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Books in Agricultural and biological sciences

The Agricultural and Biological Sciences collection advances science-based knowledge for the improvement of animal and plant life and for secure food systems that produce nutritious, novel, sustainable foods with minimal environmental impact. Food Science titles include not only those products from agriculture but all other aspects from food production to nutrition, health and safety, chemistry to security, policy, law and regulation. Biological Sciences address animal behaviour and biodiversity, organismal and evolutionary biology, entomology, marine biology and aquaculture, plant science and forestry.

  • Nitric Oxide in Plant Resilience to Abiotic Stress

    • 1st Edition
    • Ravi Gupta + 2 more
    • English
    Nitric Oxide in Plant Resilience to Abiotic Stress offers a detailed examination of this essential gasotransmitter’s pivotal role in bolstering plant defenses against environmental stressors. Part of the Plant Gasotransmitters and Molecules with Hormonal Activity series, the volume investigates the molecular mechanisms of nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis and signaling, emphasizing how post-translational modifications like S-nitrosylation and tyrosine nitration govern key targets to activate adaptive stress responses. It systematically examines NO’s properties, detection techniques, and its regulation under both optimal and adverse conditions, providing a comprehensive understanding of how it modulates plant functions.Expanding beyond fundamental processes, the volume highlights NO’s crucial involvement across a spectrum of abiotic stresses—drought, salinity, temperature extremes, heavy metals, and UV radiation—unveiling its capacity to mitigate damage and strengthen plant resilience. It also discusses the crosstalk between NO and other signaling molecules, such as phytohormones and emerging growth regulators, revealing synergistic pathways that underpin sustainable agriculture.Designed for researchers, advanced students, and plant scientists worldwide, this work illuminates the potential of NO to drive innovations in breeding strategies, enabling crop improvement to overcome the challenges posed by a changing climate and expanding environmental pressures.
  • Plant-Induced Systemic Resistance

    Mechanisms and Applications Against Biotic and Abiotic Stressors
    • 1st Edition
    • Sengottayan Senthil-Nathan + 2 more
    • English
    Plant Induced Systemic Resistance: Mechanisms and Applications Against Pests, Pathogens, and Environmental Stressors explores this important approach in enhancing plant-defense mechanisms against pests, pathogens, and environmental stressors. The book presents a comprehensive overview of the underlying molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and biotechnological innovations that drive plant immunity. It offers readers a deep understanding of PISR, presenting both theoretical insights and practical strategies to harness plant defenses for improved crop resilience and sustainability. By providing foundational and cutting-edge knowledge, it equips graduate students, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with the tools needed to enhance plant health while reducing dependence on harmful chemicals.Moreover, the book emphasizes the importance of integrating PISR-based approaches into existing pest management frameworks, showcasing case studies where these methods have been successfully implemented. This comprehensive approach offers practical solutions that can be adopted at both the field and commercial scales, helping to drive the future of sustainable agriculture.
  • Evaluating Oral Probiotics and Prebiotics

    • 1st Edition
    • Amir Mortazavian + 2 more
    • English
    Evaluating Oral Probiotics and Prebiotics reviews emerging applications of new probiotic strains, postbiotics, and production of key synbiotic generations. The book discusses successes and failures of viable probiotic ingestion, new trends and strains including genetically engineered probiotics, assessment of nonviable probiotics (postbiotics) and microflora benefits of prebiotic and synbiotic ingestion over probiotics.
  • Harvesting the Sea

    Unveiling Marine Bioresources for Functional Foods and Human Health Enhancement
    • 1st Edition
    • Thilina Jayawardena + 2 more
    • English
    Harvesting the Sea: Unveiling Marine Bioresources for Functional Foods and Human Health Enhancement explores the remarkable potential hidden within the depths of our oceans. Encompassing over two-thirds of the Earth's surface, the marine ecosystem possesses an astonishing array of biodiversity and contains a trove of bioactive compounds that can revolutionize human health and wellbeing. In a world where functional foods are gaining prominence for their ability to provide targeted health benefits, this book delves into the untapped potential of marine bioresources and reveals the captivating journey of their discovery, sustainable utilization, and prospects. Written by a global team of experts, this book underscores the pressing need for innovative solutions in nutrition and healthcare. Modern lifestyles, stress, and the rise of chronic diseases demand a shift toward functional foods that promote well-being and disease prevention. Organized by marine bioresources, nutritional and bioactive compounds, functional food types, and therapeutic properties, chapters highlight the potential of marine-derived bioactive compounds and offer insights into their integration into functional foods. Through a meticulously researched exploration, readers are invited to understand how these compounds can contribute to a more vibrant and fulfilling life. With its interdisciplinary approach, Harvesting the Sea: Unveiling Marine Bioresources for Functional Foods and Human Health Enhancement is a valuable resource for nutritionists, food scientists, biotechnologists, researchers, and anyone intrigued by the profound relationship between our oceans and human health. As a bridge between conventional foods and dietary supplements, this book illuminates the path toward a healthier, more functional future through the wonders of marine bioresources.
  • Alcohol-Free Beer

