Breeding Disease-Resistant Horticultural Crops

Book excerpt: Breeding Disease-Resistant Horticultural Crops is a complete and comprehensive resource for understanding the concept of breeding disease resistant crops, especially horticultural crops. Breeders of horticultural crops face distinct challenges that are different from agronomy/row crops, and these crops do not benefit from the vast body of literature available for agronomic crops. This book covers the basic theories that underpin breeding for disease resistance and features extensive real-world examples. Both classical and biotechnical breeding methods are covered, with an emphasis on how these methods are adapted for horticultural species. Presented in a logical flow for the reader, this book addresses historical perspectives and context as it relates to breeding for disease resistance. It highlights treatments of resistance in the context of the phenotype, the genotype, the pathogen, the environment interaction, sources of resistance, and the deployment of resistance to obtain a durable resistance. - Explores the definition of horticultural "resistance", how it is inherited, and how resistance can be manipulated through breeding - Highlights the importance of the interaction among crops, pathogens, and environmental elements - Provides the latest references and insights as a foundation for further research