In the preface to the first edition ofthis book, we expressed a conviction that there was a need for a short book that highlighted important advances in the new discipline of plant molecular biology. The rapid development of this topic has been brought about by the recognition of the unique properties of plants in the study of growth and development together with the application of recombinant DNA techniques to tackle these problems. Plant cells contain DNA in nuclei, plastids and mitochondria, and so ofTer the unique challenge of studying the interaction of three separate genetic systems in a single organism. The molecular approach has provided, in recent years, a wealth of important information about how plants function, and how they interact with bacteria, fungi and viruses. Furthermore, plant development involves the regulation of gene expression in response to internal and external signals, and plant molecular biology has provided a fundamental insight into how this development is regulated. This is not only of considerable scientific interest, but also has important implications for the production of plants and plant products in agriculture, horticulture and the food industries.

This volume addresses recent developments in weed science. These developments include conservation agriculture and conservation tillage, climate change, environmental concerns about the runoff of agrochemicals, resistance of weeds and crops to herbicides, and the need for a vastly improved understanding of weed ecology and herbicide use. The book provides details on harnessing knowledge of weed ecology to improve weed management in different crops and presents information on opportunities in weed management in different crops. Current management practices are also covered, along with guidance for selecting herbicides and using them effectively.

Written by experts in the field and supplemented with instructive illustrations and tables, "Recent Advances in Weed Management "is an essential reference for agricultural specialists and researchers, government agents, extension specialists, and professionals throughout the agrochemical industry, as well as a foundation for advanced students taking courses in weed science.

For the past twenty years I have worked as an applied plant virologist, attempting to identify and control virus diseases in field crops. During the last ten years it has been my privilege to present short courses in plant virology to final-year students studying plant pathology, micro biology and general botany. Throughout the period I have been lecturing, it has been possible to recommend several excellent 'library' books for further reading in plant virology, but there has been no publication covering applied plant virology that a student might consider purchasing. With teaching requirements in mind this book has been written to provide a concise introduction to applied plant virology based on the experiences I have gained working on virus diseases, both in an applied laboratory and in the field. The text concentrates on introducing the reader to aspects of plant virology that would be encountered every day by an applied virologist trying to identify viruses and develop control measures for virus diseases of crop plants. Although a brief introduction to virus structure and its terminology is given in the opening chapter of the book, no attempt is made to cover in detail the more fundamental aspects of virus structure, biochemistry and replication. Similarly, the symptoms caused by individual viruses are not described, although the various types of symptoms that plant viruses cause and which might be encountered by a student or research worker are described."

This supplement, containing six chapters, is the first in a series of important works designed to be integrated into the text of the Plant Tissue Culture Manual to maintain it as a valuable source of laboratory methodology

capable of providing at least a relative measure of stomatal aperture were first used shortly thereafter (Darwin and Pertz, 1911). The Carnegie Institution of Washington's Desert Research Laboratory in Tucson from 1905 to 1927 was the first effort by plant physiologists and ecologists to conduct team research on the water relations of desert plants. Measurements by Stocker in the North African deserts and Indonesia (Stocker, 1928, 1935) and by Lundegardh (1922) in forest understories were pioneering attempts to understand the environmental controls on photosynthesis in the field. While these early physiological ecologists were keen observers and often posed hypotheses still relevant today they were strongly limited by the methods and technologies available to them. Their measurements provided only rough approximations of the actual plant responses. The available laboratory equip ment was either unsuited or much more difficult to operate under field than laboratory conditions. Laboratory physiologists distrusted the results and ecologists were largely not persuaded of its relevance. Consequently, it was not until the 1950s and 1960s that physiological ecology began its current resurgence. While the reasons for this are complicated, the development and application of more sophisticated instruments such as the infrared gas analyzer played a major role. In addition, the development of micrometeorology led to new methods of characterizing the plant environments."

