Intro -- Advancement in Crop Improvement Techniques -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Dedicated to Ph.D. students and collaborators of Dr. Tuteja -- Contents -- Contributors -- Editors biography -- Foreword -- Preface -- Views and visions -- Views and visions -- References -- Chapter 1: Combination of DNA markers and eQTL information for introgression of multiple salt-tolerance traits in rice -- 1. Introduction -- 2. DNA markers for rice breeding -- 2.1. SSR markers -- 2.2. SNP markers -- 2.3. Fluorescent markers -- 2.3.1. Illumina�s BeadArray platform -- 2.3.2. Taqman

2.3.2.1. TaqMan principle for SNP detection -- 2.3.3. KASP technology: An efficient approach for breeding applications -- 2.3.3.1. Chemistry of KASP technology -- 2.3.3.2. Reaction mechanism -- 2.3.3.3. KASP as a better choice -- 3. Use of markers -- 3.1. Mapping, QTL information, and use -- 3.1.1. Mapping population -- 3.1.2. Linkage mapping -- 3.1.3. QTL detection -- 3.1.4. Identified QTLs -- 3.1.5. Candidate genes cosegregating with QTL regions -- 3.2. RNAseq, eQTL information, and use -- 3.2.1. Discovering the expression polymorphism

3.2.2. Linking expression polymorphism to genetic polymorphism -- 3.2.3. Significance of studying eQTLs -- 3.2.4. Case studies on plant eQTLs -- 3.2.5. Salt stress responsive eQTL study on Horkuch/IR29 cross population -- 3.2.6. Challenges in studying eQTLs -- 3.3. GWAS -- 3.4. Breeding -- 4. Computational analysis and technology advancement -- 4.1. Mapping populations -- 4.2. Phenotyping strategies -- 4.2.1. High-throughput automated image-based phenotyping -- 4.3. Genotyping strategies -- 4.3.1. High-throughput DNA isolation methods -- 4.3.2. Genotyping by sequencing

4.3.3. Functional/diagnostic markers -- 4.4. Computational tools for linkage and QTL mapping -- 4.5. Breeding strategies -- 4.5.1. GS is a way forward for MAS -- 4.5.2. Rapid generation advance and transforming rice breeding -- 4.5.3. Targeting induced local lesions in genome (TILLING) -- 4.5.4. Marker-assisted gene pyramiding -- 5. Conclusion and future perspectives -- References -- Chapter 2: The scope of transformation and genome editing for quantitative trait improvements in rice -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Transformation technologies -- 2.1. Agrobacterium-mediated -- 2.2. Biolistics

2.3. In planta methods -- 2.4. Genome editing -- 3. Target quantitative traits -- 3.1. Biotic and abiotic stress -- 3.1.1. Conventional transformation -- 3.1.2. Crop improvement through CRISPR-CAS -- 3.2. Yield stability under stress -- 3.2.1. Conventional transformation -- 3.2.2. Crop improvement through CRISPR -- 4. Computational analysis -- 5. Technology advancement -- 6. Conclusion and future perspectives -- References -- Chapter 3: Tweaking microRNA-mediated gene regulation for crop improvement -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Contribution of miRNA-mediated regulation in plant growth and development