Abstract
The genus Camellia is commercially important primarily due to tea (Camellia sinensis or C. assamica) as drinks and C. japonica as well as C. reticulate due to their beautiful flowers. However, as a consequence of genetic erosion due to cultivation and vegetative propagation of only few elite clones, wild species deserve immediate conservation and utilization as an excellent source of important breeding as well as genomic resources. The Camellia genome is very dynamic as evident from a faster rate of speciation primarily due to easy outbreeding nature within the genus. Although conventional breeding, selection, and propagation contributed significantly for the last several decades for varietal improvement mainly by the traditionally growers, platers and camellia lovers, conventional methods have their limitations and application of the biotechnology becomes an alternative approach. The present chapter deliberates in-depth on taxonomic classification, cytogenetics, micropropagation, cell and tissue culture, genetic transformation, and application of DNA markers.
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Mondal, T.K. (2011). Camellia. In: Kole, C. (eds) Wild Crop Relatives: Genomic and Breeding Resources. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21201-7_2
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