Monographs 



13. 



J.A. BRYANT, ed. 1976. MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF GENE EXPRESSION IN PLANTS 



Academic Press, London, etc. Experimental Botany: An International Series of Mono- 

 graphs, vol. 11. X, 338 pp., 113 figs., 25 tabs., combined species and subject index. 

 £9.60, $ 21.00 



Contents: 1. Nuclear DNA (Bryant); 2. RNA structure and metabolism (Grierson); 

 3. Protein synthesis (Bray); 4. Nucleic acids and protein synthesis in chloroplasts and 

 mitochondria (Bryant); 5. The cell cycle (Bryant); 6. Molecular aspects of differen- 

 tiation (Bryant); 7. Plant growth substances (Trewavas) 



This book is stated to be the first to deal specifically with this subject, and arose out 

 of a much-felt need. It is written by a team of British experts and will be of great use to 

 graduate students, research workers and lecturers. 



The last three chapters are of most immediate interest to our readers. Together they 

 occupy 122 pages. Ch.6 is very selective and concentrates on examples that clearly illus- 

 trate general principles and current hypotheses. Ch.7 is concluded by a new unifying 

 hypothesis that relates the effects of plant growth substances to membrane physiology. 

 All chapters are well written and adequately cross-referenced. All have a brief list of 

 suggestions for further reading. 



The bulk of the references are brought together in a bibliography of close to 550 titles 

 which runs far into 1975. The book is well produced and illustrated mainly with dia- 

 grams and graphs. Much material is condensed into useful tables. 



14. 



M. E. CONKLIN. 1976. GENETIC AND BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOP- 

 MENT OF DATURA 



Karger, Basel, etc. Monographs in Developmental Biology Vol. 12. X, 170 pp., 13 figs., 

 4 tabs., author and subject mdexes. SFr. 75.00, DM 75.00, ca.S 29.00 (paper) 



The author of this monograph has been famiUar with the genus Datura for over 30 

 years. The book is a well-organised review of almost all that is known of the herbaceous 

 species of this genus, with emphasis on the advances of the last 15 years. 



Of the 12 chapters we mention The Datura life cycle (26 pp.), Embryogenesis in vitro 

 (8 pp.), Androgenesis and the production of haploids (1 1 pp.),//2 vitro culture of tissues 

 or cells (3 pp.). Factors affecting growth and development (1 1 pp.). Abnormal tissue de- 

 velopment and tumorisation (8 pp.), and Isozymes (7 pp.). The ontogeny of alkaloids is 

 also reviewed. 



The book is scantily illustrated but has some good photographic plates. The biblio- 

 graphy of over 400 titles runs well into 1974. 



15. 



H. van den ENDE. 1976. SEXUAL INTERACTIONS IN PLANTS, the role of specific 



substances in sexual reproduction 



Academic Press, London, etc. VIII, 186 pp., 38 figs., 26 tabs., combined subject and 



taxonomic index. £ 7.80 



Inasmuch as sexual reproduction involves the differentiation of sex organs and sex 

 cells, the subject of this monograph belongs to developmental biology. The book is inten- 

 ded as an introduction for students but will certainly be of interest to investigators. The 

 author, who has worked in the area for a decade or more, devotes special attention to the 

 molecular aspects both of hormone-mediated and cell-to-cell interactions. 



A lengthy introductory chapter places the subject in perspective and devotes consider- 

 able attention to hormone receptors and ceU surface constituents in animal systems. The 



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