the tropics. Richard Harrington retired in 2015 as Head of the Rothamsted Insect Survey, with which he worked for 36 years on aphid monitoring and forecasting. He led the EU project “EXAMINE” (Exploitation of Aphid Monitoring In Europe) which brought together colleagues involved in aphid monitoring throughout Europe and beyond.

The livelihoods of millions of people in developing countries, which depend on dryland agriculture to ensure their food security and their well-being, could be improved measurably by gains in agricultural crop yields. This book describes lessons learnt from an innovative scheme in India that improved crop yields in drylands. It shows how the scheme can be scaled up for other dryland regions of the world. The scheme uses localized soil nutrient analyses to create an integrated, climate smart fertilizer and planting plan that maximises yields for farmers.

‘This well-documented book provides a thorough survey of the several problems facing one of the major participants in the management of one of America’s natural resources. It belongs in the library of anyone involved in resources policy…’

The transposable genetic elements, or transposons, as they are now known, have had a tumultuous history. Discovered in the mid-20th century by Barbara McClintock, they were initially received with puzzlement. When their genomic abundance began to be apparent, they were categorized as “junk DNA” and acquired the label of parasites. Expanding understanding of gene and genome organization has revealed the profound extent of their impact on both.

This book examines how government, industry and society interact to reach a level of regulation that is deemed satisfactory for the newly-emerged transformative technology that is agricultural biotechnology. It considers issues of risk and trust surrounding genetically modified plants for the production of food and pharmaceuticals.