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4
CROP PROTECTION (1983) 2 (3), 379-384
Book reviews whereas for lemons carbon dioxide promotes respiration and for potatoes 2 - 4 % of carbon dioxide stimulates sprouting. For the practician there are informative chapters on temperature control of cooling techniques supported by sample calculations The publication in paper-back form is for cooling load and control of humidity; divided into four sections: a stage setting in however, one is left with a sinking feeling which the perishable nature of plant foods that all the scientific principles have been produced in developed countries and the known for some not inconsiderable time but so-called Third World is recounted; control : their application has not been adequately of biochemical changes which induce loss of exploited. The 13 pages devoted to Loss quality, control of predators such as insects, Prevention in the Tropics are mainly debirds and rodents; the economic con- scriptive with some repetition of the simple straints--real or imagined--which inhibit obvious causes of loss given elsewhere~it the wider application of scientific knowledge seems unfortunate that only 16 lines are and the development of a large integrated ascribed to modified atmosphere storage. science-based vegetable and fruit preserva- The paper 'Factors leading to cargo loss', is tion industry. The 18 symposium papers equally disappointing and I doubt if even the assembled (organized by the Association of most amateur Sherlock Holmes needs to be Consulting Scientists), afford a timely re- instructed to carry a pocket lens, a camera appraisal of the subject. However, the over- and plastic bags and even a notebook when all significance of the book resides not in investigating the remains of Rattus rattus or scientific depth but more in the very wide other smaller creatures. Nevertheless, in coverage of the subject of fruit and vegetable totality new and potential developments are preservation. Perhaps inadvertently this not entirely excluded: an informative and means the book will remain viable for a substantive chapter by Jamieson on hyperdecade or more, and therein lies strength and baric storage is well illustrated and the purpose in a volume which may well serve as increased storage life at 20 mm of mercury an aide-m~moire and introduction to food for such products as limes, peppers and preservation for the non-specialist consul- strawberries is fully documented. Equally engaging and thought-provoking is the tant. The small kernel of plant science is resurrection of radiation for the control of admirably elicited in Paper 2 by Nf.J.C. insect damage, microbial damage and the Rhodes, where the reader is introduced delay of ripening, Is it possible that such a briefly--and in outline only--to the intri- process just might afford the currency cacy of respiratory processes, control of through which developing countries outstrip dormancy by gibberellic and abscisic acids our conservative and expensive energyand the role of phytoalexins in resisting dependent food-preServation technology? microbial attack. The subject matter covered As an alternative, D.D. Singer (MAFF) by Dr Rhodes is expansive, but factual, for a extols the virtues of chemical preservatives whole range of plant food crops from pota- as a substitute for refrigeration in tropical toes, apples, bananas to avocado; the unin- countries. He also discusses the food supply formed will soon learn, if not comprehend, and demand world wide and thus in Paper 1 that there are scientific explanations for the prepares the canvas upon which many of the observation that 10% carbon dioxide pro- later papers on U K foods and tropical foods motes succinic acid formation in apples, become lines of perspective. P o s t - H a r v e s t Food C r o p Conservation. Progress in Food a n d N u t r i t i o n Science, V o l u m e 4, No. 3/4, ed by A. Herzka. ISBN 0-08-025907-3. (vi+138 pp; £16.70; $40.00). Oxford: Pergamon Press. 1980.
