Brewster J.L. Onions and Other Vegetable Alliums

2-nd edition. — CABI, 2008. — 432 p. — (Crop Production Science in Horticulture, 15).
ISBN: 978 1 84593 399 9.This fully revised, expanded and updated edition of the successful text, Onions and Other Vegetable Alliums, relates the production and utilization of these familiar and important vegetable crops to the many aspects of plant science underpinning their production and storage technologies. Chapters cover species and crop types, plant structure, genetics and breeding, physiology of growth and development as well as pests and diseases, production agronomy, storage after harvest and the biochemistry of flavour, storage carbohydrates and colour and how this relates to nutritional and health benefits. From this wide perspective it is possible to see many examples where underlying scientific knowledge illuminates, explains and can improve agronomic practice. The reader will get an insight into how molecular methods are revolutionizing the study of taxonomy, genetics, pathology and physiology and how these methods are being applied in the breeding of improved crops.Contents:
The Classification, Origins and Economic Importance of the Major Vegetable Crops.
Classification of Alliums.
Distribution and Ecology.
The Types, History and Evolution of the Edible Crops.
Economic Importance.
The Structure of Edible Alliums.
Visible Growth Stages.
Outline of the Overall Plant Structure.
The Structure of the Vegetative Shoot Apex.
Stem Structure.
Bulb Structure.
Foliage Leaf Structure.
The Root System.
Inflorescence and Flower Structure and Development.
Seeds.
The Genetics and Plant Breeding of Allium Crops.The Chromosomes.
Breeding Systems.
Genetics.
Genetic Linkage Maps.
Genomics.
Hybrid Vigour.
Genetic Male Sterility and Hybrid Breeding.
Techniques of Breeding and Cultivar Improvement.
Pollination Control in Breeding.
Breeding Objectives in Edible Alliums.
Selection Methods and Environmental Influences.
Genetic Transformation of Alliums.
Breeding for Disease and Pest Resistance.Physiology of Crop Growth, Development and Yield.
Fundamental Determinants of Yield.
Agronomic Factors Influencing Bulb Onion Yields.
Seed Viability, Germination and Emergence.
Vegetative Growth.
Onion Bulbing.
Models for Onion Growth and Bulbing.
Physiology and Environmental Control of Flowering.
Interrelations of Growth, Flowering and Bulbing in Onion.
Shallots.
Wakegi Onion.
Garlic.
Leek.
Japanese Bunching Onion.
Rakkyo.
Chives.
Chinese Chives.
Concluding Remarks.
Interactions with other Organisms: Weeds, Pests. Diseases and Symbionts.Weeds and Weed Control.
Arthropod Pests.
Nematode Pests.
Viral Diseases.
Bacterial Diseases.
Fungal Leaf Diseases.
Fungal Diseases Infecting from the Soil.
Fungal Diseases of Stored Bulbs.
Mycorrhizal Fungi.
Agronomy and Crop Production.
Onion Production.
Seed Production.
Garlic Production.
Leek Production.
Japanese Bunching Onion Production.
Chive Production.
Chinese Chives Production.
Crop Storage and Dormancy.
Bulb Crop Storage and Dormancy.
Garlic Dormancy and Storage.
Leek Storage.
Green Onion Storage.
Biochemistry, Health and Food Science of Alliums.
The Biochemistry of Flavour.
Carbohydrate Biochemistry.
Flavonoids.
Medicinal Effects of Alliums.
Processed Products from Alliums.