Keywords
Traditional Crops, Underutilized Crops, Crop Improvement, Plant Breeding, Genetic Diversity, Sustainable Agriculture, Marker Assisted Selection, Participatory Plant Breeding, Quantitative Genetics, Qualitative Traits, Population Genetics, Climate Resilient Crops, Crop Genetic Resources, Food and Nutritional Security, Conventional Plant Breeding, Molecular Breeding, Genotype Environment Interaction, Breeding for Stress Tolerance, Indigenous Crop Improvement, Sustainable Crop ProductionImprovement of Traditional and Underutilized Crops
authored by: P.K.VermaLength: 229 mm | Breadth: 21.6 mm | Height: 152 mm | Imprint: CONTENT VIBES | Weight: GMS
This book will be available from 18-Sep-2026
Improvement of Traditional and Underutilized Crops provides a comprehensive understanding of the principles, strategies, and modern approaches used for the genetic improvement of traditional, indigenous, and underutilized crop species. The book highlights the importance of these crops in ensuring food security, nutritional diversity, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture.
The text systematically explains the fundamentals of crop improvement, inheritance patterns, qualitative and quantitative traits, population genetics, genotype × environment interactions, heritability, and breeding systems in crop plants. Detailed discussions on physiological traits, mineral nutrition, stress tolerance, and breeding objectives under natural farming systems help readers understand the scientific basis of sustainable crop improvement.
Special emphasis is given to breeding for disease resistance, quality improvement, adaptability, multipurpose utilization, and participatory breeding approaches. Modern techniques such as molecular markers, marker-assisted selection, and advanced breeding methods are also discussed for enhancing crop productivity and resilience. Designed for students, researchers, breeders, and agricultural professionals, this book serves as a valuable resource for conserving and improving traditional crop genetic resources for future agricultural sustainability.
Chapter 1. Introduction to Traditional and Underutilized Crops
Chapter 2. Diversity and Conservation of Underutilized Crops
Chapter 3. Fundamentals of Crop Improvement
Chapter 4. Laws of Inheritance
Chapter 5. Qualitative Traits in Crop Improvement
Chapter 6. Quantitative Traits and Polygenic Inheritance
Chapter 7. Pureline Theory and Selection Concepts
Chapter 8. Components of Phenotypic Variation
Chapter 9. Genotype × Environment Interaction
Chapter 10. Heritability and Breeder’s Equation
Chapter 11. Population Genetics Principles
Chapter 12. Mating Systems in Crop Plants
Chapter 13. Crop Population Types
Chapter 14. Physiological Basis of Crop Improvement
Chapter 15. Mineral Nutrition and Crop Performance
Chapter 16. Breeding Objectives under Natural Farming Systems
Chapter 17. Breeding for Resistance, Quality, and Adaptation
Chapter 18. Breeding for Multipurpose Traits
Chapter 19. Conventional Plant Breeding Techniques
Chapter 20. Advanced and Participatory Breeding Approaches