38O
Book reviews
factors which influence it. Thus half of the book is concerned with the pathogen rather than the disease, and is of limited appeal. The remainder of the book, however, provides a comprehensive account of the disease and fascinating perspectives on the evolution of our present understanding of factors affecting its severity, such as rotation, cultiDAVID S. ROBINSON vation, climate and the presence of alternative hosts. G. graminis competes in the soil Biology and Control o f Take-All, ed. by with a wide range of organisms, including M.J.C. Asher and P.J. Shipton. ISBN the closely related Phialophora spp. and 0-12-065320-6. (xv+452 pp+index; £41.40; increasing understanding of the nature of $99.50). London: Academic Press. 1981. this interaction is causing a change in emphasis in research from 'take-all decline', Take-all was first recognized in Australia in so much in vogue in the '60s, to factors 1852, and has since been identified in all affecting build-up of the disease. This has countries with intensive wheat and an assi- thrown light on the reasons for the success of duous plant pathologist. Countless patholo- existing methods for cultural control arrived gists have cut their teeth on studies of the at pragmatically, though it has not yet taken disease, or its causal organism Gaeumanno- us much further in improving disease conmyces graminis (Ophiobolus graminis), as the trol. There is much work still to be done: the bibliography of over 1000 references attests. discovery of a suitable fungicide for the For a disease so intensively studied, it is control of take-all would provide greater therefore sobering that there is still little impetus to this. prospect of controlling it by plant breeding, This ambitious treatise is comprehensive, or by the use of chemical or biological agents. and that the authors have stuck to their brief Further, there are no accurate means of is indicated by the few overlaps. The cohesiestimating losses caused by take-all (they are veness of the book is greatly enhanced by the almost undoubtedly underestimated), or of well-edited cross-references, and this makes it much easier to use for those who wish to predicting disease severity. It is perhaps because of the intractable gain a full understanding of some areas nature of the disease that it has proved a very without reading the whole. Though few will be interested in all the fertile area for the research which has provided much of the basis for our present contents, the book will appeal widely. Those understanding of the ecology of soil fungi, working on the disease itself, or in the field of and added to the mycologists' language such soil mycology, will want to own a copy; esoteric phrases as 'Inoculum Potential' or students will no doubt need to refer to it 'Cellulose Adequacy Index'. because of the classic nature of some of the With so much knowledge gained, and so work, and those trying to control the disease little progress made, it is therefore timely to will hope that a friend buys a copy. review the subject comprehensively and take stock; this the book does admirably. It opens DAVIDH. BROOKS with an introduction and overview by Professor S.D. Garrett whose own research T h e Physiology and Biochemistry o f provided much of the framework for further Drought Resistance in Plants, ed. by investigations and who inspired many of the L.G. Paleg and D. Aspinall. ISBN investigators. Part I of the book then deals in 0-12-544380-3. (xv+492 pp; £46.20; depth with the taxonomy and biology of the $70.00). London: Academic Press. 1982. pathogen--a section of interest to specialists only. Part II considers the interaction It is a characteristic of most land plants that between pathogen and host, including topics they possess a wide range of adaptations such as the infection process and the genetic which enable them to avoid the conseThe book is good value at £16.70 and much of its subject matter will remain tenable. All the articles are adequately referenced to the original literature and the publication is relatively free of errors, although it is unfortunate that Beecham and Beechan appear in the list of participants.
Book reviews whereas for lemons carbon dioxide promotes respiration and for potatoes 2 - 4 % of carbon dioxide stimulates sprouting. For the practician there are informative chapters on temperature control of cooling techniques supported by sample calculations The publication in paper-back form is for cooling load and control of humidity; divided into four sections: a stage setting in however, one is left with a sinking feeling which the perishable nature of plant foods that all the scientific principles have been produced in developed countries and the known for some not inconsiderable time but so-called Third World is recounted; control : their application has not been adequately of biochemical changes which induce loss of exploited. The 13 pages devoted to Loss quality, control of predators such as insects, Prevention in the Tropics are mainly debirds and rodents; the economic con- scriptive with some repetition of the simple straints--real or imagined--which inhibit obvious causes of loss given elsewhere~it the wider application of scientific knowledge seems unfortunate that only 16 lines are and the development of a large integrated ascribed to modified atmosphere storage. science-based vegetable and fruit preserva- The paper 'Factors leading to cargo loss', is tion industry. The 18 symposium papers equally disappointing and I doubt if even the assembled (organized by the Association of most amateur Sherlock Holmes needs to be Consulting Scientists), afford a timely re- instructed to carry a pocket lens, a camera appraisal of the subject. However, the over- and plastic bags and even a notebook when all significance of the book resides not in investigating the remains of Rattus rattus or scientific depth but more in the very wide other smaller creatures. Nevertheless, in coverage of the subject of fruit and vegetable totality new and potential developments are preservation. Perhaps inadvertently this not entirely excluded: an informative and means the book will remain viable for a substantive chapter by Jamieson on hyperdecade or more, and therein lies strength and baric storage is well illustrated and the purpose in a volume which may well serve as increased storage life at 20 mm of mercury an aide-m~moire and introduction to food for such products as limes, peppers and preservation for the non-specialist consul- strawberries is fully documented. Equally engaging and thought-provoking is the tant. The small kernel of plant science is resurrection of radiation for the control of admirably elicited in Paper 2 by Nf.J.C. insect damage, microbial damage and the Rhodes, where the reader is introduced delay of ripening, Is it possible that such a briefly--and in outline only--to the intri- process just might afford the currency cacy of respiratory processes, control of through which developing countries outstrip dormancy by gibberellic and abscisic acids our conservative and expensive energyand the role of phytoalexins in resisting dependent food-preServation technology? microbial attack. The subject matter covered As an alternative, D.D. Singer (MAFF) by Dr Rhodes is expansive, but factual, for a extols the virtues of chemical preservatives whole range of plant food crops from pota- as a substitute for refrigeration in tropical toes, apples, bananas to avocado; the unin- countries. He also discusses the food supply formed will soon learn, if not comprehend, and demand world wide and thus in Paper 1 that there are scientific explanations for the prepares the canvas upon which many of the observation that 10% carbon dioxide pro- later papers on U K foods and tropical foods motes succinic acid formation in apples, become lines of perspective. P o s t - H a r v e s t Food C r o p Conservation. Progress in Food a n d N u t r i t i o n Science, V o l u m e 4, No. 3/4, ed by A. Herzka. ISBN 0-08-025907-3. (vi+138 pp; £16.70; $40.00). Oxford: Pergamon Press. 1980.
