Applied Plant Genomics and Biotechnology

Applied plant genomics and biotechnology reviews the recent advancements in the post-genomic era, discussing how different varieties respond to abiotic and biotic stresses, investigating epigenetic modifications and epigenetic memory through analysis of DNA methylation states, applicative uses of RNA silencing and RNA interference in plant physiology and in experimental transgenics and plants modified to specific aims (production of high-value pharmaceutical proteins and metabolites in plants). The book provides an overview of research advances in plant biology, functional genomics, application of RNA silencing and RNA interference, RNA based vaccines, RNA signaling at distance, plant epigenetics, and exploring plants as factories for useful products and pharmaceuticals. The book reviews and discuss Plant Functional Genomic studies and the developments in the field, exploring the new technologies supporting the genetic improvement of plants and the production of plant varieties more resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. The specific crops are analysed in detail to provide a glimpse on the most up-to-date methods and topics of investigation. Chapter 1 presents a review on current state of GMO application in the world, and the regulation on GMO with the difference in rules between national authorities, and the efforts carried on to harmonise them in order to pave the way for the introduction of safe technologies such as cisgenic plants and novel plant products. In chapter 2 cytokinin metabolism and hormone signaling pathways are discussed in various tissues, with a presentation of the latest findings and improvements using barley modified plants. Chapter 3 discusses the problems associated with apple consumption by allergic individuals, with an overview on the most allergic isoforms and the potential approaches to reduce the allergen content in fruits. Chapter 4 introduces the various protocols used to produce transgenic plants modified for specific aims such as production of high-value pharmaceutical proteins, with several examples of enzymes and oral vaccines today under testing in new clinical trials through agreements by pharma industries. In chapter 5 the expression of virus proteins and virus-like particles in plants is presented, with potential as therapeutic virus vaccines. Chapter 6 introduce three plants belonging to Euphorbiaceae, castor bean, cassava and Jathropa. It discusses the genomic structure, the disease and viruses, and the potential methods of transformation. Chapter 7 offers an overview on the knowledge of the regulatory networks involved in flowering, such as control by vernalization in Arabidopsis and cereals, and microRNAs controlling transcription factors expression. Chapter 8 and 9 discuss the development and ripening processes in tomato, with a focus on epigenetics, and the exploitation of genomics and fruit modelling to establish fleshy fruit traits of interest. Chapter 10 discuss rice genomics, important agricultural traits, and potential of biotechnology and engineering to improve rice varieties. Chapter 11 presents an overview on the methods applied to study the tomato genome-wide DNA methylation, its regulation by small RNAs, the reprogramming during fruit ripening, and the ethylene dependent and independent DNA methylation changes. Chapter 12 discuss an important fruit crop of tropical countries, mango, with an overview of molecular methods for variety differentiation, and problems in fruit improvement by traditional and biotechnology methods. Chapter 13 is dedicated to the genomics of cotton, and the problematics of cotton biotechnology. Chapter 14 presents the most up-to-date information on the exploitation of virus technology in plant Functional Genomics studies. With presentation of several cases and applications, the chapter discusses Virus-based transient gene expression systems, Virus induced gene complementation (VIGC), Virus induced gene silencing (Sir VIGS, Mr VIGS) Virus-based microRNA silencing (VbMS) and Virus-based RNA mobility assays (VRMA). Chapter 15 presents an overview on PARP-domain containing enzymes involved in Stress- Induced Morphogenetic Response as well as in regulation of NAD signaling and ROS dependent synthesis of anthocyanins. Chapter 16 presents a synthesis of the technologies involved in oilseed rape studies, from genetic diversity to quality traits, genetic maps, genomic selection and comparative genomics for improvement of varieties.