Science

Discover the Mysteries of Our Universe

Weird Universe is your gateway to the wonders of space. Have you ever looked up at the night sky and marveled at the mysteries hidden beyond the stars? This book takes that curiosity and turns it into an accessible, fun introduction to space, packed with all the weirdness we've discovered out there.

#1 New Release in Astronomy, and in Astrophysics & Space Science

Unlock the wonders of space with a fresh and exciting perspective.

See how space exploration shapes our everyday world. Space isn’t just an abstract concept—it plays a crucial role in shaping the technology we use every day. From NASA’s breakthroughs to innovations inspired by our exploration of the cosmos, Hamden shows how space discoveries influence our world. You’ll also gain insight into the process behind these findings, from the questions scientists ask to the groundbreaking answers they uncover. By the end of the book, you’ll understand not just what we know about the universe, but how we’ve come to know it.

Inside, you’ll find:

• A clear, engaging look at black holes, galaxies, and the history of NASA, explained in simple terms.
• Fascinating insights into how scientists make new discoveries about space, with a focus on how it all connects to us here on Earth.
• Fun and accessible content perfect for all ages, including those learning space for kids and adults who want to dive deeper into the world of astronomy.

If you liked Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, The Illustrated Brief History of Time, or Not Necessarily Rocket Science, you’ll love Weird Universe.

2024 Nautilus Book Award Winner * The Marginalian Favorite Books of 2023

An electrifying introduction to complexity theory, the science of how complex systems behave, that explains the interconnectedness of all things and that Deepak Chopra says, “will change the way you understand yourself and the universe.”

Nothing in the universe is more complex than life. Throughout the skies, in oceans, and across lands, life is endlessly on the move. In its myriad forms—from cells to human beings, social structures, and ecosystems—life is open-ended, evolving, unpredictable, yet adaptive and self-sustaining. Complexity theory addresses the mysteries that animate science, philosophy, and metaphysics: how this teeming array of existence, from the infinitesimal to the infinite, is in fact a seamless living whole and what our place, as conscious beings, is within it.

The implications of complexity theory are profound, providing insight into everything from the permeable boundaries of our bodies to the nature of consciousness. Notes on Complexity is an invitation to trade our limited, individualistic view for the expansive perspective of a universe that is dynamic, cohesive, and alive—a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Physician, scientist, and philosopher Neil Theise takes us to the exhilarating frontiers of human knowledge and in the process restores wonder and meaning to our experience of the everyday.

Biopharmaceuticals, medicines made by or from living organisms (including cells from living organisms), are extremely effective in treating a broad range of diseases. Their importance to human health has grown significantly over the years as more biopharmaceutical products have entered the market, and now the biggest selling drugs in the world are biopharmaceuticals. Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing: Principles, Processes and Practices provides concise, comprehensive, and up-to-date coverage of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Written in a clear and informal style, the content has been influenced by the authors’ substantial industry experience and teaching expertise. That expertise enables the authors to address the many questions posed over the years both by university students and professionals with experience in the field. Consequently, the book will appeal both to undergraduate or graduate students using it as a textbook and specialized industry practitioners seeking to understand the big picture of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. This book:

Application of Process Intensification (PI) presents a set of radically innovative principles in process and equipment design, which can bring significant benefits in terms of process efficiency, capital and operating expenses, quality, process safety, and sustainability. Typical approaches in bioprocess intensification are the reduction of the number of production steps, continuous processing, integrated processes, and alternative energy inputs.

What sorts of cultural criticism are teachers and scholars to produce, and how can that criticism be "employed" in the culture at large?
In recent years, debates about the role and direction of English departments have mushroomed into a broader controversy over the public legitimacy of literary criticism. At first glance this might seem odd: few taxpayers and legislators care whether the nation's English professors are doing justice to the project of identifying the beautiful and the sublime. But in the context of the legitimation crisis in American higher education, the image of English departments has in fact played a major role in determining public attitudes toward colleges and college faculty. Similarly, the changing economic conditions of universities have prompted many English professors to rethink their relations to their "clients," asking how literary study can serve the American public.
What sorts of cultural criticism are teachers and scholars to produce, and how can that criticism be "employed" in the culture at large? In The Employment of English, Michael Bérubé, one of our most eloquent and gifted critics, examines the cultural legitimacy of literary study. In witty, engaging prose, Bérubé asserts that we must situate these questions in a context in which nearly half of all college professors are part-time labor and in which English departments are torn between their traditional mission of defining movements of literary history and protocols of textual interpretation, and their newer tasks of interrogating wider systems of signification under rubrics like "gender," "hegemony," "rhetoric," "textuality" (including film and video), and "culture."
Are these new roles a betrayal of the field's founding principles, in effect a short-sighted sell-out of the discipline? Do they represent little more that an attempt to shore up the status of--and student enrollments in--English? Or are they legitimate objects of literary study, in need of public support? Simultaneously investigating the economic and the intellectual ramifications of current debates, The Employment of English provides the clearest and most condensed account of this controversy to date.

In the near future, the return to the Moon, and its colonization, will require a large number of chemical processes to be brought together and used so that humans can survive in this harsh environment, and so that profitable operations can begin. This book examines what capabilities currently exist that can be brought to bear to this end. It also examines what advances will have to be made in the near future.

A profound knowledge about crystal growth fundamentals and processes is needed for nanocrystals, epitaxial thin films and bulk crystals which became significant as the centerpieces of micro- and optoelectronics, photonics, computing. The mastery of crystallization and epitaxial processes requires a profound interdisciplinary knowledge that combines chemistry, crystallography, material science, physics.

This three-volume textbook presents the three pillars of experimental crystal growth:

_Thermodynamics of crystallization.

_Kinetics of crystallization.

_Transport of heat and mass.

Part 1: Thermodynamics of Crystallization.

The second edition of Macromolecular Chemistry broadens into two areas: biomacromolecules, Volume 1 and polymers, Volume 2. Polymers covers polymer history, polymerization reactions, polymer morphology, technology, characterization and testing, processing, and recycling. The book discusses the building blocks of synthetic polymers, comparison of macromolecules and polymers, polymer classification, and illustration of polymer chemical structures. Polymerization reactions such as step-growth polymerization and chain-growth polymerization are extensively discussed. It then presents tacticity, molecular interactions and polymer crystals. Biodegradable polymers, biomedical polymers, conducting polymers, electroluminescent polymers, water-soluble polymers, additives, adhesives, fibres, and coatings are described. The next section explores inorganic polymers such as polysilanes, polysiloxanes, and polyphosphazenes. The book then delves into polymer characterization and testing, including Infrared Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, NMR, X-ray Spectroscopy, and Electron Microscopy, and the last section addresses selected polymer processing techniques such as moulding, casting, extrusion, coatings, and foaming.

This textbook, which was written in close consultation with students, begins by examining charge transport in carriers and the key principles of electrostatics and stationary magnetic fields. Building on this, it explores transient fields through to Maxwell’s equations. The second part discusses convection, thermal radiation, and, finally, changes of state in ideal gases, as well as the first two principles of thermodynamics.