Plant molecular biology is rapidly becoming an important and successful component of the worldwide research challenge to apply basic biochemical, physiological and genetic techniques for the improvement of agricultural crops. This book shows how the study of fundamental plant physiological processes is being advanced through the science of genetics. The author has adopted a case study approach to illustrate how defined genetic materials in mutants and plant variants are being productively used to explore photosynthesis, stress tolerance, seed physiology, and flowering and reproductive morphology. This approach also helps avoid overwhelming readers who might be unfamiliar with the enormous detail now available in this burgeoning field. The case studies cover all major fields of plant physiology and are grouped in a format familiar to students of the discipline. Most take the form of a brief introduction followed by a discussion of the isolation and characterization of the mutants in question, and then by examples of how these mutants have been used to provide physiological insights. The aim is to make the information accessible to students with an elementary knowledge of plant physiology, genetics, and molecular biology, as well as other scientists and students who wish to know more about the application of the powerful tools provided by genetics.

The beauty of a knotty oak tree is different from that of a lovely flower. It is the rough beauty of an old soldier's face showing the traces of wind and sun, of harm and of victory, bearing the scars of bygone battles. It is different from the fragile, delicate beauty of a young girl which is evident to anyone at first sight. The beauty of an old and crippled tree is hidden unless perceived by the alert eye which is able to fancy or rather discern the hard trials of life the tree has ex perienced. Contemplating trees in this way is not much different from busying oneself with physiognomies, i.e. with the art of judging character from the features of the human face. Physiognomies is often considered a dubious science, but is prac ticed every day in human communication by everybody from early childhood to old age. Although we all are able to discern the angrily furrowed brow, the laughing crow's-feet below the eyes, the arrogant harsh lines around the nose, the hard narrow mouth, the gluttonous lip, and the secret eye of the silent ob server, we would never admit to rely on such seemingly doubtful methods."

This handbook is intended as an introductory guide to students at all levels on the principles and practice of plant growth analysis. Many have found this quantitative approach to be useful in the description and interpretation of the performance of whole plant systems grown under natural, semi-natural or controlled conditions. Most of the methods described require only simple experimental data and facilities. For the classical approach, GCSE biology and mathematics (or their equivalents) are the only theoretical backgrounds required. For the functional approach, a little calculus and statistical theory is needed. All of the topics regarding the quantitative basis of productivity recently introduced to the Biology A-level syllabus by the Joint Matriculation Board are covered. The booklet replaces my elementary Plant Growth Analysis (1978, London: Edward Arnold) which is now out of print. The presentation is very basic indeed; the opening pages give only essential outlines of the main issues. They are followed by brief, standardized accounts of each growth-analytical concept taken in turn. The illustrations deal more with the properties of well-grown material than with the effects of specific environmental changes, even though that is where much of the subject's interest lies. However, detailed references to the relevant parts of more com prehensive works appear throughout, and a later section on 'Inter relations' adds perspective. Some 'Questions and answers' may also help to show what topics will arise if the subject is pursued further."

Plant cell and tissue culture comprises a broad range of techniques of great value to research workers in the fields of cell and molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, plant breeding and propagation and genetic engineering. This manual provides protocols for the major techniques in such a format that they can be followed step-by-step at the bench. Both applied and more fundamental uses of cell, tissue and organ culture are covered, and the ring-binder design allows the manual to be updated regularly with supplementary chapters. Each chapter, discussing a single technique or protocol, provides background information, references to the relevant literature and a guide to troubleshooting in addition to a thorough methodology. This second Supplement to the core text of the "Manual" provides important techniques to be added to the Sections on "Basic Techniques, Tissue Culture & Transformation of Crop Species and Reproductive Tissues".

