Synopses & Reviews
Procedures for plant tissue culture have been developing from ca. 1930 onwards and are now essential in many domains of science and teaching. The use of these techniques for plant propagation only began to emerge some 40 years later. The first edition of "Plant Propagation by Tissue Culture" by Edwin F. George appeared in 1986. A second edition consisting of two volumes appeared in 1993 and 1996. For researchers and students, George's books have become the standard works on in vitro plant propagation. These volumes also contain a wealth of information crucial for researchers and companies working in related areas; particularly plant breeding, genetic engineering, phytopathology, production of secondary metabolites and conservation. Scientific knowledge has expanded rapidly since the second edition and it would now be a daunting task for a single author to cover all aspects adequately. Therefore, in this third edition, topics are being covered by a number of specialists in the field. However, this edition still maintains the integration that was characteristic of the previous editions. The first volume of the new edition highlights the scientific background of in vitro propagation. The second volume, which is in preparation, will cover the practice of micropropagation and describe its various applications.
Review
From the reviews of the third edition: "This volume is organized in 13 chapters. It is an encyclopedic text for the specialists, and the number of topics is remarkable. ... The volume is written at a high scientific level, and teaches us about many theoretical, practical and new aspects in the field of plant propagation in vitro. ... Therefore, I believe that everyone will surely find many topics of interest in this very important handbook that can be both used for reference and read for pleasure." (Ivan Iliev, Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, Vol. 93, 2008)
Synopsis
It is now more than twenty years since the first edition of this work appeared and nearly fifteen since the second. Whilst much of the information in those editions has stood the test of time, inevitably, because of the pace of research, a new edition is clearly timely. This is true, not only because many more species have been the subject of propagation studies, but because the background to the field - with which this volume deals - has changed almost out of all recognition. In particular, our knowledge of plant development, genetics physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology has expanded exponentially - often through work on mutants of Arabidopsis - and opened up many new avenues for the plant propagator to explore. Equally, the commercial significance of plant propagation has increased significantly. As an example, in the second edition there was a single chapter on plant growth regulators - in this there are three, reflecting the fact that not only is there more information on those PGRs we recognised in 1993, but that several new ones are now known. Equally, fifteen years ago we knew little of the molecular basis of plant development e. g. flower and shoot development, in this edition it has merited a whole chapter, much of which relates to discoveries in the last decade. Because of these factors, it was felt that a different approach was required for this edition.
Synopsis
George's books have become the standard works on in vitro plant propagation. For this, the third edition of a classic work, extra specialists have been brought on board to cover the hugely expanded number of topics in the subject area.
Synopsis
For researchers and students, George's books have become the standard works on in vitro plant propagation. For this, the third edition of the classic work, authors with specialist knowledge have been brought on board to cover the hugely expanded number of topics in the subject area. Scientific knowledge has expanded rapidly since the second edition and it would now be a daunting task for a single author to cover all aspects adequately. However, this edition still maintains the integration that was characteristic of the previous editions. The first volume of the new edition highlights the scientific background of in vitro propagation. The second volume covers the practice of micropropagation and describes its various applications.
Table of Contents
Biographical Notes on Contributors.- 1.Plant Tissue Culture Procedure - Background; E.F. George.- 2.Micropropagation: Uses and Methods; E.F. George and P.C. Debergh.- 3.The Components Of Plant Tissue Culture Media I : Macro- and Micronutrients; E.F. George and G-J. de Klerk.- 4.The Components Of Plant Tissue Culture Media II : Organic supplements, Organic Acids, Osmotic and pH Effects and Support systems; T. Thorpe, C. Stasolla, E.C. Yeung, G-J. de Klerk, A. Roberts and E.F. George.- 5.Plant Growth Regulators: Introduction I: Auxins, Their Analogues And Inhibitors; I. Machakova, E. Zazimalova and E.F. George.- 6.Plant Growth Regulators II: Cytokinins, Their Analogues And Antagonists; J. van Staden, E. Zazimalova and E.F. George.- 7.Plant Growth Regulators III: Gibberellins, Ethylene, Abscisic Acid, Their Analogues And Inhibitors; Miscellaneous Compounds; I.E. Moshkov, G.V. Novikova, M.A. Hall and E.F. George.- 8.Developmental Biology; D. Chriqui.- 9.Somatic Embryogenesis; S. Von Arnold.- 10.Adventitious Regeneration; P.B. Gahan and E.F. George.- 11.Stock Plant Physiological Factors Affecting Growth and Morphogenesis; J. Preece.- 12.Effects Of The Physical Environment; E.F. George and W. Davies.- 13.The Anatomy And Morphology Of Tissue Cultured Plants; M. Ziv and J. Chen