Deep Learning in Introductory Physics: Exploratory Studies of Model-Based Reasoning is concerned with the broad question of how students learn physics in a model-centered classroom. The diverse, creative, and sometimes unexpected ways students construct models, and deal with intellectual conflict, provide valuable insights into student learning and cast a new vision for physics teaching. This book is the first publication in several years to thoroughly address the 'coherence versus fragmentation' debate in science education, and the first to advance and explore the hypothesis that deep science learning is regressive and revolutionary. Deep Learning in Introductory Physics also contributes to a growing literature on the use of history and philosophy of science to confront difficult theoretical and practical issues in science teaching, and addresses current international concern over the state of science education and appropriate standards for science teaching and learning.

The book is divided into three parts. Part I introduces the framework, agenda, and educational context of the book. An initial study of student modeling raises a number of questions about the nature and goals of physics education. Part II presents the results of four exploratory case studies. These studies reproduce the results of Part I with a more diverse sample of students; under new conditions (a public debate, peer discussions, and group interviews); and with new research prompts (model-building software, bridging tasks, and elicitation strategies). Part III significantly advances the emergent themes of Parts I and II through historical analysis and a review of physics education research.

Deep Learning in Introductory Physics: Exploratory Studies of Model-Based Reasoning is concerned with the broad question of how students learn physics in a model-centered classroom. The diverse, creative, and sometimes unexpected ways students construct models, and deal with intellectual conflict, provide valuable insights into student learning and cast a new vision for physics teaching. This book is the first publication in several years to thoroughly address the 'coherence versus fragmentation' debate in science education, and the first to advance and explore the hypothesis that deep science learning is regressive and revolutionary. Deep Learning in Introductory Physics also contributes to a growing literature on the use of history and philosophy of science to confront difficult theoretical and practical issues in science teaching, and addresses current international concern over the state of science education and appropriate standards for science teaching and learning.

The book is divided into three parts. Part I introduces the framework, agenda, and educational context of the book. An initial study of student modeling raises a number of questions about the nature and goals of physics education. Part II presents the results of four exploratory case studies. These studies reproduce the results of Part I with a more diverse sample of students; under new conditions (a public debate, peer discussions, and group interviews); and with new research prompts (model-building software, bridging tasks, and elicitation strategies). Part III significantly advances the emergent themes of Parts I and II through historical analysis and a review of physics education research.

Buried within a lost world, astonishing evidence reveals the behavior of extinct animals, giving us a glimpse at both everyday and epic events. If we look at these discoveries carefully, the untold stories of these magnificent creatures come into view, breathing new life into the prehistoric past.

The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs tells the remarkable tales of ancient animals through some of the most distinctive and unusual fossils ever found, offering an intimate, behind-the-scenes look into the story of life in deep time. Venturing hundreds of millions of years into the past, Dean R. Lomax takes us on a journey through the grand cycle of life, infused with anecdotes from his own adventures and sprinkled with a touch of dinosaur humor.

These fossils tell real-world stories of prehistoric parenting, the quest for survival, and the endless struggle between predator and prey. Unbelievable moments are captured: saber-toothed cats clashing, mega-millipedes mating, dinosaurs swimming. From ammonite eggs to mosasaur mealtimes, and from a pregnant ichthyosaur that chowed down on a bird to the mammal that took down a dinosaur, these behaviors challenge what we thought we knew about the prehistoric world.

This book looks into the private moments of long-extinct creatures as never before, letting us see them not just as fossils in a museum but as living, breathing animals with personalities and emotions. Vivid illustrations by Bob Nicholls bring these incredible stories to life in full color.

Die Nutzung elektrischer Energie ist allgegenwärtig, ohne sie sind das tägliche Leben ebenso wenig wie technisch-wissenschaftlicher Fortschritt kaum vorstellbar.

Möglichkeiten zu ihrer Energieerzeugung erfahren aktuell große Veränderungen, damit sind Veränderungen in ihrer Nutzung unvermeidbar verknüpft. Ihre Speicherung wird sowohl mit Blick auf diese Veränderungen durch die Nutzung fluktuierender Quellen wie auch die wachsende Zahl nicht mit dem Stromnetz verknüpfter Anwendungen von rasch wachsender Bedeutung. Das Werk stellt Möglichkeiten der Energiewandlung aus primären Quellen mit dem Fokus auf aktuelle Veränderungen dar. Die damit verbundene wachsende Bedeutung der Speicherung – mit oder ohne Wandlung – rückt zwangsläufig in den Vordergrund. Elektrochemische Möglichkeiten, ihre Vor- und Nachteile sowie ihre Grenzen stehen im Mittelpunkt des Lehrbuchs. Anwendungsbeispiele zur Nutzung elektrischer Energie werden zu Beginn diskutiert und praxisnahe Überlegungen zum Einsatz vor allem elektrochemischer Optionen zum Schluss gegeben.

Models change our worlds. From global carbon flux models to regional coastal flood prediction maps, climate-related models influence how we know our environment, how we build our cities, and how we act on a climate-altered planet. Yet such models typically require specialized knowledge to navigate, and because the climate crisis is inherently multidimensional, technical expertise in isolation is not enough.

Climate Changed examines models and their imperfect yet central role in understanding the relationship between global climate dynamics and the human-built environment. It compares and synthesizes the methods and function of models in disciplines ranging from architecture and planning to climate science and natural hazards research. This book considers how disparate models are woven together to understand the climate crisis, underscoring the necessity of combining locally situated and transdisciplinary knowledge with climate science to navigate current and future cataclysmic changes. It highlights the challenges and consequences of disciplinary boundaries, siloed scientific knowledge, and uneven data and develops ways to overcome these limitations.

As the world faces the effects of climate change, climate scientists are debating the future of their field; architects, engineers, and planners are designing in the context of climate change; and society at large is grappling with how to take action. This book brings those communities together to chart a path forward.

Models change our worlds. From global carbon flux models to regional coastal flood prediction maps, climate-related models influence how we know our environment, how we build our cities, and how we act on a climate-altered planet. Yet such models typically require specialized knowledge to navigate, and because the climate crisis is inherently multidimensional, technical expertise in isolation is not enough.

Climate Changed examines models and their imperfect yet central role in understanding the relationship between global climate dynamics and the human-built environment. It compares and synthesizes the methods and function of models in disciplines ranging from architecture and planning to climate science and natural hazards research. This book considers how disparate models are woven together to understand the climate crisis, underscoring the necessity of combining locally situated and transdisciplinary knowledge with climate science to navigate current and future cataclysmic changes. It highlights the challenges and consequences of disciplinary boundaries, siloed scientific knowledge, and uneven data and develops ways to overcome these limitations.

As the world faces the effects of climate change, climate scientists are debating the future of their field; architects, engineers, and planners are designing in the context of climate change; and society at large is grappling with how to take action. This book brings those communities together to chart a path forward.

After the research psychologist Barbara Blatchley’s husband and partner of thirty-six years passed away, her life changed utterly. Seeking to understand the pain and confusion she felt, Blatchley began exploring the psychology and neuroscience of bereavement. Why does grief last so long and hurt so much? How do we come to terms with loss?

