Genetic Improvement of Crops was first published in 1980. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. Recent years have seen the emergence of a number of in vitro techniques that hold promise for the genetic alteration of higher organisms by non-traditional means. These new techniques may eventually modify the genetic structure of cash crop plants and, in practical terms, may lead to substantial improvement of crop production and to disease resistance in plants. This volume brings together 10 research reports by scientists actively engaged in developing genetic techniques in plants and other organisms. The first section explores both the potential for application of these techniques and the genetic needs of plant breeders. Other sections deal with genome organization and function; recombinant DNA technology and application; gene transfer; organelle transfer; and plant tissue culture.