Breeding and Biotechnology of Grass and Bast Fiber Crops

The basic concept of this book is to study the use of both innovative and conventional plant breeding methods to develop new varieties of grass and bast fiber crops under different environmental conditions for sustainable fiber production. The book covers 19 genera including Dendrocalamus, Hordeum, Zea, Avena, Sorghum, Saccharum, Triticum, Musa, Linum, Cannabis, Apocynum, Corchorus, Hibiscus, Opuntia, Pongamia, Crotalaria, Cissus, Areca and Acacia. Chapters are written by internationally respected scholars and go through a review process to ensure quality presentation and scholarly accuracy. Each chapter begins with an introduction covering relevant backgrounds and provides an in-depth discussion of the topic supported by high-quality color photographs, illustrations, and relevant data. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research directions and a comprehensive list of relevant references to facilitate further reading. The book will be an excellent reference resource for breeders involved in fiber crop breeding programs that involve biotechnology and molecular tools alongside conventional breeding. It is suitable for both undergraduate and advanced graduate students majoring in agriculture, biotechnology and molecular breeding.