    From Production to Consumer Perception
    • 1st Edition
    • Elisabeth Koussissi + 1 more
    • English
    Alcohol-free Beer: From Production to Consumer Perception covers this unique, emerging market segment. The book begins with introductory content and definitions before covering the production process, with a focus on fermentation methods. Nutritional aspects, flavor, and sensory characteristics of the end product as well as consumer perceptions are also covered. As the first academic book on the market to exclusively cover non-alcoholic and low ABV beer, this book will be particularly useful to researchers interested in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, fermentation, and consumer behavior, especially as it relates to the consumption of alcohol (or lack thereof). Consumers seeking out better mental and physical wellbeing are opting to drink less alcohol, giving rise to this beverage trend. Yet for researchers and industry professionals crafting the product, it can be a challenge to closely replicate the pleasant taste of alcoholic beer. As the market for alcohol-free beer has undergone a unique, global rise in volume of consumption and production during the last decade, this book will be ideal for brewing chemists and beverage industry scientists hoping to create new alcohol-free beverages.
  • Agricultural Pollination

    The Role of Beneficial Insects in Food Security and Sustainability
    • 1st Edition
    • Habib Ali
    • English
    Agricultural Pollination: The Role of Beneficial Insects in Food Security and Sustainability delves into the intricate relationship between farming and pollinators, as well as other beneficial insects, examining the ways in which their ecological roles can improve crop health and yield, ultimately bolstering food security without environmentally harmful chemical interventions. The book begins with coverage of foundational topics, such as types of key pollinators and their behaviors, and moves into more practical topics, such as creating pollinator-friendly landscapes and emerging technologies in pollination services.Taking a multidisciplinary approach, the book also covers conservation strategies, economic impacts of pollinators, policy recommendations, and community engagement. This timely reference will offer invaluable insights for researchers, students, agricultural industry professionals, and policymakers alike, contributing to the advancement of environmentally-frie... and economically viable agricultural practices.
  • The Safety Aspects of Food Waste Valorization

    Maintaining Quality Assurance in Resource Recovery
    • 1st Edition
    • Sidonia Martínez Suárez + 1 more
    • English
    The Safety Aspects of Food Waste Valorization: Maintaining Quality Assurance in Resource Recovery highlights the importance of safe food waste practices and strategies to effectively transform waste into valuable resources. Co-edited by two female authors with many global, female contributors represented, the book looks at the environmental consequences of food waste and its impact on human health. It details the risks associated with the use of food waste, analyzes food safety in valorized agri-food by-products, with a focus on mycotoxins, and demonstrates how to minimize safety risks from a variety of industries, including date-palm industrialization, wine, produce, cattle, olive oil and dairy. Finally, the book provides practical business strategies for bioactive ingredients derived from food by-products and details the recovery of food waste from an environmental and economic perspective.
  • Medicinal Plant Biotechnology for Ameliorated Secondary Metabolite Production

    • 1st Edition
    • Saikat Gantait + 3 more
    • English
    Medicinal Plant Biotechnology for Ameliorated Secondary Metabolite Production delivers a cutting-edge perspective on how biotechnology is reshaping the way medicinal plants are studied and utilized. By integrating advanced molecular techniques, precision genetic tools, bioprocessing strategies, and analytical platforms, this volume addresses the critical challenge of enhancing the biosynthesis and optimization of high-value bioactive compounds.The book moves beyond technical innovation to emphasize its role in meeting global demand for plant-derived therapeutics while ensuring ecological balance. It highlights how advancements can drive sustainability, reduce reliance on synthetic alternatives, and open new pathways to ensure long-term viability of plant genetic material and biodiversity preservation. This future-oriented approach makes the volume not just a specialized reference, but a strategic guide for shaping the next generation of plant-based functional solutions.Part of the Medicinal and Industrial Plants and Products series, this state-of-the-art resource boasts a holistic approach with relevance across stakeholders in academic and industrial contexts seeking practical insights that can be adapted to diverse plant species and scaled for real-world industrial and commercial uses.
  • Kefir

    Properties, Functionality, and Health Benefits
    • 1st Edition
    • Carlos Adam Conte Junior + 1 more
    • English
    Kefir: Properties, Functionality, and Health Benefits covers the more practical side of kefir production, technology, and product development. It focuses on the scientifically demonstrated benefits of this beverage, especially antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, intestinal microbiota modulation, immune response modulation, and anticancer properties. Bioactive compounds responsible for these effects are also explored to provide a theoretical basis for developing new food and pharmaceutical formulations. In addition, the book covers kefir’s potential role in neurodegenerative disease prevention. Finally, the readers will find strategies for product diversification, quality control, and biotechnological applications.Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that is growing in popularity among both researchers and consumers for its proven and potential health benefits. Companies interested in developing new fermented beverage products will find this work of interest.
  • Spider Systematics and Taxonomy

    • 1st Edition
    • Dimitar Dimitrov + 1 more
    • English
    In the last decade or so, a large number of new spider species have been discovered and described, and many genera and families have been revised. Yet, a single comprehensive resource has been lacking to update spider taxonomy. Spider Systematics and Taxonomy aims to present these major developments in the field, as well as to show how technological advancements have driven these changes. Spider groups covered in most detail are those which have recently seen the most significant discoveries and changes. Later chapters highlight the impact of recent technological developments on our knowledge of spider taxonomy, with topics including phylogenomics, artificial intelligence, and novel imaging technologies. Finally, an outlook on future priorities for spider taxonomy research as well as expected developments will be explored.Spider Systematics and Taxonomy is a valuable reference with illustrations and vivid photographs included throughout to showcase spider diversity and relationships. This will serve as a key resource for arachnology researchers, graduate and postgraduate students wishing to come up to date on the latest advances in the field. Researchers in adjacent fields and those working in taxonomy generally will also benefit from this work.