Recent progress in explaining the science behind biological processes has
significantly enhanced our ability to exploit them for the benefit of mankind
and the environment. The evolution of plant breeding is a classic example of how
improved biological understanding has been adapted to provide more effective
methods of meeting the demands of a changing world. Modern biotechnology is the
latest stage in the development of plant breeding technology. The tools of the
biotechnologist increased the speed and precision of plant breeding techniques
and widened the choice of characters for selection. Modern biotechnology allows
crop improvement to take place at the level of individual genes. This book
provides an