Cereal Tissue and Cell Culture (Advances in Agricultural Biotechnology, 15)

Cereals are the major food crops of the world. Great improvements made by plant breeders and those involved in husbandry and crop protection have led to rapid increases in yields in the farmers' fields. To feed the growing world population, this process must continue. In view of the great interest currently generated in the genetic manipulation of crop plants, it is timely to bring together in one volume a wide range of aspects important in developing new ways of improving cereals. The ability to manipulate tissues and cells in culture is a fundamental part of these emerging technologies. Accordingly, gathered in this volume are contributions from a group of scientists from Britain, USA and Australia, with wide experience of cereal tissue and cell culture. In it, both current applications and more speculative areas are covered. Successful technologies, and areas where further research is urgently needed, are described.