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Title: BIOTECHNOLOGY OF HORTICULTURAL CROP IMPROVEMENT ACHIEVEMENTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Author
item Hammerschlag, Freddi
item SAXENA, PRAVEEN - UNIV GUELPH CANADA

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/28/2003
Publication Date: 11/10/2003
Citation: Hammerschlag, F.A., Saxena, P. 2003. Biotechnology of horticultural crop improvement achievements, opportunities and limitations. Acta Horticulture Proceedings. Volume 625

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The applications of biotechnology to the improvement of horticultural crops have been considerable. In vitro propagation technologies, commonly referred to as micropropagation, are the methods of choice for propagating a wide range of horticultural crops. Of great importance has been the link between micropropagation and pathogen elimination protocols which has led to pathogen-indexed plants for worldwide distribution. The application of biochemical and molecular markers to horticultural crops has also developed rapidly, with advances in technology from isozymes to RFLPs, to RAPDs, AFLPs and SSRs. Genetic markers are now routinely used for classifying and identifying germplasm, analysis of genetic relationships among breeding materials, constructing genetic linkage maps, and selective breeding. Novelty horticultural crops have been developed through various tissue culture techniques including wide hybridization and embryo rescue, induced mutagenesis, somaclonal variation, somatic hybridization, and organelle transplantation. Closely aligned with tissue culture technology has been genetic engineering of plants. Numerous horticultural crops have been improved by selective insertion of specific genes for increased shelf life, disease resistance, novel morphological and floral attributes, and enhanced nutritional composition. This volume of Acta Horticulturae is the Proceedings of the 2002 International Society for Horticultural Science Congress Symposium on Biotechnology of Horticultural Crop Improvement: Achievements, Opportunities and Limitations. The objective of this symposium was to provide an update and specific examples of the impact of biotechnology on horticultural crop improvement, some of the limitations, and including a very recent survey of the public's perception of genetic modification in the US. Another very important objective was to provide an opportunity for researchers from around the world to exchange information regarding these state of the art methodologies. One hundred and thirty-eight participants from 24 countries presented four keynote addresses, eight invited papers, 20 contributed oral papers and 106 posters. The various contributions in this book are organized, like sessions in the symposium, with four major themes: I- Progress in Using Molecular Markers for the Improvement and Identification of Horticultural Crops; II ' Innovations in Micropropagation of Horticultural Crops; III ' Genetic Engineering/Tissue Culture ' Enhancing the Quality and Productivity of Horticultural Crops; and IV ' Genetic Engineering - Impact of the Environment on Human Health and Public Acceptance.