more than 12,000 alkaloids are known in plants, mostly used as medicine with a world market value of about 4 billion us$. opium poppy, papaver somniferum, is the most important economic source of morphinane alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, thebaine, narcotine and papaverine that are exploited by the pharmaceutical industry as analgesics, antitussives and anti-spasmodics. with regard to incr...

The use of molecular virology is described. Emphasis is placed on molecular biology, especially methods involving gene technology. The respective techniques allow characterisation of viruses by molecular cloning and nucleotide sequencing as well as the development of new diagnostic tools and vaccines. Genetically engineered live viruses serve as examples to study potential risks of vaccines der...

Bananas, one of the most valued fruits worldwide, are produced in more than 135 countries tropics and subtropics for local consumption export due to their tremendous nutritional value ease access. The genetic improvement commercial crops is a crucial strategy managing pests or other diseases abiotic stress factors. Although conventional breeding has developed new hybrids with highly productive ...