Cover -- Contents -- Contributors -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Tools of genetic engineering in plants -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Selection and isolation of genes -- 2.3 Transformation and regeneration of plants -- 2.4 Stability of the transgenes -- 2.5 Environmental risk assessment -- 2.6 Future trends -- 2.7 Sources of further information and advice -- 2.8 References -- Part I Targets for transformation -- 3 Genetic modification of agronomic traits in fruit crops -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Somaclonal variation -- 3.3 Gene transformation -- 3.4 Genetic Stability -- 3.5 Plant development and reproduction -- 3.6 Fruit quality -- 3.7 Biotic stress -- 3.8 Abiotic stress resistance -- 3.9 Plant breeding: the use of molecular markers -- 3.10 Future perspectives -- 3.11 Abbreviations used in this chapter -- 3.12 References and further reading -- 4 Genes involved in plant defence mechanisms -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Mechanisms of plant response to pathogens -- 4.3 Genes in the defence against virus -- 4.4 Genes in the defence against fungi -- 4.5 Genes in the defence against insects and nematodes -- 4.6 Long-term impact of genetically modified plants in their response to pathogens -- 4.7 Future trends -- 4.8 Sources of further information and advice -- 4.9 References -- 5 Genes selected for their role in modifying post-harvest life -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Biotechnological control of fruit ripening and post-harvest diseases -- 5.3 Biotechnological control of vegetable ripening and postharvest diseases -- 5.4 Future trends -- 5.5 Sources of further information -- 5.6 References -- 6 The use of molecular genetics to improve food properties -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Changing the nutritional value of foods -- 6.3 Modification of fruit colour and sweetness -- 6.4 Modification of food-processing properties of fruit -- 6.5 Molecular farming and therapeutic food -- 6.6 Future trends -- 6.7 Sources of further information and advice -- 6.8 References -- 7 Nutritional enhancement of plant foods -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 The nutritional importance of plants -- 7.3 Strategies for nutritional enhancement -- 7.4 The priorities for nutritional enhancement -- 7.5 Relationship of structure to nutritional quality (bioavailabilty) -- 7.6 Nutritional enhancement versus food fortification -- 7.7 Constraints on innovation -- 7.8 Future trends -- 7.9 Further information -- 7.10 References -- Part II Case studies -- 8 Tomato -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Modifications targeting fruit -- 8.3 Modifications targeting seeds and germination -- 8.4 Modifications targeting biotic and abiotic stress tolerance -- 8.5 Modifications targeting vegetative tissues and flowers -- 8.6 Expression of novel proteins in tomato -- 8.7 Regulation of transgenic gene expression in tomato -- 8.8 Conclusions -- 8.9 References -- 9 Commercial developments with transgenic potato -- 9.1 Markets and challenges -- 9.2 Potato breeding and a role for GM technology -- 9.3 Commercial applications of GM potato crops -- 9.4 Current and future potential for GM potato -- 9.5 Revised legislation on GM crops in Europe -- tidti.