Author
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DIERIG, DAVID |
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Submitted to: Haworth Press
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2004 Publication Date: 6/15/2005 Citation: Dierig, D.A. 2005. Recent developments in stress tolerance breeding in oilseed crops. In: Abiotic stress: Plant resistance through breeding and molecular approaches. M. Ashraf and P.J.C. Haarris (eds). Haworth Press. pp. 557-594. Interpretive Summary: Drought, salinity, deficits or excesses of plant nutrients, excesses of metals, temperature extremes, and exposure to pollutants inhibit the growth and development of plants. Scarcity of agricultural lands has forced the use of lands with harsher climates. Countries with lower land and production costs maintain a competitive advantage in the international market for major oilseed crops. Since there are no economically feasible technological improvements for this situation available in the near future, tolerance to stress must be developed. Methodologies to improve plant yields under stressful conditions have changed recently and oilseed varieties possessing resistant genes to stress are being developed. Plant breeding has expanded from traditional selection of plants based on favorable traits to include the use of molecular markers and genetic transformations. This chapter covers the most recent developments in breeding for stress tolerance of oilseed crops over the past ten years. This information will be beneficial to oilseed breeders and physiologists involved in crop improvement. Technical Abstract: Worldwide population growth has increased the demands on agriculture. Scarcity of agricultural lands lost to urban sprawl has increased land costs and forced less costly marginal lands with harsher microclimates into production. Countries with lower land and production inputs maintain a competitive advantage in the international market for major oilseeds. As a result, it is not only critical for yields to increase, but they must also occur in more stressful environments. Most high yielding varieties are not sustainable in such areas. Development of genotypes possessing desirable genes able to confer abiotic stress resistance in crops is necessary for improvement. A number of environmental conditions inhibit the growth and development of plants. Drought, salinity, deficits or excesses of plant nutrients, excesses of metals, temperature extremes, and exposure to pollutants are some of these. Pollutants may include pesticides, detergents, lubricants, and fuels entering the environment. Since there are no economically feasible technological improvements for this situation available in the near future, tolerance to stress must be developed. Methodologies to improve a plant's yielding capacity under abiotic stresses have changed in the recent past. Plant breeding has expanded from traditional selection of plants based on morphology and physiology, or the recombination of favorable traits through hybridization to include the use of molecular markers in marker assisted selection and genetic transformations, including the identification, characterization, and manipulation of gene sequences. This chapter covers the most recent developments in breeding for stress tolerance in oilseed crops over the past ten years. |
