The last decade has seen tremendous progress in our knowledge of the pollen development and gene expression on one hand and the characterization of pollen specific proteins on the other. In compiling the chapters for this volume, we have pragmatically categorized these basic developments in pollen molecular biology and biotechnology into two sections based on their applications in agricul- ture and implications in medicine. Pollen developmental biology and gene expression: applications in agricul- ture. Pollen development is an extremely complex process encompassing a series of biochemical,...