The first edition of The Science of Photobiology was published in 1977, and was the first textbook to cover all of the major areas of photobiology. The science of photobiology is currently divided into 14 subspecialty areas by the American Society for Photobiology. In this edition, however, the topics of phototechnology and spectroscopy have been com bined in a new chapter entitled "Photophysics." The other subspecialty areas remain the same, i.e., Photochemistry, Photosensitization, UV Radiation Effects, Environmental Photobiology, Photomedicine, Circadian Rhythms, Extraretinal Photoreception, Vision, Photomorphogenesis, Photomovement, Photosynthesis, and Bioluminescence. This book has been written as a textbook to introduce the science of photobiology to advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The chapters are written to provide a broad overview of each topic. They are designed to contain the amount of information that might be presented in a one-to two-hour general lecture. The references are not meant to be exhaustive, but key references are included to give students an entry into the literature. Frequently a more recent reference that reviews the literature will be cited rather than the first paper by the author making the original discovery. The chapters are not meant to be a repository of facts for research workers in the field, but rather are concerned with demon strating the importance of each specialty area of photobiology, and documenting its relevance to current and/or future problems of man."

The germination of seeds is a magical event, in which a pinch of dust-like material may give rise to all the power and the beauty of the growing plant. The mechanisms of seed dormancy, of the breaking of seed dormancy and of germination itself continue to remain shrouded in mystery, despite the best efforts of plant scientists. Perhaps we are getting there, but very slowly. This book considers germination and dormancy from the point of view of plant physiology. Plant physiologists attempt to understand the relation ship between plant form and function and to explain, in physical and chemical terms, plant growth and development. The place of germination and dormancy in plant ecophysiology is taken into account with attempts to understand the seed in its .environment, whether the environment be natural, semi-natural or wholly artificial. In due course plant scientists hope to develop a precise understanding of germination and dormancy in cellular and molecular terms, and therefore there is some biochemistry in this book. Biochemists who wish to learn something about seeds should find this book useful."

This edited book brings out a comprehensive collection of information on the modern omics-based research. The main focus of this book is to educate researchers about utility of omics-based technologies in rapid crop improvement. In last two decades, omics technologies have been utilized significantly in the area of plant sciences and has shown promising results. Omics technology has potential to address the challenge of food security in the near future. The comprehensive use of omics technology occurred in last two decades and helped greatly in the understanding of complex biological problems, improve crop productivity and ensure sustainable use of ecosystem services. This book is of interest to researchers and students of life sciences, biotechnology, plant biotechnology, agriculture, forestry, and environmental sciences. It is also a useful knowledge resource for national and international agricultural scientists.

It is perhaps not surprising that plants have evolved with a mechanism to sense the light environment around them and modify growth for optimal use of the available 'life-giving' light. Green plants and ultimately all forms of life depend on the energy of sunlight, fixed in the process of photosynthesis. By appreciating the quality, quantity, direction and duration of light, plants are able to optimize growth and control such complex processes as germination and flowering. To perceive the light environment a number of receptors have evolved, including the red/far-red light-absorbing phytochrome, the blue/UV-A light-absorbing cryptochrome and a UV-B light-absorbing pigment. The isolation and charac terization of phytochrome is a classic example of how use of photobiological techniques can predict the nature of an unknown photoreceptor. The current knowledge of phytochrome is found in Part 2 and that of cryptochrome and other blue/UV absorbing receptors in Part 3. Part 4 concerns the light environ ment and its perception. Part 5 consists of selected physiological responses: photomodulation of growth, phototropism, photobiology of stomatal move ments, photomovement, photocontrol of seed germination and photocontrol of flavonoid biosyntheses. Further topics in Part 6 are the photobiology of fungi, a genetic approach to photomorphogenesis and coaction between pigment systems. Our plan was to produce an advanced textbook which took a broad inter disciplinary approach to this field of photomorphogenesis."

