Crop Improvement And Mutation Breeding (2nd Ed)

DETAILS : 

• Author: Prof. A.K. Sharma
  
• Publisher: Scientific Publishers
  
• ISBN:  9789391418175
  
• Hardcover: 263 Pages
  
• Weight: 650 g 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Crop Improvement And Mutation Breeding (2nd Edition), co-authored by the esteemed agricultural scientist Prof. A.K. Sharma along with Ramavtar Sharma, and published by Scientific Publishers, is an authoritative and comprehensive academic manual. Spanning a highly structured narrative across twenty exhaustive chapters, this second edition serves as a definitive textbook and reference guide for undergraduate ($U.G.$) and postgraduate ($P.G.$) agricultural students, researchers, university teachers, and scientists specializing in plant breeding and genetics. The volume is explicitly engineered to consolidate global research activities, practical protocols, and technical advancements in mutation breeding under a single, highly navigable text.

The primary objective of this edition is to provide an in-depth understanding of how induced genetic variations can be leveraged to accelerate the development of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and disease-resistant crop varieties. The book systematically deconstructs dense biological and technological data into sequential learning blocks. It begins by laying down the foundations of genetics, tracking the history of mutation breeding and the fundamental structural differences between spontaneous and induced mutations. It then dives deep into the classification of mutations, evaluating the distinct modes of action behind physical mutagens like gamma rays or X-rays and chemical mutagens like EMS.

Crucially, the text transitions into complex cellular mechanisms, detailing DNA repair pathways, mutagenic effects, $M_1$ damage indicators, and specific mutagenicity testing methods. The operational core of the manual focuses heavily on active breeding techniques, contrasting the practical application methods required for sexually propagated seed crops against those used for asexually or vegetatively propagated species. Modern additions to this second edition expand heavily on cutting-edge techniques, detailing in vitro mutagenesis, functional genomics, mutant library constructions, and real-world agricultural case studies of landmark mutant varieties that transformed global food security. This text serves as a highly scannable, conceptually grounded toolkit that successfully bridges abstract genetic theory with practical field execution, making it a critical asset for various competitive agricultural examinations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. A.K. Sharma is a distinguished Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics associated with the Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University (SKRAU) in Bikaner, Rajasthan. With decades of field-level research experience and academic leadership, Dr. Sharma is a highly respected authority in the South Asian agricultural scientific community. His research is prominently focused on arid legumes, crop adaptation under abiotic stress, and the deployment of induced mutations to rectify specific genetic flaws in elite germplasms.

Dr. Sharma’s authorial style is defined by its meticulous technical accuracy, student-friendly pedagogical layout, and clear operational language. He excels at turning dense biomolecular procedures into step-by-step methodologies that scientists and students can easily execute in laboratory and field conditions. Collaborating closely with co-author Ramavtar Sharma, his textbook editions remain a trusted staple across Indian agricultural universities for formatting curriculum standards and guiding competitive exam aspirants.