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Crop physiology: Applications for genetic improvement and agronomy

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As a consequence of the success of post-World War II agriculture, particularly in western Europe, many in
affluent societies have taken food for granted for decades. We lack historical perspective to conclude that the gap between the world demand and supply of food is widening or otherwise. Nonetheless, the recent debate
on this gap and the role of research and development in agriculture is a positive signal. Nature (2008) has
editorialised on this topic, highlighting the need to spend more on agricultural science to overcome food
crises, whereas the point has also been made that not only the amount but also the allocation of research
efforts is important (Struik et al., 2007). Current research efforts seem to be under divergent selection favouring either the very large or the very small.

On the one hand, legitimate environmental concerns stimulate investments on global-scale issues. On the
other hand, the internal dynamics of sciences at the molecular end of the scale, where progress is made at
astonishing rates, has become a strong attractor of resources. Crop physiology belongs to the middle ground
between these extremes.

There are many hierarchical levels of biological organisation, from molecules to ecosystems. When we search
for an understanding of biological phenomena, it is commonly found at levels below that of occurrence.
Agro-ecosystem events are explained at the level of the crop, while molecular and cell biology will provide
explanations to physiological responses. Besides, crop physiology provides a vital link between molecular
biology and the agro-ecosystem.

The peak of crop physiology appears to be in the past. Membership in the Crop Physiology and Metabolism
Division of the Crop Science Society of America has declined concurrently with the initiation and rise of the
Genomics, Molecular Genetics, and Biotechnology Division (Boote and Sinclair, 2006). This is a worldwide, rather than local, phenomenon, and a clear reflection of the shifts in research perspectives towards, in this case, the small.

The objective of this book is to provide a contemporary appreciation of crop physiology as a mature scientific discipline. We want to show that much unfinished business lies in the domain of crop physiology,
and that this intellectually challenging discipline is relevant to agriculture. Progress in agriculture, however, depends directly on progress in agronomy, plant breeding and their interaction. Hence crop physiology can contribute to agriculture only to the extent that it is meaningfully engaged with breeding and agronomy; this is the theme of this book.

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Ketersediaan

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Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

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No. Panggil

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Penerbit

New York : Elsevier Inc.., 2009

Deskripsi Fisik

xvi, 580 Hlm.

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

978-0-12-374431-9

Klasifikasi

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Tipe Isi

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Tipe Media

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Tipe Pembawa

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Edisi

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Subjek

PERTANIAN.
FISIOLOGI TANAMAN

Info Detail Spesifik

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Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

agus

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Lampiran Berkas

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