There are many recent works on the topic of light and plant growth. These have not only been written by experts, but are also, in the main, written for experts (or, at least, for those who already have a fair understanding of the subject). This book has its origins in a six-week course in plant photophysiology, and its aim is to provide an introduction to the subject at an advanced undergraduate level. The imagined audience is simply a student who has asked the questions: In what ways does light affect plant growth, and how does it do it? The book is limited to aspects of photomorphogenesis. Photo synthesis is only considered where its pigments impinge on photo morphogenic investigations, or where its processes provide illustrative examples of particular interactions between light and biological material. Chapter 1 gives a general account of the various ways in which light affects plant development, and introduces topics which are subsequently covered in greater detail. In all the chapters, are special topic 'boxes', consisting of squared-off sections of text. These are simply devices for presenting explanatory background material, or material that I myself find particularly intriguing.

The tenth volume of Water-in-Plants Bibl iography includes papers in al I fields of plant water relations research which appeared during the year 1984 - from theoreti cal considerations about the state of water in cel Is and its membrane transport to drought resistance of plants or physiological significance of irrigation. In addition to papers devoted entirely to plant water relations, papers on other topics are in cluded if they contain data on plant hydration level, water vapour efflux, rate of water uptake or water transport, etc., or if they contain valuable methodological in formation (measurement of selected microclimatic factors, soi I moisture etc.). We have tried to cover fully the relevant papers which have been publ ished in important scientific periodicals and books. Articles appeared in local journals, mimeographed booklets, abstracts of thesis and of symposia contributions, etc., were chosen mostly from reprints received directly from authors. The courtesy of those is highly appreciated. The manuscript is usually prepared in May and June of the year fol lowing the year which it covers. Unfortunately some reprints come later and thus the respective references appear in the fol lowing volume, with one year delay. To maximize the value of the bibl iography the references are arranged alphabetic ally according to the authors' names, and each volume is provided with three indexes."

There is at present a surge of interest in plant biochemistry, as the gaps in our knowledge are seen as a major impediment to progress, especially in such areas as genetic engineering. Techniques for the transfer of genes in plants are well advanced, and the question has become not how to transfer the genes, but which genes should be moved. To be able to answer this question, it is necessary to know the pathways, and to have purified and characterized the enzymes that catalyse these pathways. In the cases that have been studied, fundamental differences between the biochemistry of plants and animals have been found. This book discusses the subject of plant energetics as it is known now, and compares our knowledge of plants with that of animals. This book should be of interest to advanced undergraduates and postgraduates in plant biochemistry and physiology.

The ninth volume of Water-in-Plants Bibi iography includes papers in al I fields of plant water relations research which appeared during the year 1983. - from theoreti cal considerations about the state of water in cel 15 and its membrane transport to drought resistance of plants or physiological significance of irrigation. In addition to papers devoted entirely to plant water relations, papers on other topics are in cluded if they contain data on plant hydration level, water vapour efflux, rate of water uptake or water transport, etc., or if they contain valuable methodological in formation (measurement of selected microclimatic factors, soi I moisture etc. l. We have tried to cover ful Iy the relevant papers which have been publ ished in important scientific periodicals and books. Articles appeared in local journals, mimeographed booklets, abstracts of thesis and of symposia contributions, etc., were chosen mostly from reprints received directly from authors. The courtesy of those is highly appreciated. The manuscript is usual Iy prepared in May and June of the year fol lowing the year which it covers. Unfortunately some reprints come later and thus the respective references appear in the fol lowing volume, with one year delay. To maximize the value of the bibi iography the references are arranged alphabetic al Iy according to the authors' names, and each volume is provided with three indexes."

This is the first book to present a comprehensive and advanced discussion on the latest insights into plant stress biology. Starting with general aspects of biotic as well as abiotic stresses, this handbook and ready reference moves on to focus on topics of stress hormones, technical approaches such as proteomics, transcriptomics and genomics, and their integration into systemic modeling. This book is a valuable resource for researchers as well as professionals not just in plant sciences but also in cell and molecular biology as well as biotechnology.