In Sorrow’s Long Road, Blatchley interweaves an engaging and reader-friendly look at the research on grief with her powerful personal narrative. Beginning with the day of her husband’s death, she traces the questions that loss raised and the answers that science provides. Blatchley examines the psychology of love and attachment, detailing how we bond with others and what happens when those bonds are broken. She considers the storm of emotions that the bereaved experience, as well as both the physical and psychological effects of grieving. Blatchley maps out how we adapt to the changes that loss brings and find a new identity afterward. In addition to her own experiences, she shares the stories of other people who have suffered a loss and struggled to recover, illustrating how grief changes over time.

Accessibly written and deeply empathetic, Sorrow’s Long Road humanizes the science, showing how psychology and neuroscience can help us make sense of the darkest times in our lives.

After the research psychologist Barbara Blatchley’s husband and partner of thirty-six years passed away, her life changed utterly. Seeking to understand the pain and confusion she felt, Blatchley began exploring the psychology and neuroscience of bereavement. Why does grief last so long and hurt so much? How do we come to terms with loss?

In Sorrow’s Long Road, Blatchley interweaves an engaging and reader-friendly look at the research on grief with her powerful personal narrative. Beginning with the day of her husband’s death, she traces the questions that loss raised and the answers that science provides. Blatchley examines the psychology of love and attachment, detailing how we bond with others and what happens when those bonds are broken. She considers the storm of emotions that the bereaved experience, as well as both the physical and psychological effects of grieving. Blatchley maps out how we adapt to the changes that loss brings and find a new identity afterward. In addition to her own experiences, she shares the stories of other people who have suffered a loss and struggled to recover, illustrating how grief changes over time.

Accessibly written and deeply empathetic, Sorrow’s Long Road humanizes the science, showing how psychology and neuroscience can help us make sense of the darkest times in our lives.

Scientists around the world rise up for climate and ecological justice

In April 2022, hundreds of scientists rose in non-violent civil disobedience, breaking the law in more than twenty-eight countries. Risking arrest, they glued their hands to roads, blocked government and corporate buildings, and chained themselves to the White House fence. In Science in Resistance, Fernando Racimo provides a first-person account of the Scientist Rebellion, an international movement of researchers stepping beyond conventional roles to alert the public about the need for action in the climate emergency. Combining personal stories, interviews with scientist-activists, and insights from research on direct action and academia, he explores the challenges scientists face when taking a stand for climate and ecological justice.

Reflecting on his role as a scientist-activist, Racimo describes how he came to be involved in the movement. He also explores the many ways in which academic institutions today are complicit in climate breakdown—whether by accepting funding from and collaborating with the very industries driving it, or by discouraging scientists from speaking up. Drawing on lessons from political science, psychology, ecology, sociology, and the history of science, he explains how academia could be transformed to become an actor for good in the emergency.

Scientists around the world rise up for climate and ecological justice

In April 2022, hundreds of scientists rose in non-violent civil disobedience, breaking the law in more than twenty-eight countries. Risking arrest, they glued their hands to roads, blocked government and corporate buildings, and chained themselves to the White House fence. In Science in Resistance, Fernando Racimo provides a first-person account of the Scientist Rebellion, an international movement of researchers stepping beyond conventional roles to alert the public about the need for action in the climate emergency. Combining personal stories, interviews with scientist-activists, and insights from research on direct action and academia, he explores the challenges scientists face when taking a stand for climate and ecological justice.

Reflecting on his role as a scientist-activist, Racimo describes how he came to be involved in the movement. He also explores the many ways in which academic institutions today are complicit in climate breakdown—whether by accepting funding from and collaborating with the very industries driving it, or by discouraging scientists from speaking up. Drawing on lessons from political science, psychology, ecology, sociology, and the history of science, he explains how academia could be transformed to become an actor for good in the emergency.

Scientists around the world rise up for climate and ecological justice

In April 2022, hundreds of scientists rose in non-violent civil disobedience, breaking the law in more than twenty-eight countries. Risking arrest, they glued their hands to roads, blocked government and corporate buildings, and chained themselves to the White House fence. In Science in Resistance, Fernando Racimo provides a first-person account of the Scientist Rebellion, an international movement of researchers stepping beyond conventional roles to alert the public about the need for action in the climate emergency. Combining personal stories, interviews with scientist-activists, and insights from research on direct action and academia, he explores the challenges scientists face when taking a stand for climate and ecological justice.

Reflecting on his role as a scientist-activist, Racimo describes how he came to be involved in the movement. He also explores the many ways in which academic institutions today are complicit in climate breakdown—whether by accepting funding from and collaborating with the very industries driving it, or by discouraging scientists from speaking up. Drawing on lessons from political science, psychology, ecology, sociology, and the history of science, he explains how academia could be transformed to become an actor for good in the emergency.

Thomas S. Kuhns Buch „Die Struktur wissenschaftlicher Revolutionen“ zählt zweifelsohne zu einem der einflussreichsten Werke innerhalb der Wissenschaftstheorie des vergangenen Jahrhunderts. Mit seinen wissenschaftshistorisch gestützten Überlegungen zu revolutionären Paradigmenwechseln fordert er ein naives Bild des kumulativen Fortschritts der Wissenschaften heraus. Das Buch ist damit einer der Ausgangspunkte der sogenannten ‚historischen Wende‘ in der Wissenschaftsphilosophie. Und noch heute provoziert die Verwendung der Begriffe „Paradigma“, „Normalwissenschaft“, „Krisenforschung“, „Anomalie“ oder „Inkommensurabilität“ teils erbitterte Debatten in der Wissenschaftsphilosophie.

Neben der außerordentlichen Relevanz, die Kuhns Buch für akademische Debatten in der Philosophie und der Wissenschaftstheorie hatte, ist darüber hinaus aber auch die ungemeine Popularität des Buches bemerkenswert: Fast 1,5 Million Exemplare der englischen Ausgabe wurden verkauft‚ ‚The Times Literary Supplement‘ zählt das Buch zu den 100 einflussreichsten Büchern nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg, der ehemalige Vize-Präsident und Friedensnobelpreisträger Al Gore nennt das Buch als eines seiner Lieblingsbücher und in vielen Einführungsvorlesungen zu methodischen Grundlagen von Spezialdisziplinen wird das Buch erwähnt.

Der Band versammelt Beiträge der national und international führenden Experten zu Kuhns Klassiker und ermöglicht so die kapitelweise Erschließung des Originaltextes.

Ein striktes Verbot der Eizellspende ist in einer liberalen Gesellschaft nicht gerechtfertigt. Dennoch ist sie mit Problemen behaftet, die nicht ignoriert werden sollten. Diese Arbeit untersucht jene Probleme aus moralphilosophischer Perspektive und zeigt Rahmenbedingungen auf, wie ein guter Umgang mit der Eizellspende gelingen kann. Zusätzlich werden zahlreiche Schnittstellen zu anderen Fortpflanzungsverfahren herausgestellt.

• Discusses the range of key ecosystem services provided by pollinators
• Reviews the range of ongoing habitat restoration projects in the European Union and North America
• Considers how data and ‘smart agriculture’ can be utilised to assess the impact of key agricultural practices on pollinator species

• Provides a detailed overview of the recent advances in controlled environment agriculture
• Reviews the sustainability of controlled environment agriculture
• Summarises recent developments in controlled environment technologies, including lighting and climate control

Fruit growth is a complex mechanism linking biochemical and biophysical processes promoting water and dry matter uptake in fruit tissues. This chapter describes growth mechanisms in apple fruit at different phenological stages and relates phases to key physiological parameters for fruit growth, including phloem and xylem inflows as well transpiration losses. A fundamental understanding of how apple fruit develop can allow the production chain to optimise resource management, leading to higher quality and more profitable and sustainable production.

