The volume on oilseed crops is developed as a part of a series on “Handbook of Agrobiodiversity: Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources”. It will have a series of chapters dealing with different oilseed crops. The chapters will contain comprehensive information regarding the status of genetic diversity in each crop species that would facilitate priority conservation in gene banks, research and use in crop improvement. Since genetic improvement of cultivated species is facilitated by continued genetic engineering of cultigens with greater resilience to stresses and productivity, it is vital to use overall genetic variation found in individuals belonging to the cultivated species and/or the ancestral species related to cultivated species. These are the plant genetic sources from where transfer of genes or genetic introgression of desirable characteristics is possible through controlled breeding processes. Accessibility to the information about these plant genetic resources is therefore key to the success of the breeding efforts. Hence, comprehensive information is required about these resources to facilitate their conservation and long-term sustainable use in research and crop improvement.
The objective of volume on oilseeds is thus to promote efforts on conservation and use of plant genetic resources of crop species in crop improvement. The subject on oilseeds will be sub-divided into three sections each with several chapters. It will be a ready reference for availability and latest developments in oilseeds plant genetic resources, with up-to-date breeding strategies and programs for productivity and quality improvement. Its content will be developed by an international authorship of outstanding scientists with consistent track records in their fields of thought. The book will highlight basic and comprehensive knowledge on the origin, botany and global distribution of oilseeds plant genetic resources, their collection, conservation and utilization as well as constraints faced in their exploitation. It will also include information on the production, global status and availability of germplasm, conservation and breeding options as well as the status of potentially useful germplasm/stock for incorporation of desired traits and future perspectives in oilseed breeding. Special features to be included in this handbook are figures of each crop and pictures of its products, tables (list of accessions etc.), schematic diagrams of breeding processes and other useful illustrations.
The content will be in tertiary and digested knowledge format such that by reading it, the users can have first-hand knowledge about economics of the crop and its products, biology, availability/access to germplasm, breeding schemes and applicability of the processes and concepts presented therein. Thus, this handbook will be unique encompassing complete information thereby saving time for the reader who would have needed to search from wide and dispersed literature on the different subjects treated, sometimes without easy access to literature or libraries.