**Preface to "Orchid Biochemistry"**

Orchidaceae is the second largest family among the angiosperms and it consists of over twenty-eight thousand species worldwide across a wide range of habitats. It is well known that orchids possess attractive flowers that have high economical value in the global horticultural market. What often receives less attention is the fact that some orchids are edible or scented, and, more than this, many species have long been used in preparations as traditional medicine. In the past two decades, extensive studies have been conducted on genetic as well as functional genomics to achieve certain progress in biotechnology and breeding programs for orchids. However, in-depth research on bioactive compounds, flower pigments, and floral scents is still limited to several species. This book gives emphasis to molecular insights into orchid biology, biotechnology, and biochemistry based on advanced and high-throughput technologies. It offers a critical reference for students, teachers, researchers, and professionals in the fields of orchid biology. As the editor of this book, I greatly appreciate the invaluable contribution of all authors and reviewers as well as the efforts of Editors in the *International Journal of Molecular Sciences: Molecular Plant Sciences.*

> **Jen-Tsung Chen** *Editor*
