Professor Jameel M. Al-Khayri is a professor of plant biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. He received B.S. in Biology in 1984 from the University of Toledo, M.S. in Agronomy in 1988, and Ph.D. in Plant Science in 1991 from the University of Arkansas. He is a member the International Society for Horticultural Science and Society for In Vitro Biology as well as the National Correspondent of the International Association of Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology. His graduate work resulted in the establishment of in vitro regeneration protocols for spinach and zoysiagrass. For the last two decades, he dedicated his research efforts to date palm. He has authored over fifty research articles in referred international journals, over twenty review chapters, and co-edited several journal special issues and seven reference books on date palm and advances in plant breeding. He has been involved in organizing international scientific conferences and contributed numerous research presentations. In addition to teaching, students advising and research, he held administrative responsibilities as the Assistant Director of Date Palm Research Center, Head of Department of Plant Biotechnology and Vice Dean for Development and Quality Assurance. Dr. Al-Khayri served as a Member of Majlis Ash Shura (Saudi Legislative Council) for the 2009-2012 term. Currently he is maintaining an active research program on date palm focusing on genetic transformation, secondary metabolites, and in vitro mutagenesis to enhance tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress.

Provides current assessment of research and development with respect to advances in breeding of fruit trees

Preface.- List of Contributors.- Part I. Temperate Fruits.- 1. Apple (Malus spp.) Breeding: Present and Future; S. Pereira-Lorenzo et al.- 2. Cherry Breeding: Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) and Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus L.); L. Dondini et al.- 3. Mulberry (Morus spp.) Breeding for Higher Fruit Production; K. Vijayan et al.- 4. Pear (Pyrus spp.) Breeding; G.J. da Silva et al.- 5. Plum (Prunus spp.) Breeding; T. Miloševi¿, N. Miloševi¿.- 6. Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) Breeding; S. Kafkas et al.- Part II. Subtropical Fruits.- 8. Cactus Pear (Opuntia spp.) Breeding; M.A. Mazri.- 9. Improvement of Fig (Ficus carica L.) by Conventional Breeding and Biotechnology; F. Aljane et al.- 10. Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) Breeding; Z. Hanley.- 11. Citrus Genetics and Breeding; J. Cuenca et al.- 12. Advanced Innovative Tools in Lemon (Citrus limon L.) Breeding; I. Polat.- 13. Mandarin (Citrus reticulate Blanco) Breeding; M. Usman, B. Fatima.- 14. Strategies for Olive (Olea eurpaea L.) Breeding: Cultivated Genetic Resources and Crossbreeding; L. Rallo et al.- 15. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Breeding; D. Holland, I. Bar-Ya'akov.- Part III. Tropical Fruits.- 16. Genetics and Breeding of Fruit Crops in the Annonaceae Family: Annona spp. and Asimina spp.; J. Lora et al.- 17. Breeding of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.): The Tree of Life; Y. Yang et al.- 18. Advances in Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Breeding; J.M. Al-Khayri et al.- 19. Breeding of Garcinia spp.; H.N. Murthy et al.- 20. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Breeding; I.S.E. Bally, N.L. Dillon.- 21. Genetic Improvement of Papaya (Carica papaya L.); F. Karambu Rimberia et al.- 22. Passion Fruit (Passiflora spp.) Breeding; C.B. MorenoCerquiera-Silva et al.- 23. Genetics and Breeding of Fruit Crops in the Sapindaceae Family: Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) and Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.); J. Lora et al.- Index.