Preface -- 1. Leymus racemosus: A potential species of gene pool enrichment for wheat improvement; H. Tsujimoto -- 2. Arachis gene pools and genetic improvement in groundnut; A.K. Singh -- 3. Genetic resources of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and their utilization; D. Ohri -- 4. Genetic improvement of cotton; A.H. Prakash -- 5. Genetic diversity and germplasm patterns in Brassica juncea; S.S. Banga -- 6. Potato diversity and its genetic enhancement; S.M. Paul Khurana -- 7. Genome plasticity in buckwheat; N.K. Chrungoo -- 8. Origin of genetic variability and improvement of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.); D. Ohri -- 9. Emerging invaders from the cultivated croplands: an invasion perspective; G. Prakash Sharma -- 10. Chromosome engineering for high precision crop improvement; H.K. Chaudhary -- 11. Overview of present status and potentials of genetic improvement of commonly cultivated alliums in India; R.H. Gohil -- 12. Utilization of germplasm for the genetic improvement of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]: the constraints and the opportunities; K.V. Bhat -- 13. Genetic improvement in the genus Eleusine; R. Agarwal -- 14. An ancient medicinal plant at the crossroads of modern horticulture and genetics: genetic resources and biotechnology of sea buckthorn (Hippophaë L., Elaeagnaceae); I. Bartish -- 15. Unlocking the potential of genetic resources for improvement of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) � the current scenario; S. Lakhanpaul. Index. .

Gene Pool Diversity and Crop Improvement ,Volume 1 provides comprehensive and latest insights on the evolutionary genesis of diversity, access and its utilization in the evolution of major crop species. The book focuses on the exploration and characterization of wild genetic resources that are reservoires of desired genetic variability in the assimilation of important crop species for the efficient utilization of these gene pools for sustainable genetic improvements to assure food security. A comprehensive account of various crops, origin, exploitation of the primary, secondary and tertiary gene pools through breeding, biosystematical, cytogenetical and molecular phylogenetical relationships, and genetic enhancement through biotechnological interventions among others have been provided as the necessary underpinnings to consolidate information on the effective and sustainable utilization of the related genetic resources. The contributions also unravel the understanding of the myriad complexities of genic and genomic interactions among species, more particularly of wild relatives of crop species and/or phylogenetically distant germplasm, to provide the necessary inputs to increase the effectiveness of genetic improvement through traditional and/or genetic engineering methods. The book is especially intended for students and scientists working on the genetic improvement of crop species. Plant breeders, geneticists, taxonomists, molecular biologists and plant biotechnologists working on crop species are going to find this book very useful.