Dr Dilip R. Panthee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University, USA. His key research focuses on the development of new tomato lines and cultivars, utilising both conventional and molecular approaches. Dr Panthee’s expertise is in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, QTL mapping, molecular marker development and marker-assisted selection. His tomato breeding program at North Carolina State University employs both conventional and molecular breeding approaches to improve tomato disease resistance, yield, and fruit quality. Dr Panthee has released 13 hybrid tomato cultivars and 19 tomato breeding lines. He has also published over 95 journal articles, 10 book chapters and more than 85 abstracts and research reports.

Part 1 Advances in genetics and conventional breeding techniques

• 1.Advances in understanding and optimising tomato genetic resources: Indurani Chandrasekaran, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India;
• 2.Advances in hybrid breeding techniques for tomato: Ilias Avdikos, International Hellenic University, Greece;
• 3.Advances in understanding the genetics of heterosis in tomato: Ilias Avdikos, International Hellenic University, Greece;
• 4.Advances in mutation breeding techniques for tomato: Younghoon Park, Pusan National University, Republic of Korea;

Part 2 Advances in modern molecular breeding techniques

• 5.Advances in genomic selection techniques in tomato breeding: Christopher Sauvage, INRAE, France;
• 6.Advances in genetic modification of tomato: Aurelia Scarano, Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA) – National Council of Research (CNR), Italy, Italy;
• 7.Advances in gene editing of tomato: Yuyang Zhang, Huazhong Agricultural University, China;
• 8.Advances in tomato metabolomics and its application in breeding: Pierre Pétriacq, INRAE, France;
• 9.Advances in tomato epigenomics and its application in breeding: Juan Capel, University of Almeria, Spain;

Part 3 Improving biotic and abiotic stress resistance of tomato

• 10.Advances in breeding for bacterial disease resistance in tomato: Krishna Bhattarai, Texas A&M University, USA;
• 11.Advances in breeding for fungal disease resistance in tomato: Priti Upadhyay, University of Delhi, India;
• 12.Advances in breeding for viral disease resistance in tomato: Santiago García-Martínez, Miguel Hernandez University, Spain;
• 13.Advances in breeding for root-knot nematode resistance on tomato: Mahmut Tör, University of Worcester, UK;
• 14.Advances in breeding for insect pest resistance in tomato: Eloisa Vendemiatti, West Virginia State University, USA;

Part 4 Breeding for improved quality traits of tomato

• 15.Advances in improving traits relating to tomato fruit development: Duoduo Wang, University of New Hampshire, USA;
• 16.Advances in breeding to improve tomato for fruit quality: appearance: Esther Van Der Knaap, University of Georgia, USA;
• 17.Advances in breeding to improve tomato for fruit quality: flavour and texture: Bárbara Blanco-Ulate, University of California-Davis, USA;
• 18.Advances in breeding to improve tomato for nutritional and nutraceutical properties: Dilip R. Panthee, North Carolina State University, USA;
• 19.Advances in breeding to improve postharvest life of tomato: Joan Casals, Polytechnic University of Catalonia-Barcelona Tech, Spain;