Tree Improvement and Biotechnology

Forests are huge, natural, renewable resources of several useful products. They normally occupy a vast area, which simply can not be protected efficiently. Therefore, they are virtually regarded as open treasures of nature. The wise management of forests using biotechnological approaches is essential for the growth and prosperity of developing countries. Recent advances in biotechnology in forestry and tree improvement research and applications have enabled improvement of forest trees and its physiological functioning with varying success. This book, Tree Improvement and Biotechnology, is a unique, comprehensive one and provides up-to-date information relating to recent areas of research in forestry and tree improvement. This book contains 25 chapters covering various aspects of application of biotechnology in forest management, propagation techniques in woody plants, domestication of trees and agroforestry systems, arbuscular mycorrhiza, biomass of tropical forests and plantations, phylogenetic relationships, nutrient cycling, seed technology, agroforestry, etc. These chapters will provide useful information and encouragement to forestry researchers, biotechnologists, forest policy makers, planners and forestry field workers.