The series Molecular Methods of Plant Analysis launches the former 'Modern Methods' into the 'molecular' era with this volume on "Taste and Aroma". Analysis of the plant components interacting with these two senses, so important for the very survival of human beings and, in more recent times, the key to their enjoyment of life as well, is presented with examples of the use of molecular approaches. These include DNA microarrays, antisense technology and RNA gel blot analysis.Some recent advances in plant analysis technology embrace amongst others the use of electroantennography in the detection of physiologically important flower volatiles. An introductory chapter explains what we know about the molecular biology of human taste and aroma receptors, as this has implications for the analysis of plant components interacting with these receptors. As the first volume in the molecular series, this book lays the foundation for others to come.

Modern Methods of Plant Analysis When the handbook Modern Methods of Plant Analysis was first introduced in 1954 the considerations were: 1. the dependence of scientific progress in biology on the improvement of existing and the introduction of new methods; 2. the difficulty in finding many new analytical methods in specialized journals which are normally not accessible to experimental plant biologists; 3. the fact that in the methods sections of papers the description of methods is frequently so compact, or even sometimes so incomplete that it is difficult to reproduce experiments. These considerations still stand today. The series was highly successful, seven volumes appearing between 1956 and 1964. Since there is still today a demand for the old series, the publisher has decided to resume publication of Modern Methods of Plant Analysis. It is hoped that the New Series will be just as acceptable to those working in plant sciences and related fields as the early volumes undoubtedly were. It is difficult to single out the major reasons for success of any publication, but we believe that the methods published in the first series were up-to-date at the time and presented in a way that made description, as applied to plant material, complete in itself with little need to consult other publications. Contributing authors have attempted to follow these guidelines in this New Series of volumes.

Modern Methods of Plant Analysis When the handbook Modern Methods of Plant Analysis, was first introduced in 1954, the considerations were: 1. the dependence of scientific progress in biology on the improvement of existing and the introduction of new methods; - 2. the difficulty in finding many new analytical methods in specialized journals which are normally not accessible to experimental plant biologists; 3. the fact that in the methods sections of papers the description of methods is frequently so compact, or even sometimes to incomplete, that it is difficult to reproduce experiments. These considerations still stand today. The series was highly successful, seven volumes appearing between 1956 and 1964. Since there is still today a demand for the old series, the publisher has decided to resume publication of Modern Methods of Plant Analysis. It is hoped that the New Series will be just as acceptable to those working in plant sciences and related fields as the early volumes undoubtedly were. It is difficult to single out the major reasons for the success of any publication, but we believe that the methods published in the first series were up-to-date at the time and presented in a way that made description, as applied to plant material, complete in itself with little need to consult other publications. Contribution authors have attempted to follow these guidelines in this New Series of volumes. Editorial The earlier series of Modern Methods of Plant Analysis was initiated by Michel v.

H. F. LINSKENS and J. HESLOP-HARRISON The chapters of this volume deal with intercellular interaction phenomena in plants. Collectively they provide a broad conspectus of a highly active, if greatly fragmented, research field. Certain limitations have been imposed on the subject matter, the most impor tant being the exclusion of long-range interactions within the plant body. It is true that pervasive hormonal control systems cannot readily be demarcated from controls mediated by pheromones or information-carrying molecules with more limited spheres of action, but consideration is given in this volume to the main classes of plant hormones and their functions only incidentally, since these are treated adequately in other volumes of this Encyclopedia series (V - ume 9-11) and in numerous other texts and reviews. Similarly, certain other effects, such as those associated with nutrients and ions, are not considered in any detail. Furthermore, we have excluded intracellular interactions, and also consideration of transport phenomena, which are treated in detail in Vol ume 3 of this Series. Other aspects of inter-cellular interaction, such as cell surface phenomena and implications of lectin-carbohydrate interactions, and plant-virus inter-relationships, are treated in other sections of this Encyclopedia (Volumes 13B and 14B, respectively). In the volume on physiological plant pathology (Volume 4 of this series) special attention has been given to host pathogen interaction. These aspects of our subject will therefore be excluded in the present treatise."

