Features:

• Analyzes the impact of biotechnology of the cultivation and processing of fruits and vegetables
• Discusses the modifications to traits such as fruit quality and resistance to environmental stress
• Includes the use of molecular markers in plant breeding
• Provides case studies illustrating how genetic modification enhances particular fruit and vegetables
• Explores consumer attitudes, consumer confidence, and risk assessment

Drawing on an international team of contributors, Fruit and Vegetables Biotechnology analyzes the major impact of genetic modification on fruit and vegetable cultivation and processing.

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Tools of genetic engineering in plants
   • The selection and isolation of genes
   • Transformation and regeneration of plants
   • The stability of the transgenes
   • Environmental risk assessment
   • Future trends
1. Targets for transformation
   3. Genetic modification of agronomic traits in fruit crops
      • Somaclonal variation
      • Gene transformation
      • Genetic Stability
      • Plant development and reproduction
      • Fruit quality
      • Biotic stress
      • Abiotic stress resistance
      • Plant breeding: the use of molecular markers
      • Abbreviations used in this chapter

   4. Genes involved in plant defence mechanisms Genes involved in plant defence mechanisms
      • Mechanisms of plant response to pathogens
      • Genes in the defence against virus
      • Genes in the defence against fungi
      • Genes in the defence against insects and nematodes
      • Long-term impact of genetically modified plants in their response to pathogens
      • Future trends

   5. Genes selected for their role in modifying post-harvest life
      • Biotechnological control of fruit ripening and post-harvest diseases
      • Biotechnological control of vegetable ripening and post-harvest diseases
      • Future trends

   6. The use of molecular genetics to improve food properties
      • Changing the nutritional value of foods
      • The modification of fruit colour and sweetness
      • The modification of food-processing properties of fruit
      • Molecular farming and therapeutic food
      • Future trends

   7. The nutritional enhancement of plant foods
      • The nutritional importance of plants
      • Strategies for nutritional enhancement
      • The properties for nutritional enhancement
      • Relationship of structure to nutritional quality (bioavailabilty)
      • Nutritional enhancement versus food fortification
      • Constraints on innovation
      • Future trends

2. Case studies
   8. Tomato
      • Modifications targeting fruit
      • Modifications targeting seeds and germination
      • Modifications targeting biotic and abiotic stress tolerance<
      • Modifications targeting vegetative tissues and flowers
      • Expression of novel proteins in tomato
      • Regulation of transgenic gene expression in tomato

   9. Commercial developments with transgenic potato
      • Markets and challenges
      • Potato breeding and a role for GM technology
      • Commercial applications of GM potato crops
      • Current and future potential for GM potato
      • Revised legislation on GM crops in Europe
      • The future

   10. Other fruit and vegetables
       • Melon, cucumber and other cucurbits
       • Pepper
       • Eggplant
       • Legumes
       • Bulky organs: carrots, sweet potatoes, allium species
       • Leafy vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach) and asparagus
       • Conclusion and future trends

3. Consumer attitudes and risk assessment
   11. Consumer attitudes
       • Plant biotechnology and public attitudes
       • What is meant by the term 'Attitude'?
       • Changes in attitudes
       • Risk perception and impact on attitudes
       • A case study: Impact of media reporting on public attitudes towards genetically modified foods
       • Communication about genetically modified foods and models of attitude change
       • Approaches to communication
       • 'Democratic' approaches
       • Fruit and vegetable biotechnology- consumer issues for the future
       • Functional foods and consumer issues- implications for fruit and vegetable biotechnology

   12. Risk assessment
       • Risk assessment and avoidance: general principles
       • Assessing the impact of genetically modified crops: agricultural systems and uncultured flora
       • Impact on insects and animals
       • Impact on human health

Index

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