<p>In 2012, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a scientific opinion to address the safety assessment of plants developed through cisgenesis and intragenesis. The EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) stated that cisgenic and conventionally bred plants represent similar hazards, whereas intragenic and transgenic plants could raise new hazards. GMO detection of plants produced through cisgenesis requires Next-Generation Sequencing methods and more costly analyses for the detection and identification of modified varieties. With the aim of cisgenesis-derived plants detection, a European Council project starting in 2014 provides technical solutions and affordable methods and protocols. The book will review and discuss Plant Functional Genomic studies and the future developments in the field, exploring the new technologies supporting the genetic improvement of plants and the production of plant varieties more resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.This book provides an overview of research projects on plant biology, functional genomics, application of RNA silencing and RNA interference, RNA based vaccines, RNA signaling at distance, and plant epigenetics, all of which have the potential to improve plant varieties for food and non-food applications.</p><ul><li>provides an overview on the ongoing projects and activities in the field of applied biotechnology</li><li>includes examples of different crops and applications to be exploited</li><li>reviews and discusses Plant Functional Genomic studies and the future developments in the field</li><li>explores the new technologies supporting the genetic improvement of plants</li></ul>