38O
Book reviews
factors which influence it. Thus half of the book is concerned with the pathogen rather than the disease, and is of limited appeal. The remainder of the book, however, provides a comprehensive account of the disease and fascinating perspectives on the evolution of our present understanding of factors affecting its severity, such as rotation, cultiDAVID S. ROBINSON vation, climate and the presence of alternative hosts. G. graminis competes in the soil Biology and Control o f Take-All, ed. by with a wide range of organisms, including M.J.C. Asher and P.J. Shipton. ISBN the closely related Phialophora spp. and 0-12-065320-6. (xv+452 pp+index; £41.40; increasing understanding of the nature of $99.50). London: Academic Press. 1981. this interaction is causing a change in emphasis in research from 'take-all decline', Take-all was first recognized in Australia in so much in vogue in the '60s, to factors 1852, and has since been identified in all affecting build-up of the disease. This has countries with intensive wheat and an assi- thrown light on the reasons for the success of duous plant pathologist. Countless patholo- existing methods for cultural control arrived gists have cut their teeth on studies of the at pragmatically, though it has not yet taken disease, or its causal organism Gaeumanno- us much further in improving disease conmyces graminis (Ophiobolus graminis), as the trol. There is much work still to be done: the bibliography of over 1000 references attests. discovery of a suitable fungicide for the For a disease so intensively studied, it is control of take-all would provide greater therefore sobering that there is still little impetus to this. prospect of controlling it by plant breeding, This ambitious treatise is comprehensive, or by the use of chemical or biological agents. and that the authors have stuck to their brief Further, there are no accurate means of is indicated by the few overlaps. The cohesiestimating losses caused by take-all (they are veness of the book is greatly enhanced by the almost undoubtedly underestimated), or of well-edited cross-references, and this makes it much easier to use for those who wish to predicting disease severity. It is perhaps because of the intractable gain a full understanding of some areas nature of the disease that it has proved a very without reading the whole. Though few will be interested in all the fertile area for the research which has provided much of the basis for our present contents, the book will appeal widely. Those understanding of the ecology of soil fungi, working on the disease itself, or in the field of and added to the mycologists' language such soil mycology, will want to own a copy; esoteric phrases as 'Inoculum Potential' or students will no doubt need to refer to it 'Cellulose Adequacy Index'. because of the classic nature of some of the With so much knowledge gained, and so work, and those trying to control the disease little progress made, it is therefore timely to will hope that a friend buys a copy. review the subject comprehensively and take stock; this the book does admirably. It opens DAVIDH. BROOKS with an introduction and overview by Professor S.D. Garrett whose own research T h e Physiology and Biochemistry o f provided much of the framework for further Drought Resistance in Plants, ed. by investigations and who inspired many of the L.G. Paleg and D. Aspinall. ISBN investigators. Part I of the book then deals in 0-12-544380-3. (xv+492 pp; £46.20; depth with the taxonomy and biology of the $70.00). London: Academic Press. 1982. pathogen--a section of interest to specialists only. Part II considers the interaction It is a characteristic of most land plants that between pathogen and host, including topics they possess a wide range of adaptations such as the infection process and the genetic which enable them to avoid the conseThe book is good value at £16.70 and much of its subject matter will remain tenable. All the articles are adequately referenced to the original literature and the publication is relatively free of errors, although it is unfortunate that Beecham and Beechan appear in the list of participants.