This chapter reviews the latest scientific studies on the health benefits of apples, including fresh, canned, frozen, dried and/or juice (clear and cloudy) and their phytochemicals. Due to their popularity, accessibility and high nutritional content, apples have been the subject of many scientific studies targeting chronic disease prevention. Their consumption has been correlated with positive outcomes for a variety of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, cognitive and lung disorders.

• Reviews the implementation of best practices to reduce the risk of virus spread in apple orchards
• Provides a detailed overview of key viruses affecting banana production, such as banana bunchy top virus and banana bract mosaic virus
• Addresses the modes of transmission and spread of Apple mosaic virus

Plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) must fulfill the following basic requirements to help solve global and local issues relating to food, resources, environment, and quality of life: minimal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from construction and operation, high resource and economic productivity with minimal resource inputs and waste outputs through use of natural energy. The following issues are crucial to meet the above requirements: 1) efficient use of resources, such as electricity, water, and fertilizer in PFAL operation, and structural elements such as metals and cement in PFAL construction; 2) optimal environmental control of cultivation rooms for maximum resource and monetary productivities; 3) maximum use of alternatives to plastic products, chemical fertilizer, metals, and cement, and 4) use of electricity generated locally by natural energy. This chapter discusses the actions required to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) or GHG in the PFAL industry, and improve resource use efficiency, particularly electrical energy use efficiency.

Vertical plant farming (VPF), defined as crop production utilising vertical space through stacking horizontally or in towers, is a promising and relatively novel type of controlled environment agriculture (CEA). The nascent sector has been riddled with complexities in economic viability, labour, and plant science, evidenced by a landscape littered with failed start-ups. No studies have examined lessons learned from vertical plant farms. We analyse the interviews of 20 industry practitioners growing leafy vegetables, microgreens, herbs and edible flowers. We examine the experiences of both profitable farms and shuttered projects and their reasons for closure. Thematic analysis is used to identify lessons learned. The lessons fall under six themes: i) economics, ii) labour, iii) technology, iv) growing, v) strategy, and viii) risk. We explore these themes to provide guidelines for successful VPF projects grounded in the literature. This discourse includes a risk register comprised of all reported risks affecting VPF.

Breeding for fruit quality improvement is critical for sustaining consumer interest and providing long-term profitability for the apple industry. Priority breeding targets consist of eating quality, appearance, and storability traits (to ensure year-round availability of fruit). Apple breeding is a resource-intensive process constrained by its heterozygosity and long generation time. Advancements in genomic research and DNA technologies are increasing our knowledge of genomic regions and diagnostic markers linked to priority traits. This chapter describes breeding for quality improvement, address challenges of phenotyping, and provide a comprehensive review of DNA markers associated with fruit quality traits.

For growers to fully realise the benefits of a total controlled environment agriculture system, ensuring the correct design and management of industrial-scale vertical farms is critical. Systems should be modular, scalable, and flexible to de-risk the farmer's businesses and make the most of economics of scale and facility management systems to optimise energy and labour. These elements all combine to ensure the optimum environmental footprint. This chapter will introduce Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) as a business, including its products, services, system design, and functionalities. Further, there is a reference to the installation and operation of IGS Growth Towers and an exploration of future trends such as improving crop range, efficiency gains, levels of automation, and the development of systems to operate the world's largest vertical farms successfully. A case study detailing a publicly subsidised project to grow conifer tree seedlings has been included to demonstrate the system's flexibility and adaptability.

Plant factories utilizing artificial light (PFALs) perform particularly well in terms of resource efficiency, although energy use, mainly due to the use of artificial light for plant photosynthesis, remains high. This chapter presents the latest innovations in horticulture, photobiology, climate management technology and urban symbiosis aimed at reducing the use of energy, water and soil for crop cultivation in PFALs in order to achieve the highest levels of resource use efficiency.

Selecting the optimal light environment for plant growth and development, and reducing the amount of electric energy consumed by lighting are both essential to improve the economic operations of vertical farming. Compared with photosynthetic photon flux density and light period, the effects of light quality on plant morphology and physiology are much more complex. The effect of light quality on plant growth and development has been a hot topic in vertical farming over the past few decades. In this chapter, the effects of monochromatic and polychromatic lights on growth, development and qualities of leafy greens are described. Different morphological and physiological responses to specific spectral stimulation are discussed, followed by common polychromatic spectrums and their effects on plants.

The microbial safety of fresh fruits and vegetables impacts the health of consumers and the economic viability of farms, packinghouses, and the produce industry. The implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) on farms and in packinghouses over the past 24 years has resulted in an increase in written farm food safety plans and targeted practices aimed at reducing the risks of microbial contamination. Growers have expanded their mindset and management practices to include food safety in addition to the myriad of other production goals including improving crop yield, controlling pests, maintaining market access, and ensuring postharvest quality. The focus of this chapter is to review the role of GAPs in preventing microbial contamination of fresh produce over time. This includes summarizing how GAPs have evolved, the impact they have had on the produce industry, current GAPs and how they are implemented, and projecting their relevance into the future.

Plant factories have great potential for mitigating the contradiction between the growing global population and food scarcity. Machine vision plays an important role during automated food production, covering each production stage from raising seedlings, transplanting, management, harvesting and grading to packaging. In this paper, the prospects of machine vision application in plant factories are analyzed, then the present research utilizing this technology are summarized, including plant growth monitoring, robot operation assistance and fruit grading. Through the analyses, it is found that although existing methods have solved various practical problems with the advantages of low cost, high efficiency and high precision, there are still various challenges facing machine vision. Firstly, changing lighting conditions, complex indoor environments and color similarities between a plant’s organs can cause common image segmentation algorithms to fail. The lack of standard agricultural datasets hinders deep learning and unsupervised classification algorithms from making significant progress. Secondly, there are various theoretical knowledge gaps regarding the application of machine vision in the specific plant factory environment, which seriously hinders its application effect. Thirdly, a shortage of special image acquisition devices and supporting facilities has resulted in poor image quality. All these factors hinder machine vision to promote the development of plant factories. Nevertheless, this technology remains a powerful tool and is currently irreplaceable. We believe that machine vision will become more robust, efficient and reliable with the development of computer technology, the application of deep learning and updated algorithms.

This chapter will review published literature related to plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) energy consumption, provide detail on concepts around energy consuming systems, and give example case-studies with scenario analysis to illustrate the impacts of making energy efficient decisions in PFALs.

Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO) are essential in contemporary agricultural production to increase crop yield and enrich soil health. BSAAOs may introduce or extend the survival of microbial pathogens that may be transferred to crops. Climate and weather along with amendment type can influence pathogen persistence in agricultural environments. Specifically, moisture and rainfall are critical elements that can enhance pathogen survival in amended soils. This chapter includes a discussion of pathogen survival and transfer along with highlights from recent foodborne illness outbreaks. Reconsidering data presented on E. coli and Salmonella survival in amended soils alongside epidemiological and environmental assessment data is essential to collective growth in this field, as scientists develop recommendations for use and risk analysis. Future use of soil amendments may include use as tools for remediation or inclusion of biocontrol elements to reduce the risk of contamination associated with their application to raw agricultural commodities.

The reuse, recycling and control of emissions from large-scale food waste in urban areas have gained increased attention in recent years. Developing efficient food production systems with a low environmental impact is an important issue in facility-based plant production systems, such as plant factories, as part of efforts to add more value to plant production from an environmental perspective. Plant production plays an important role in human health and welfare, particularly in urban areas. To produce food efficiently while protecting the environment, it is imperative to establish a material-cycling farming system to promote a material-cycling-oriented society. In this chapter, the author proposes three possibilities and perspectives for facility-based plant production systems with the circulation of materials to achieve a sustainable balance between food production and environmental protection.

Fresh produce accounts for the majority of foodborne illness outbreaks and >30% of food waste attributed to premature spoilage. To date, pathogen control has been focused on the pre-harvest stage, in the form of testing and Good Agricultural Practice, given the limited efficacy of post-harvest washing to remove field-acquired contamination. However, the open nature of production systems and unreliability of testing have led to increased attention on post-harvest interventions as a type of ‘pasteurisation’ step. Attempts to improve the washing process involve identifying and maintaining sufficient free chlorine in wash tanks to prevent cross-contamination events. Alternative sanitisers to chlorine have also been evaluated although at best, minimize cross-contamination rather than support decontamination. This has led to the development of aqueous-free produce decontamination methods with gas-phase, gas plasma and hydroxyl-radical treatments showing promise. The development of a standard validation method to compare technologies is discussed along with future directions.

The packaging of fruits and vegetables serves several critical functions, including protecting them from damage during transportation and storage, extending their shelf life, preventing contamination from plant disease and foodborne pathogens, and reducing food waste. To safeguard produce from physical harm, it is essential to use sturdy containers, proper dividers, and padding. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and edible coatings help prevent produce from losing water and provide an optimal oxygen and carbon dioxide combination within the packaging. As many crops emit ethylene, which triggers ripening and senescence, and fresh produce is susceptible to microbial contamination, ethylene scavengers and antimicrobial agents are integrated with MAP to improve the storability of the produce. There are ongoing efforts to make packaging materials more environmentally friendly and sustainable, as well as advancements in smart packaging technology that can add extra functionality to packaging.

Managing the microbiological safety of fresh produce is a complicated task. Quantitative microbial risk assessments are being used increasingly as an aid to risk management by federal agencies, food industry professionals and academic researchers. This chapter takes a microorganism and historical perspective to review advances in quantitative microbial risk assessment of fresh produce. The chapter reviews microbial risk assessment research over the past 25 years specifically focused on Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and norovirus as important pathogens that have all caused outbreaks linked to fresh produce.

• Discusses the impact of monoculture in the banana industry and its contribution to the spread of Fusarium wilt
• Highlights the potential of key breeding technologies which can be used to improve resistance to Fusarium wilt of banana
• Discusses the challenges associated with developing hybrid banana varieties

This chapter reviews advances in understanding texture development in apples. It starts by first describing the anatomy and physiology of fruit texture traits. This is then followed by an evaluation of fruit texture parameters. The chapter goes on to discuss the influence of growing conditions, the effects of storage conditions on fruit texture as well as the impact fungal diseases can have on fruit texture. A section on genetic determination of texture is also provided, followed by a review of the association between texture and aroma, as well as an overview of selection/breeding achievements.

As described throughout this book, plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) can contribute to solving global and local issues in: 1) food safety and security, 2) environmental recovery, improvement, and creation, 3) increasing demands for a higher quality of fresh, functional, pesticide-free foods, 4) reducing food mileage and food loss, and 5) quality of life. However, in practice, most existing PFALs have not yet achieved the potential that PFALs have. This chapter provides an overview of the challenges in sustainable PFALs both in food production and in achieving wider social goals.

This chapter examines how light and root zone environments in plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) can affect the growth and nutritional components of medicinal plants and herbs. It first draws attention to perilla, a popular medicinal plant, and describes the effects of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and electrical conductivity (EC) on its growth and secondary metabolite accumulation. The chapter moves on to examine coriander and how PFFD, root zone temperature and the light spectrum affects the growth and secondary metabolite accumulation. A section on nasturtium is also included, focusing on the effects of EC, continuous lighting and daily light integral on nasturtium cuttings and plants. The chapter concludes by emphasising how the regulation of light and root zone environments can help to control plant growth in PFALs.

Our “808 FACTORY” business has been profitable for eight years since establishment of our first plant factory. Here, we present the business model of the brand that we have been operating. We discuss factory layout and operation management. We review measures of productivity per unit cultivation area, per unit of electric energy consumption, per labor hour and merchantability/commercialization ratio. We also outline control of variables such as temperature, photoperiod, airflow, CO2 and nutrient supply.

The past decade has seen rapid improvements in the technology used for plant factories with artificial light (PFALs), and these improvements are expected to continue for the coming years. These technological advancements are both a continuation and a synthesis of technologies that have been under development for centuries if not millennia. Here, we categorize PFAL technologies into six categories: architecture & automation, lighting, climate control, sensors & algorithms, rootzones, and genetics, and we discuss the past, present, and future of each. Among these technology categories, lighting has probably received the most attention, partially due to the increase in LED efficiency that has occurred over the past decade, and partially due to lighting’s visual appeal. The other technologies, however, are also making PFALs an increasingly feasible industry by increasing yields per unit growing area, by decreasing energy and resource consumption, and by increasing product quality.

This chapter briefly focuses on various aspects of postharvest management of apple fruit quality, including harvest maturity, pre-cooling, storage (conventional cold storage, control atmosphere and dynamic control atmosphere), packaging, ethylene and respiration management by using pre-storage ripening controlling treatments such as 1-methylcyclopropene and description of the control measures of most prevalent postharvest physiological disorders during the entire supply chain of apple fruit.

For reasons of food safety and quality assurance, rapid identification of pathogens causing spoilage and infections in food matrices is essential. Conventional approaches include enrichment of microbial pathogens in a range of non-selective and pathogen-specific selective media, followed by biochemical and phenotypic identification. In conventional culturing techniques, time-dependent detection is a major obstacle when it comes to delicate foods such as fish, dairy products and fresh produce. To overcome the limits of conventional approaches, numerous detection technologies such as molecular-, spectroscopy- and spectrometry-based methods, as well as optical phenotyping and biosensor methods are now available. This chapter provides an overview of the principles, mechanisms and applications of new and emerging technologies for microbial identification in food systems. It also provides researchers in the field of food safety and quality assurance with the known advantages and limitations of available rapid detection techniques for identifying pathogens in foods.

