Agricultural Biotechnology

Biotechnology has gained more and more momentum in Agriculture because of its application in the development of transgenic plants, production of valuable drugs and in commercial micropropagation. Since the opportunities in this field are very high, "Agricultural Bio technology" has been included as one of the subjects for undergraduate students of agricultural universities. A good understanding of basic aspects of plant tissue culture, molecular biology and recombinant DNA technology is very important for realizing the application of biotechnology in agriculture. Though there are number of books published on agricultural biotechnology, this book has been brought in especially to explain the basic aspects of agricultural biotechnology in a simple and lucid manner. The contents of the book has been divided into six major parts viz., plant tissue culture, molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology environmental bio technology, industrial biotechnology and immunology. In plant tissue culture important laboratory practices, medium preparation, aseptic manipulation, somaclonal variation, haploid production, embryo culture, micropropagation, protoplast fusion and cryopreservation are dealt elaborately with figures. In case of molecular biology chapters, emphasis has been given for DNA organization, DNA replication, protein synthesis and DNA repair mechanisms. Before taking up the recombinant DNA techniques important aspects of restriction enzymes, plasmids have been touched upon. Protocols for various laboratory exercises have also been given. Application of biotechnology for industrial purposes has been explained in a simple manner. The chapters of this book have been designed in such a way that the subject can be understood by the students by self learning.