This book is the first comprehensive compilation of deliberations on botany, medicinal importance, genetic diversity, classical genetics and breeding, in vitro biosynthesis, somatic embryogenesis, genetic transformation, molecular mapping, genome sequence, and functional genomics of Catharanthus roseus. Catharanthus is the most important medicinal plant in the world that contains about 130 therapeutic alkaloids out of which vinblastine and vincristine are the two highly used anticancer drugs sold by the pharmaceutically industries. Altogether, the book contains about 10 chapters authored by globally reputed experts on the relevant field of this plant. This book is useful to the students, teachers and scientists in the academia and relevant private companies interested in horticulture, genetics, breeding, pathology, entomology, physiology, molecular genetics and breeding, in vitro culture and genetic engineering, and structural and functional genomics. This book is also useful to pharmaceutical industries.

Prof. Chittaranjan Kole is an internationally reputed scientist with an illustrious professional career of spanning over thirty-seven years and original contributions in the fields of plant genomics, biotechnology, and molecular breeding leading to the publication of more than 160 quality research articles and reviews. He has edited over 150 books for the leading publishers of the world including Springer Nature, Wiley-Blackwell, and Taylor and Francis Group. His scientific contributions and editing acumen have been appreciated by seven Nobel Laureates including Profs. Norman Borlaug, Arthur Kornberg, Werner Arber, Phillip Sharp, G¿nter Blobel, Lee Hartwell, and Roger Kornberg. He has been honored with a number of Fellowships, Honorary Fellowships, and national and international awards including the Outstanding Crop Scientist Award conferred by the International Crop Science Society. He has served at all prestigious positions in academia including as Vice-Chancellor of BC Agricultural university, Project Coordinator of Indo-Russian Center of Biotechnology in India, and Director of Research of Institute of Nutraceutical Research of Clemson University, in USA. He worked also in the Pennsylvania State University and Clemson University as Visiting Professor in USA. He is also heading the International Climate-Resilient Crop Genomics Consortium and International Phytomedomics and Nutriomics Consortium as their founding Principal Coordinator and President.

Chapter 1. Botanical Features of Periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus.- Chapter 2. Catharanthus roseus: A Source of Anticancer Phytomedicines.- Chapter 3. Classical Breeding and Trait Genetics in Catharanthus.- Chapter 4. Somatic Embryogenesis in Catharanthus roseus: Proteomics of Embryogenic and Nonembryogenic Tissues; and Genome Size Analysis of Regenerated Plant.- Chapter 5. Alkaloid Synthesis in in vitro Cultures of Catharanthus roseus: Capabilities and Limitations.- Chapter 6. Genetic Transformation in Catharanthus roseus.- Chapter 7. Molecular Markers and Descriptor's Suitable for Quantitative Trait Loci and Genome Mapping in Catharanthus roseus.- Chapter 8. Sequencing the Genome of Catharanthus roseus: Status and Prospects.- Chapter 9. Functional Genomics Approaches for Gene Discovery Related to Terpenoid Indole Alkaloid Biosynthetic Pathway in Catharanthus roseus.- Chapter 10. Future Prospectsfor Research on Catharanthus roseus.