Due to changes in lifestyle and the increasing awareness of a healthy diet, consumers’ demand for fresh produce during the last few decades has increased rapidly, bringing along new challenges to the produce industry, including food safety issues. The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is often implicated in fresh produce outbreaks due to the lack of “kill” step during processing. Although the incidence rate of L. monocytogenes is relatively low compared to other pathogens, the high fatality rate associated with the outbreaks necessitates the need for advanced understanding of its contamination of fresh produce. This chapter provides information on the current knowledge associated with L. monocytogenes contamination of fresh produce. Specific sections cover the pathogenicity and gene regulation of the pathogen, listeriosis and recent outbreaks, common transmission routes to fresh produce, related guidance and regulations for the fresh produce industry, and current and novel intervention strategies.

This chapter highlights the significant evolution of the global avocado industry, which has experienced extraordinary growth in the last very few decades, both in the American continent where the fruit was originated, and in the other continents. The chapter indicates the important avocado producing regions in the different countries and their characteristics and potentials. The chapter also discusses the future strong growth prospects in emerging markets for avocados, such as in Asia, particularly in China.

This chapter reviews the pre-harvest management of avocados, fruit losses and their causes and control, with a special emphasis on fruit quality. It highlights key production techniques required for sustainable cultivation of the crop. It discusses existing information on the floral biology, the importance of the rootstock, emphasizing potential resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi and ways of combining resistance with tolerance to other disease-causing organisms and / or abiotic factors. The chapter describes the global efforts in the search for new rootstocks and new varieties to solve the problems attributed to reliance on the `Hass´ variety. Conventional avocado propagation techniques as well as methods such as Brokaw clonal and microcloning have been discussed. It also describes soil, fertilizers and climate needs, cultivation techniques, tree formation, management of the crown and the use of chemicals, among others. The effect of pre-harvest factors on the post-harvest quality and storability of the fruit are also discussed.

This chapter describes the global trade in avocado, markets and marketing systems, examples of quality and safety standards and requirements for local markets as well as for export markets, and costs and returns.

This chapter will assess the sustainable use of phosphite in amenity turfgrass management, by exploring the often-contentious use of phosphite as a nutrient source, its use as a biostimulant, and its properties and efficacy as a plant protectant within many plants including turfgrasses.

Turfgrasses are frequently grown in environments with less than optimal conditions, which ultimately negatively impacts plant growth and development. Between a changing environment and a desire to reduce inputs, turfgrasses will be exposed to even more stressful conditions. Understanding a plant's physiology and how they respond to stressful conditions is essential to developing turf areas that are able to maintain high levels of performance. This chapter covers physiological responses to four of the most common abiotic stress conditions: drought, heat, freezing, and salinity stresses. The chapter focuses on recent research that has improved our understanding of how these stresses damage plants and how in turn plants respond to tolerate these conditions. Knowledge of turfgrass physiology and their responses to different environments are essential to achieve sustainable turf areas in the future.

In recent years, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) and advancements in remote sensing technology have provided alternative and more affordable means for monitoring crop health and stress than ground-based (hand-held or vehicle-mounted) or other aerial-based platforms (manned aircraft or satellites). However, few scientific studies have evaluated the application of sUAS in turfgrass systems. The use of sUAS in monitoring turfgrass requires an understanding of basic remote sensing principles; identifying the target of interest and the various sUAS platforms and sensors that provide the necessary resolution and frequencies to measure and monitor that target; calibration of sensors in the field; and data processing considerations. Those topics are discussed, followed by reviews of recent turfgrass field studies conducted to predict and manage drought stress and pest outbreaks, and improve phenotyping capabilities in turfgrass breeding programs. The use of sUAS remote sensing in turfgrass offers unique possibilities and challenges, which are addressed herein.

Soil properties influence how turfgrass will look, function and perform. In this chapter, we explore our current understanding of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties relevant to turfgrass management and identify areas for future study. Recent advances in our understanding of physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils will help turfgrass managers work towards sustainable management of resources. In particular, the field of soil ecology and microbiology continues to reveal exciting new discoveries. Researchers are working towards a better understanding of estimating nitrogen availability from soil organic matter, and utilizing and managing the soil microbiome to augment turfgrass growth and suppress disease may be within reach in coming decades with continued investment in research on turfgrass and soil science.

Turfgrass breeding efforts are aimed at developing new turfgrass varieties adapted to a wide range of geographic regions with excellent seed or sod production, improved stress and pest tolerance, and elite turf quality under high, medium, and low maintenance practices. Various cooperative testing programs are available and utilized by turfgrass breeders to expedite these efforts. In addition, new technologies and advanced breeding strategies are being developed for enhanced DNA genotyping and high-throughput plant phenotyping approaches to improve turfgrass breeding and selection efficiency. This chapter discusses biological characteristics, traditional breeding strategies, current breeding objectives, and advanced breeding methods for the major cool- and warm-season turfgrass species. Although remarkable progress has been made in the development of improved turfgrass cultivars, much work remains to deliver turfgrass varieties that are able to withstand the stresses of the future.

This chapter addresses the advances in turfgrass insect pest management. It starts by first reviewing the recent studies of major turfgrass insect pests, such as annual bluegrass weevil, bill bugs, white grubs and fall armyworm. The chapter then moves on to discuss recent studies on emerging turfgrass pests, focusing specifically on European crane flies and Chaetocnema minuta. A section on integrated pest management practices is also provided, drawing attention to methods such as pest detection and monitoring, chemical control, insecticide resistance and non-target issues with chemical insectides. The chapter also discusses biological control, cultural control, host plant tolerance and resistance to pests and the use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.

Interactions between plants and pollinators, and thus pollination, are network-based processes. Many early studies of plant-pollinator networks focused on interactions within agroecosystems, providing a substantial knowledge-base around agricultural pollinators and how they can be promoted. There is therefore an opportunity to use network ecology to understand, support and enhance pollination services through farm management and integrated decision-making. This chapter aims to provide an introduction to network thinking, as well as examples and ideas of how it can be applied to promote and manage pollination services in a range of agroecosystems. To do so we: (i) describe the important and agriculturally relevant characteristics and structures in plant-pollinator networks; (ii) demonstrate how plant-pollinator networks have been assessed from field to national scales; and (iii) discuss the developments required to further operationalise management and conservation based on pollination networks.

Anthropogenic climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing biodiversity presently and into the future. Climate change, through increasing temperatures, and extreme events including droughts and fires, can be predicted to impact pollinators through a number of mechanisms, including altered phenologies and distributions, which in turn may lead to altered plant-pollinator interactions. This chapter presents an overview of observed and predicted impacts of climate change on pollinators, as well as factors that may mediate species’ responses, including synergisms with other threatening processes, and identify topics for further research. Given the importance of pollinating organisms for biodiversity and ecosystem services, the chapter concludes by presenting a number of ways in which we can help pollinators face the challenge of climate change.

Plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs), with an almost airtight and well-insulated structure, enable simple and accurate data acquisition and environmental control, time series analysis, and prediction related to plant phenotypes. With plant phenotyping based on cohort research in PFALs, the life cycle phenome history of both plant individuals and communities can be obtained non-invasively and continuously and analyzed from seed sowing to harvesting, with time series data on the microenvironment, management, and resource inputs/outputs. This chapter first reviews challenges affecting PFALs and introduces plant phenotyping in general, along with previous plant phenotyping studies in PFALs. Plant phenotyping based on plant cohort research in PFALs is also discussed, followed by experimental cohort research studies on individual phenotyping. Finally, the possibility of plant phenotype-based environmental control in PFALs, considering business-related factors, is discussed.

