Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. I. Potential Biotechnologies: 2. In Vitro regeneration. 3. Germplasm conservation In Vitro. 4. Somaclonal variation. 5. In Vitro haploidization. 6. Protoplast culture and somatic Hybridization. 7. Nonmorphological markers. 8. Plant genetic transformation systems. II. Application to Important Fruit Crops: 9. Mango. 10. Citrus. 11. Banana. 12. Grapes. 13. Guava. 14. Papaya. 15. Apple. 16. Biosafety systems for novel bioengineered fruit crops and patenting. Glossary. References. Index.

"This text-cum-reference book is aimed to set the agenda for role of plant biotechnology in improvement of fruit crops in complementarity with conventional improvement methods in 21st century. The text is divided into two parts. Part I deals with Potential Biotechnologies and, in Part II, their application to important fruit crops, viz Mango, Citrus, Banana, Papaya, Guava, Grapes and Apple is discussed with emphasis on limitations of conventional improvement methods and possible biotechnological resolutions. A separate chapter in Part II (Chapter 16) is devoted to biosafety Systems for Novel Bioengineered Fruit Crops and Patenting, hotly debated subjects amongst environmentalists and entrepreneurs corporate world.

"Though it is difficult to review all the literature in this rapidly expanding field, every effort has been made to include that is latest and relevant in this area." (jacket)