ABSTRACT
ABOUT THE VOLUME Oilseed Brassicas are a major source of vegetable oil for human consumption as well as being a valuable biofuel. This crop has undergone intensive breeding over the last few decades to produce oil with improved n tritional qualities and agronomic qualities. The initial chapters in this volume describe the history of Brassica oilseed crops, introduce the Brassica g nome, its evolution, diversity, classical genetic stu ies and breedi g. Subsequent ch pters d lve into molecular gen tic linkage and p ysical maps, genome sequencing, mutagenesis for trait improvement, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics. The final chapters detail methods for whole genome marker assisted breeding, the genetics and genomics of important traits including disease resistance, herbivory, insect and abiotic stress resistance before concluding with a chapter on the future prospects for Brassica improvement thr ugh genomics. This volume provides a view of current Brassica genetics, genomics and breeding research which is the foundati n for the continued understanding of oilseed Brassica species, t eir gen mes, evolution and further pot ntial as important food and biofuel rops.