Agricultural intensification, or the increase in crop production per unit of input or land area to meet the needs of a growing population, has resulted in a landscape dominated by large scale monoculture cropping. Pollinators, specifically, are impacted by the lack of diverse floral and habitat resources associated with this type of farming. Agriculture must develop practices that diversify the crop landscape and increase the availability of habitat and flowering resources to support these populations. In this chapter, we summarize the available literature on how the production space, i.e., within a crop production field, orchard, or pasture, can be more effectively managed to sustain pollinator populations. We report on various spatial and temporal approaches within the context of various cropping systems (row crops, specialty crops, perennial orchards, and perennial forage and pasture systems). Collectively, these approaches represent opportunities to re-introduce diversity into the agricultural landscape to benefit pollinators.

Abiotic stresses of turfgrasses involve any environmental condition which limits plant growth, turfgrass quality, and system functionality. Commonly observed abiotic stresses in turfgrass systems include drought, high temperature, low temperature, low irradiance, traffic, salinity, and chemical phytotoxicity. Managing abiotic stresses with reduced irrigation, fertilizer, energy, and pesticides has become critical to the sustainability of the turfgrass industry. In this chapter, we aim to describe the current literature related to abiotic stress management in turfgrasses with an emphasis on sustainability of turfgrass systems. To this end, we have organized the discussion into four approaches to sustainable abiotic stress management: 1) managing growth, 2) moderating the environment, 3) enhancing stress tolerance, and 4) masking stress response.

Avocado fruit is rich in phytochemicals that have been associated with the prevention of some important diseases. This chapter discusses the important nutritional components of avocado fruit, especially the many important bioactive compounds they contain, as well as the important effects of avocado consumption on human nutrition and health, a driver behind the very significant growth and expansion of the industry in the last few decades. The chapter details nutraceutical properties of avocado, particularly their potential for the prevention and possible treatment of diseases such as macular degeneration, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular problems, and cancer, among others. Some folk medicinal uses of avocado and its components, as well as some pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other applications have been discussed. Potential allergic and toxic compounds have also been mentioned and discussed.

Light-emitting diodes (LED) are advancing the development of indoor vertical farming due to their varied light spectrum and photon flux density. The substantial energy cost of lighting systems requires improvement. This chapter reviews three major spectra applied to lettuce cultivation in indoor vertical farming systems. Red and blue light are the most efficient spectra for chlorophyll absorption and far-red light promotes light interception and increases photochemical efficiency. Research shows that the photon flux ratio between red and blue light affects plant architecture, leaf and photosynthetic characteristics, biomass production and phytochemical compound accumulation. Additional far-red over photosynthetically active radiation triggers shade avoidance responses and increases light interception, which combines with planting density effects. Aside from the above spectra, biomass production and quality, utilization of other light spectrum and dynamic lighting as well as plant modelling should be considered to promote light use efficiency in indoor vertical farming.

Plant production in plant factories with artificial lighting (PFAL) can be done continuously for similar crops regardless of location and climate, allowing interconnectivity of production worldwide. A combination of a PFAL modular system with data acquisition and analysis tools has the potential to improve crop production in PFALs. Using real time monitoring and AI driven adjustment of the growing environment can improve the resource use efficiency of PFALs worldwide. In this chapter we describe the main elements required to successfully build a global network of PFALs based on the experience of Infarm, a company that built the first world‘s cloud connected PFAL network.

This chapter provides an overview of the antioxidant nutraceutical compounds found in apples. Apples have always been recognised as foods with high nutritional value. In addition, their health benefits have always been the subject of intense research. This chapter summarises the characteristics and properties of the antioxidant compounds found in apples, their bioavailability, and the mechanisms by which they exert their antioxidant effects. The effects of maturation, ripening, and post-harvesting on the resulting antioxidant content are also discussed.

Extending shelf life, improving quality, and reducing waste of leafy vegetables during transport and storage are key to tackling the global food challenge. Leafy vegetables – as the most popular crop grown in indoor vertical farms – are considered an important contributor to a healthy diet but generally have a short shelf life. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive definition of quality and review studies on the effect of high photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) applied prior to harvest on phytochemicals in leafy vegetables. Increasing levels of phytochemicals (vitamin C, phenolics and carbohydrates) under high PPFD can directly improve health-related values at harvest, and more importantly, through their involvement in metabolic and redox homeostasis, ensure sufficient antioxidant capacity in leaves and suppress quality decay in storage. Increased PPFD during growth can be integrated with indoor vertical farming to improve quality and extend the shelf life of leafy vegetables.

Because of their importance as pollinators of wild and cultivated plants, little concern has been paid to alien bees when entering a new ecosystem. Hence, approximately 80 alien bee species worldwide have spread outside their native ranges. Here, we explored the main impacts of alien bees on native bees through competition for food or nesting resources, interference, pathogen spillover, and genetic contamination. Implications for native bee conservation are also discussed. In addition, in this chapter, we developed a particular focus on the first alien bee that colonised Europe, Megachile sculpturalis. We emphasised the main knowledge gaps and important trends for future research. Finally, avenues for managing alien bee species and preventing their introduction are provided.

This chapter introduces the background and theory underpinning use of odours by insects in pollination, discusses how flowers produce odours and highlights issues specific to crops such as selective breeding. It then explores current technologies and case studies in which natural or synthetic odours on or near the crop, and the interaction with insects, influences visitation, pollination success and yield.

This chapter focuses on improving safe confumser handling of fresh produce. It begins by first discussing consumer produce consumption, drawing specific attention to the consumption of high risk produce items. The chapter then moves on to review pathogens isolated from produce samples, which is followed by an analysis of outbreaks and illnesses caused by produce. A section on organic produce is also provided, focusing specifically on microbial quality of conventionally grown versus organic produce and foodborne outbreaks associated with organic foods. The chapter also provides an overview of farmers markets, comparing the quality of produce items from these markets to traditional retail and also identifies the foodborne illnesses that can occur due to farmers markets. Consumer knowledge and behaviours around safe produce handling and consumption is also discussed, followed by an overview of produce safety and vulnerable and immunocompromised consumers. The chapter includes an overview of fresh produce safety handling recommendations and resources, as well as a discussion on the need to include behaviour theories and formative research in the development of new and targeted education materials around produce safety.

Salmonella is a frequent etiologic agent for foodborne illnesses acquired via consumption of plant-based foods. This may be attributed to the adaptability of this pathogen to various environments and hosts, including plants. Salmonella has a broad capacity to associate with fresh produce crops from a multitude of plant families, colonizing various anatomical structures of plants at all developmental stages, from root to leaf, from sprout to fruit. Salmonella identifies microsites on the plant surface with adequate water and nutrients and can enter plant tissues through natural plant openings such as stomata and lenticels. Its ability to persist on or penetrate plant tissues may also be facilitated by agricultural practices or post-harvest preparation of fruit and vegetables. This chapter discusses the various plant traits and agricultural practices that aid Salmonella association with fruit and vegetable crops, as well as the genetic strategies that Salmonella employs to compete in the plant niche.

