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Bioregulators, chemistry and uses
PESTICIDE
BIOCHEMISTRY
AND
PHYSIOLOGY
23, 141-142 (1985)
Book Reviews
Bioregulators, Chemistry and Uses. Edited by R. L. Ory and F. R. Rittig, American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.. 1984. 283 pp., $44.95 (U.S.).
improving agricultural production to meet the challenge of the rapidly expanding world population.
This is a book in the American Chemical Society symposium series on present status and future potential of bioregulator (plant growth regulator) application in agriculture. It consists of 21 chapters, each dealing with a specific area written by different authors. The book does not include all bioregulators used in agriculture, but attempts a broad and balanced coverage of the diverse aspects of the subject. The latter is important as the potential role of bioregulators in crop improvement has not yet been widely recognized and the research in various related areas has not yet been fully explored. As the editors point out, “this volume will kindle new ideas and stimulate new and greater research on application of bioregulators in agriculture.” Nine chapters deal with application of bioregulators to major cereals, oil seeds, legumes, citrus and other tree fruits, sugar crops, cotton, and rubber-producing guayale. It involves not only improvement of crop yields but also modification of chemical constitution and quality. Four chapters deal with application of bioregulators for induction of tolerance to various stress conditions, such as cold, heat, drought, and salinity. The new approach offers a useful tool, in addition to the conventional methods. for crop improvement under adverse conditions, which are the predominant factors limiting agricultural production worldwide. Two chapters describe the use of bioregulators for improvement of resistance to fungi and insects. Two chapters deal with natural regulating substances, the phytoalexins and allelochemicals. Two chapters deal with methodology. The chemical aspects of a possible relationship between structural feature and growth-regulating activity are discussed in another chapter. This book is a mixture of chapters of varied quality and depth. When I started reading it, I had a mixed feeling about the selection of the contents. However, 1 was quickly convinced that the diverse topics and approaches all contribute to the overall interest. Although the book covers the current use of major bioregulators in agriculture, it is not a handbook for facts about these chemicals, but rather a book for leads and ideas. It is a timely publication which provides concepts valuable not only to those interested in chemical regulation of crop yield and quality, but also to those interested in finding new strategies for
Plant Physiologist Agriculture Canada London Research Centre London, Ontario N6A 5B7.
T. T. LEE
Canuda
Insecticidal Mode of Action. Edited by Joel P. Coats. Academic Press, Inc., New York. N.Y.. 1982. 470 pp, $59.50. “Insecticide Mode of Action,” edited by Joel R. Coats, is a book which should prove to be a valuable addition to the libraries of pesticide scientists and students alike. This 470-page text consists of 13 chapters, all written by different authors, and is subdivided into three major sections: conventional neurotoxic insecticides, the formamidine pesticides, and developmental insecticides. Each chapter is well documented. and a total of about 1400 original references are cited. The first section on conventional neurotoxic insecticides covers the pyrethroids, DDT analogs. chlorinated hydrocarbons, oxime carbamates, phosphoramidates, and organophosphorus insecticides. The coverage in this section, while being on a par with that in most texts, is interesting in that it presents not only the mode of action, but also comprehensive coverage of the physical-chemical properties of the insecticides, i.e., steric and electronic factors, and the way in which these enhance or limit their efficacy. The second section on formamidine pesticides presents an in-depth treatment of this relatively new and challenging class of insecticides and acaricides. These pesticides are challenging in that a number of different toxic actions on insects and acarines have been reported in the literature, each with their attendant explanatory theory of action. Special attention. in the form of an entire chapter, is devoted to the study of the effect of chlordimeform on the American cockroach. The third section on developmental insecticides addresses the area of chitin synthesis inhibitors. juvenile hormone analogs, and precocene and xanthene dyes. The chapter on juvenile hormone analogs includes an extensive survey of the literature, citing over 300 original papers. This volume is easy to read and would be a valuable reference for undergraduate and graduate students studying and conducting research into the biochemical
141 0048-3575185 $3.00 Copyright c’ 1985 by Academic Press. Inc. All rights of reproduction m any form reserved.
