Almost one third of the book is devoted to what is known at present about the 

 induction of flowering as a photoperiodic response and includes discussions of such topics 

 as the existence of a flowering hormone, the phytochrome system, and the biochemistry 

 of flowering and flower induction. The remainder of the book deals with the effects of 

 daylength on flower differentiation and growth, and on vegetative growth, respectively. 



19. 



M. M. YEOMAN, ed. 1976. CELL DIVISION IN HIGHER PLANTS 



Academic Press, London, etc. Experimental Botany, an international series of mono- 

 graphs, Vol. 7. X, 542 pp., 92 figs., 16 tabs., combined subject and taxonomic index. 

 £ 16.50, $41.00 



Contents: 1 . Significance of division in the higher plant; 2. The visible events of 

 mitotic cell division; 3. Molecular events of the cell cycle: a preparation for division; 

 4. The replication of plastids in higher plants; 5. The cell in sporogenesis and spore 

 development; 6. Modification and errors of mitotic cell division in relation to differen- 

 tiation; 7. The root apex; 8. The shoot apex; 9. Cell division in leaves; 10. The 

 cambium; II. The role of cell division in angiosperm embryology; 12. Disorganized 

 systems; 13. Summary and perspectives 



Of the 12 co-authors of this volume 11 are British, and six of those are from the 

 Department of Botany of Edinburgh University. The book brings together for the first 

 time most of the varied aspects of cell division in the vegetative stage of the Ufe of the 

 plant: mitosis and meiosis as processes in their own right, and the contributions of cell 

 division to growth, differentiation, and the genesis of form. To ensure an integrated 

 treatment some overlap among chapters was deliberately retained and frequent cross- 

 references are made. The treatment is critical and the authors clearly point out the gaps in 

 our knowledge and the most fruitful areas for future research. 



The table of contents speaks for itself. Ch.I provides the historical and general 

 background and introduces some theoretical questions. The final chapter is brief but 

 serves its integrative function very well. 



The book is well produced and has numerous very good illustrations. The 80-page 

 bibUography contains both older and recent literature (up to 1974) and conveniently 

 serves as an author index. 



Symposium reports 



20. 



J. G. TORREY and D. T. CLARKSON, eds. 1975. THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNC- 

 TION OF ROOTS 



Academic Press, London, etc. Third Cabot Symposium. X, 618 pp., 217 figs., 49 tabs., 

 author and subject indexes. £ 12.50, $ 32.25 



This international symposium was held in Petersham, Mass. in April 1974 and brought 

 together close to 30 experts from eight countries. We briefly announce the book for the 

 benefit of those who are interested both in roots as such and in the role they play in 

 whole plant development. 



The 24 reviews and reseaich reports making up the book contain much new informa- 

 tion on a variety of subjects. Among these we specifically menrion: the quiescent centre, 

 the root cap, role and production of cytokinins in roots, differentiation patterns in roots, 

 development of lateral roots and root buds, genetics of root development, physiology of 

 growing root cells, auxin transport in roots, and structural development of endodermis. 



184 



