Description:
The fifth volume in this landmark series lays out the best paths for improving the yield of forage crops, which are grown to feed livestock. As the first comprehensive book on forage crops in decades, this resource compiles recent advances in genetic analysis and biotechnological methods, including molecular enhancements. Each crop-specific chapter is written by an internationally renowned scientist and covers plant origin, germplasm exploration and maintenance, taxonomy, and germplasm enhancement through chromosome engineering and mutation breeding. This work is certain to become a standard resource for those seeking to develop sustainable agriculture systems.
Review Quotes:
A specialist(s), who in most cases was intimately involved in some of the primary research reviewed, treats each crop group within a chapter. ... Chapters dealing with alfalfa, bahiagrass, bermudagrass, birdsfoot trefoil and Brachiaria are particularly comprehensive and present reviews of much of the taxonomy, history of genetic resource use, cytogenetics and breeding in these crop groups. These will serve as useful repositories of research results for forage breeders working with these cropss.
--Steven Smith, University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, in African Journal of Range and Forest Science, 2011, 28 (1)