The book covers the latest development in the biosciences field covering key topics in crop
improvement including 'omic approaches to improving sustainable crop production advancement in
marker technology strategies in genetic manipulation crop quality and sustainability and
plant microbe interaction detailing on proven technologies to address critical issue for
agricultural sustainability which are beneficial for researchers and students. The book also
includes aspects of preserving crops after harvest as this is a key factor in promoting
sustainable crop quality in terms of addressing waste choosing the appropriate packaging and
moving crops through the food and industrial supply chain. An important strategy to overcome
the challenges in providing food for the world population in a sustainable manner is through
concerted efforts by crop scientists to embrace new technologies in increasing yield quality
and improving food safety while minimizing adverse environmental impact of the agricultural
activities. Most of the proven molecular and genetic technologies in crop science have been
tested and verified in model plants such as Arabidopsis and tomato. The technologies when
deployed on various plant species of importance for human nutrition and industrial applications
including cereals vegetables fruits herbs fibre and oil crops face many challenges not
only due to their longer life cycle but many other physiological and environmental factors
affecting yield and quality of plant products. Furthermore major impacts on crop production
due to catastrophic diseases and global climate change needs urgent and innovative solutions.
Therefore a systematic approach employing various leading-edge technologies that enable the
functional elucidation of key pathway genes via 'omics tools genome wide association with
desired phenotypes and development of cost effective and practicable molecular tools for
selection is vital. The International Conference on Crop Improvement was held to address these
and other pressing issues. This volume summarizes the keynote presentations from the meeting
and highlights addition discussions that are critical to crop improvement in a challenging
time.