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) conducts trials of turfgrass species across the USA and Canada. NTEP data collected since 1981 is publicly available at www.ntep.org. Data is collected on more than 100 parameters including key factors in sustainable turfgrass selection. Selection of turfgrasses with traits such as improved disease resistance, drought tolerance, persistence under poor soil conditions or low quality irrigation and fast establishment are shown to protect the environment, improve athlete safety, reduce inputs, thus improving sustainability. To improve access to sustainable turfgrass data, NTEP and the University of Minnesota have developed a relational database along with a user-friendly selection tool, the Turfgrass Trial Explorer. This tool is accessed at www.ntep.org/database.htm, which allows for additional selection, sorting, analyzing and downloading of NTEP data. Case studies are presented to demonstrate current and future use of the Turfgrass Trial Explorer for sustainable turfgrass selection.

This particular chapter will cover recent advances in turfgrass disease management that promote sustainable suppression of the pathogens that cause diseases.

Avocado is one of the world’s most economically important subtropical/tropical fruit crops, ranking fourth in export value behind bananas, grapes and apples. In the past 20 years, global avocado production has increased dramatically, with production now occurring in over 70 countries as a result of increased consumer demand.

This growth in production and consumer demand has been attributed to the fruit’s remarkable sensory, nutritional and nutraceutical properties. However, continued growth of the sector depends on optimising these properties, as well as improving the sustainability of pre-harvest cultivation and post-processing operations in the face of several challenges, including climate change.

Built on a lifetime’s experience from one of the world’s leading experts in the field, Sustainable production and postharvest handling of avocado considers how the avocado value chain can be optimised to achieve this growth. The book includes seven chapters which each offer a detailed insight into different elements of avocado production, covering topics such as nutritional compounds and health benefits, cultivars, growing techniques, pest and disease management, as well as post-harvest physiology and treatment and handling.

Written by a world-renowned expert, Sustainable production and postharvest handling of avocado will be a standard reference for commercial avocado growers, producers, processors and retailers, university and other researchers in tropical fruit science, as well as government and other private sector agencies supporting the sustainable production of avocados.

Turfgrass is the single largest irrigated crop in the continental United States, however urban growth potential, potable water scarcity, limited annual precipitation, prolonged droughts, and food crops prioritization sets limits to the availability of water that can be allocated to turfgrass areas. For these reasons, research has been focused extensively on water conservation efforts for turfgrasses in recent years. Aside from the use of warm-season turf species where possible, several potable water conservation strategies have been proposed and investigated in recent years. In this chapter we will focus on: estimating turfgrass water needs, sprinkler irrigation system advances, subsurface drip irrigation, alternatives to potable water, management practices, use of plant growth regulators, and soil surfactants.

This chapter describes a set of pollinator best management practices (BMPs) for US apple production. The primary goal is to provide guidance for growers, crop consultants and regulators on pollinator protection in apple orchards. This guidance considers practical production needs. In the long term, the aim is to increase understanding within the US apple growing community of the benefits and opportunities around protecting pollinators while also protecting crops from pest damage. This has been done by modifying existing Integrated Pest Management Programs (IPM) for apple to include both conserving the biological control agents of secondary pests such as mites and aphids and conserving wild and managed pollinators to create what has more recently been termed as Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM).

Pests and pathogens are a major factor in the health and wellbeing of pollinators. We provide a brief review of the major pests and pathogens of three important insect pollinator taxa of crop plants: honey bees (Apis spp.), bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and other wild bees. For honey bees, the varroa mite (Varroa destructor)-Deformed wing virus (ectoparasitic vector-pathogen) nexus is likely the major cause of poor health and survival. For bumble bees and other wild bee species, pests and pathogens also play an important role in determining the health of individuals, though their impact on host populations is poorly known. Pathogen spillover, the interspecific transmission of pathogens, is a current and future threat to all three pollinator taxa. We highlight some of the current methods and approaches to controlling pests and pathogens. Disease-causing organisms need to be taken seriously in the management and promotion of pollinators and their pollination services.

This chapter provides an overview of the history of pollination biology, it begins by discussing the basics of pollination and goes on to discuss pollinators and their diversity. Sections also cover the ecology and evolution of floral traits, domestication and its impact on plant-pollinator relationships and how pollinators can impact agriculture. A section on modern agriculture and pollinators is also provided.

• Reviews recent advances in the use of quantitative trait loci to identify and improve key sensory attributes of tomatoes and strawberries
• Identifies the key health benefits associated with the consumption of cranberries, as well as future approaches for maximising the bioefficacy of cranberry-related food and products
• Highlights the use of plant bioregulators in the tree fruit production industry as a means of controlling vegetative growth and the maintenance and development of tree structure

This chapter discusses the techniques commonly used to process avocado fruit to many different products and by-products. It describes the processing technologies and their effects on the organoleptic, nutritional and nutraceutical quality of the fruit and its products. These processes include freezing, dehydration, high hydrostatic pressure and others, for the production of diverse avocado processing products such as fresh cut, pulp, guacamole, pure, and oil, among others. Several methods used for the extraction of avocado oil are discussed. Proper hygiene and safety practices are also discussed.

Optimal postharvest handling of avocado fruit is essential for the preservation of quality and prolonging postharvest life. Avocados are climacteric fruit and one of the very few fruits that do not fully ripen on the tree, but only after harvest. This chapter describes the most important physiological and biochemical characteristics and changes of the fruit that lead to and affect maturation and ripening, necessitating appropriate handling after harvest. Some important potential causes of fruit deterioration after harvest, such as physiological changes and disorders, diseases and insects are highlighted. The most important maturity and harvesting indices, especially the oil and dry matter contents, are detailed as well as acceptable harvesting methods. In addition, all postharvest handling techniques, such as packing, packaging, grading and classification, cooling, storage, transport, use of modified and controlled atmospheres, artificial ripening and ripening control are discussed in detail.

The increasing consumption and popularity of Brassica vegetables can be linked to its nutrient composition and consequent health benefits. This review discusses the available evidence demonstrating the benefits of the Brassica family, particularly broccoli, and offers information to help ensure that public health messaging reflects current science. It demonstrates that Brassica vegetables have advantages beyond helping achieve basic nutritional requirements and could provide specific nutrients towards reducing the risk of cancer and other diseases. Knowledge of the bioavailability of Brassica bioactive compounds, particularly of phenolic compounds and glucosinolates, is critical to understanding such benefits. Finally, it discusses additional support and strategies to maintain Brassica nutritive value since the content of particular compounds varies significantly due to the different variables in the food supply chain. The overall aim of the present study is to comprise information regarding the Brassica vegetable family that can be used to encourage daily dietary intake through investigating diet-disease relationships.

With increasing temperatures and an escalation in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, agricultural productivity remains at risk of being compromised. With the food security of millions threatened, there remains a need to develop alternative, sustainable production models which can thrive in the face of climate change.

Advances in plant factories: New technologies in indoor vertical farming reviews the wealth of research on optimising plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) as one potential solution to achieving a more sustainable agriculture. The book addresses developments in process monitoring, optimising energy use, as well as adjusting lighting conditions to improve the sensory and nutritional quality of a range of horticultural crops.