Transgenic Plant Technology for Remediation of Toxic Metals and Metalloids covers all the technical aspects of gene transfer, from molecular methods, to field performance using a wide range of plants and diverse abiotic stress factors. It describes methodologies that are well established as a key resource for researchers, as well as a tool for training technicians and students. This book is an essential reference for those in the plant sciences, forestry, agriculture, microbiology, environmental biology and plant biotechnology, and those using transgenic plant models in such areas as molecular and cell biology, developmental biology, stress physiology and phytoremediation.

The bibl iography includes papers in all f. ields of photosynthesis research - from stu- dies of rrDdel biochemical and biophysical systems of the photosynthesis mechanism to primary production studied by the so-cal led growth analysis. In addition to papers devoted entirely to photosynthesis, papers on other topics are included if they con- tain data on photosynthetic activity, photorespiration, chloroplast structure, chlo- rophyll and carotenoid synthesis and destruction, etc. , or if they contain valuable methodological information (measurement of selected environmental factors, leaf area, etc. ). In many branches it has been difficult to define the I imits of interest for photosynthesis researchers. This pl-oblem has arisen e. g. in topics deal ing with the transfer of gases, where - in addition to the papers on carbon dioxide transfer - so- me papers on water vapour transfer are included, these being of general appl ication or bringing new approaches. On the other hand, many papers deal ing with the anatomy and physiology of stomata have been omitted, if the aspect of carbon dioxide or water vapour exchange has not been discussed. This volume contains references to papers publ ished in the year 1979, and, similarly to Vol. 9, also addenda including references published in the preceding peri- od (-i. e. 1966 to 1(78), The numbers of these additional references are labelled with an asterisk (*) in the I ist of references.

The seventh volume of Water-in-Plants Bibl iography includes papers in al I fields of plant water relations research which appeared during the year 1981 - from theoreti- cal considerations about the state of water in cel Is and its membrane transport to drought resistance of plants or physiological significance of irrigation. In addition to papers devoted entirely to plant water relations, papers on other topics are in- cluded if they contain data on plant hydration level, water vapour efflux, rate of water uptake or water transport, etc., or if they contain valuable methodological in- formation (measurement of selected microcl imatic factors, soi I moisture etc.). We have tried to cover fully the relevant papers which have been publ ished in the most important scientific periodicals and books. Articles appeared in local jour- nals, mimeographed booklets, abstracts of thesis and of symposia contributions, etc., were chosen mostly from reprints received directly from authors. The courtesy of those authors who have already suppl ied us with reprints and I ists of their publ ica- tions is highly appreciated. The manuscript is usually prepared in May and June of the year fol lowing the year which it covers. Unfortunately some reprints come later and thus the respective references appear in the fol lowing volume, with one year de- lay. To maximize the value of the bib I iography the references are arranged alphabetic- ally according to the authors' names, and each volume is provided with three indexes.

The sixth volume of Water-in-Plants Bibl iography includes papers in all fields of plant wa-rer relations research which appeared during the year 1980 - from theore- tical considerations about the state of water in cells and its membl"ane transport to drought resistance of plants or physiological significance of irrigation. In addition to papers devoted entirely to plant water I"elations, papers on other topics are included if they contain data on plant hydration level, water vapour efflux, ra- te of water uptake or \'later transport, etc., or if they contain valuable methodolo- gical informati-on (measurement of selected microcl imatic factors, soi I nx:>isture, etc. ). We have tried to cover fully the relevant papers whi ch have been publ ished in the rTDst important scienti fie periodicals and books. Articles appeared in local journals, mirreographed booklets, abstracts of thesis and of symposia contributions, etc., were chosen rTDstly from reprints received directly from authors. The courtesy of those authors who have already supplied us with reprints and lists of their - bl ications is highly appreciated. The manuscript is usually prepared in ~1ay and June of the year 10110l,ing the year which it covers. Unfortunataly some reprints come later and thus the respective references appear in the following vol ume, with one year delay. To maximize the value of the bibliography the references are alTanged alphabeti- cally according to the authors' names, and each volume is provided "ith three indexes.