The book covers in detail the principles and practices of conventional plant breeding as well as newer and recent biotechnological tools such as marker assisted selection and transgenic crops. The book is suitable for use as an advanced text. A basic knowledge of plant pathogens, insect-pests and their genetics is assumed. In addition, the book can be used as reference book by plant pathologists, entomologists and geneticists engaged in developing germplasm, with resistance to biotic stresses. Attempts have been made to draw specific examples from as many different crop plants and their harmful parasites as possible, and an extensive reference list provides access to the original literature.