Chapter 1. Botanical Features of Periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus -- Chapter 2. Catharanthus roseus: A Source of Anticancer Phytomedicines -- Chapter 3. Classical Breeding and Trait Genetics in Catharanthus -- Chapter 4. Somatic Embryogenesis in Catharanthus roseus: Proteomics of Embryogenic and Nonembryogenic Tissues; and Genome Size Analysis of Regenerated Plant -- Chapter 5. Alkaloid Synthesis in in vitro Cultures of Catharanthus roseus: Capabilities and Limitations -- Chapter 6. Genetic Transformation in Catharanthus roseus -- Chapter 7. Molecular Markers and Descriptor's Suitable for Quantitative Trait Loci and Genome Mapping in Catharanthus roseus -- Chapter 8. Sequencing the Genome of Catharanthus roseus: Status and Prospects -- Chapter 9. Functional Genomics Approaches for Gene Discovery Related to Terpenoid Indole Alkaloid Biosynthetic Pathway in Catharanthus roseus -- Chapter 10. Future Prospects for Research on Catharanthus roseus.

This book is the first comprehensive compilation of deliberations on botany, medicinal importance, genetic diversity, classical genetics and breeding, in vitro biosynthesis, somatic embryogenesis, genetic transformation, molecular mapping, genome sequence, and functional genomics of Catharanthus roseus. Catharanthus is the most important medicinal plant in the world that contains about 130 therapeutic alkaloids out of which vinblastine and vincristine are the two highly used anticancer drugs sold by the pharmaceutically industries. Altogether, the book contains about 10 chapters authored by globally reputed experts on the relevant field of this plant. This book is useful to the students, teachers and scientists in the academia and relevant private companies interested in horticulture, genetics, breeding, pathology, entomology, physiology, molecular genetics and breeding, in vitro culture and genetic engineering, and structural and functional genomics. This book is also useful to pharmaceutical industries.