Pollen transmits the male genetic material in sexual reproduction of all higher plants. This same pollen is also well suited as a research tool for studying many patterns of plant and animal metabolism. In addition, an increased knowledge of pollen may help plant breeders accelerate efforts to improve the world's food and fiber supply. This volume focuses upon pollen biology and chemistry; it attempts to inte grate these facts with management practices involved in pollen applications. People have long been involved with pollen. Pollen applications are recorded in the rites of ancient civilizations (see Frontispiece). From the earliest times many benefits have been attributed to the inclusion of pollen in man's diet; also, since the mid-19th century air-borne pollen has been recognized as detrimental to many people's health. Disciplines concerned with man's cultural history and the earth's changing ecology find pollen a particularly useful and accessible tool. Identifiable parts of pollen have survived over 100 million years. But most books dealing with pollen are generally concerned with the identification of the plant source, an aspect of the science of palynology; other books emphasize the natural vectors transmit ting pollen, the pollination mechanisms. Very few works include the biochem istry or biology of pollen. Yet extensive studies by physicians, as well as plant breeders and apiculturists, have contributed a sizeable body of research relating to pollen."

Molecular Methods of Plant Analysis Concept of the Series The powerful recombinant DNA technology and related developments have had an enormous impact on molecular biology. Any treatment of plant analysis must make use of these new methods. Developments have been so fast and the methods so powerful that the editors of Modern Methods of Plant Analysis have now decided to rename the series Molecular Methods ofPlant Analysis. This will not change the general aims of the series, but best describes the thrust and content of the series as we go forward into the new millennium. This does not mean that all chapters a priori deal only with the methods of molecular biology, but rather that these methods are to be found in many chapters together with the more traditional methods of analysis which have seen recent advances. The numbering of the volumes of the series therefore continues on from 20, which is the most recently published volume under the title Modern Methods ofPlant Analysis. As indicated for previous volumes, the methods to be found in Molecular Methods ofPlantAnalysis are described critically, with hints as to their limitations, references to original papers and authors being given, and the chapters written so that there is little need to consult other texts to carry out the methods of analysis described. All authors have been chosen because of their special experience in handling plant material and/or their expertise with the methods describe

Die papierchromatographische Methode hat auf Grund ihres relativ geringen apparativen Aufwandes, des zu erzielenden hohen Trenneffektes und der zur Analyse benoetigten geringen Substanzmengen neue Aspekte fur die biochemische Analyse im biologischen Laboratorium geboten. Zahlreiche Probleme sind in Angriff genommen worden, die auf Grund des geringen zur Verfugung stehenden Ausgangsmaterials einer experi mentellen Untersuchung fruher nicht zuganglich waren. Vorliegende Dar stellung bringt in 2. Auflage die Anwendung papierchromatographischer Techniken fur diejenigen Substanzen, die im Rahmen botanisch-bio chemischer Fragestellungen von Interesse sind. Die Bearbeiter verfugen jeweils uber eigene experimentelle Erfahrung im Bereich der dargestellten Stoffgruppe. Die Methoden und ihre Anwendung auf pflanzliche Objekte sind so ausfuhrlich dargestellt, dass ein Nacharbeiten im allgemeinen ohne Hinzuziehen der Originalliteratur moeglich ist. Es wurde wiederum nicht angestrebt, alle bisher beschriebenen Methoden zu erfassen. Vielmehr sind die brauchbarsten und erprobten Arbeitsgange unter besonderer Beruck sichtigung der Aufarbeitungsverfahren zusammengetragen. Bezuglich einer ausfuhrlichen theoretischen Grundlegung und der zahlreichen standig neu entwickelten apparativen Moeglichkeiten sei auf die zusammenfassenden Darstellungen in der Bibliographie verwiesen. Mit allem Nachdruck muss wiederum auf die Grenze der papier chromatographischen Methodik hingewiesen werden. Es hat sich in den vergangenen Jahren gezeigt, dass sie zwar eine bedeutsame Erweiterung des methodischen Repertoirs besonders fur den Biologen darstellt, jedoch keineswegs die klassischen Verfahren der Mikroanalyse uberflussig macht.