initiation of parturition); drug sensitivity; programming and maturation of the 

 CNS (including genetic aspects). 



The 15 papers presented are reproduced together with the discussions 

 following them, which contain much additional information, complete with 

 literature references. G. S. Dawes was the chairman and provided the opening 

 and closing remarks. He sums up the whole Symposium in the following sen- 

 tence: The present solution to the problem of mammalian viviparity is not 

 merely compatible with but is directly dependent on a high degree of foetal 

 autonomy. 



The book is adequately illustrated and has an index to contributors (also 

 contributors to the discussions) and a subject index. 



51 PRECIS DE BIOLOGIE VEGETALE 

 Vol. Ill, Croissance, morphogenese, reproduction 



1969 



by P. Champagnat, P. Ozenda and Masson et Cie 



L. Baillaud Paris 



518 pp., 326 figs. Price: F 115 



This students' text-book aims at providing a concise picture of the well- 

 established facts of plant growth and development. It is very clearly organized 

 and didactically lucid. Literature references are restricted to some 35 important 

 books. 



The book is in three parts: "Growth, morphogenesis and development" (by 

 Champagnat); "Plant movement" (by Baillaud); and "Plant reproduction" 

 (by Ozenda). 



The first part has 1 1 chapters which consecutively discuss growth and 

 growth hormones, differentiation and morphogenesis (genetic and epigenetic 

 factors), regeneration, inter-organ correlations, abnormal growth and morpho- 

 genesis, dormancy, physiology of flowering, and other periodic phenomena. 

 Embryogenesis is not dealt with in this part, but in part three, which also 

 discusses such subjects as asexual reproduction, fertilization, and general 

 biology of sexuality in plants. 



The illustrations are numerous and carefully selected. The book is well 

 printed and is concluded by a subject index. 



52 SYMPOSIUM uBER MORPHAKTINE 



1969 



Editors: G. Mohr and H. Ziegler Gustav Fischer Verlag 

 Vortr. Gesamtgeb. Bot., N.F., Nr. 3 Stuttgart 



190 pp., ^1 figs., 32 tbs., 4 pis. Price: DM 38.— 



Contributors: G. Alleweldt (Stuttgart-Hohenheim), P. Boeker (Stuttgart-Hohenheim), M. 

 Bopp (Heidelberg), T. Buban (Ujfeherto), H. Buchenauer (Giessen), D. von Denffer (Gies- 

 sen), B. Haccius (Mainz), H. Harada (Gif-sur-Yvette), E. C. Humphries (Harpenden), 

 H. Lorenzen (Gottingen), G. Mohr (Darmstadt), S. Rehm (Gottingen), W. Richter (Olden- 

 burg), G. Schneider (Darmstadt), H. Schraudolf (Giessen), D. Stankovic (Zemun), F. Tog- 

 noni (Pisa), H. Ziegler (Darmstadt) 



The morphactins are a new group of synthetic plant growth regulators 

 derived from fluorene. In contrast to the auxins they do not act primarily on 

 zones of intensive growth in length, but on the shoot apex and other meristems, 

 and more particularly on cell division. They inhibit apical dominance. 



The present report of a Symposium held in 1968 consists of 18 papers. The 

 first two (by Mohr and by Schneider) discuss the chemistry and biochemistry 

 of morphactins, and general principles of their action. The remaining papers 

 are research reports on various aspects of morphactin action, on interaction 



36 