BIOCHEMISTRY
AND
PHYSIOLOGY
23, 141-142 (1985)
Book Reviews
Bioregulators, Chemistry and Uses. Edited by R. L. Ory and F. R. Rittig, American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.. 1984. 283 pp., $44.95 (U.S.).
improving agricultural production to meet the challenge of the rapidly expanding world population.
This is a book in the American Chemical Society symposium series on present status and future potential of bioregulator (plant growth regulator) application in agriculture. It consists of 21 chapters, each dealing with a specific area written by different authors. The book does not include all bioregulators used in agriculture, but attempts a broad and balanced coverage of the diverse aspects of the subject. The latter is important as the potential role of bioregulators in crop improvement has not yet been widely recognized and the research in various related areas has not yet been fully explored. As the editors point out, “this volume will kindle new ideas and stimulate new and greater research on application of bioregulators in agriculture.” Nine chapters deal with application of bioregulators to major cereals, oil seeds, legumes, citrus and other tree fruits, sugar crops, cotton, and rubber-producing guayale. It involves not only improvement of crop yields but also modification of chemical constitution and quality. Four chapters deal with application of bioregulators for induction of tolerance to various stress conditions, such as cold, heat, drought, and salinity. The new approach offers a useful tool, in addition to the conventional methods. for crop improvement under adverse conditions, which are the predominant factors limiting agricultural production worldwide. Two chapters describe the use of bioregulators for improvement of resistance to fungi and insects. Two chapters deal with natural regulating substances, the phytoalexins and allelochemicals. Two chapters deal with methodology. The chemical aspects of a possible relationship between structural feature and growth-regulating activity are discussed in another chapter. This book is a mixture of chapters of varied quality and depth. When I started reading it, I had a mixed feeling about the selection of the contents. However, 1 was quickly convinced that the diverse topics and approaches all contribute to the overall interest. Although the book covers the current use of major bioregulators in agriculture, it is not a handbook for facts about these chemicals, but rather a book for leads and ideas. It is a timely publication which provides concepts valuable not only to those interested in chemical regulation of crop yield and quality, but also to those interested in finding new strategies for
Plant Physiologist Agriculture Canada London Research Centre London, Ontario N6A 5B7.
T. T. LEE
Canuda
Insecticidal Mode of Action. Edited by Joel P. Coats. Academic Press, Inc., New York. N.Y.. 1982. 470 pp, $59.50. “Insecticide Mode of Action,” edited by Joel R. Coats, is a book which should prove to be a valuable addition to the libraries of pesticide scientists and students alike. This 470-page text consists of 13 chapters, all written by different authors, and is subdivided into three major sections: conventional neurotoxic insecticides, the formamidine pesticides, and developmental insecticides. Each chapter is well documented. and a total of about 1400 original references are cited. The first section on conventional neurotoxic insecticides covers the pyrethroids, DDT analogs. chlorinated hydrocarbons, oxime carbamates, phosphoramidates, and organophosphorus insecticides. The coverage in this section, while being on a par with that in most texts, is interesting in that it presents not only the mode of action, but also comprehensive coverage of the physical-chemical properties of the insecticides, i.e., steric and electronic factors, and the way in which these enhance or limit their efficacy. The second section on formamidine pesticides presents an in-depth treatment of this relatively new and challenging class of insecticides and acaricides. These pesticides are challenging in that a number of different toxic actions on insects and acarines have been reported in the literature, each with their attendant explanatory theory of action. Special attention. in the form of an entire chapter, is devoted to the study of the effect of chlordimeform on the American cockroach. The third section on developmental insecticides addresses the area of chitin synthesis inhibitors. juvenile hormone analogs, and precocene and xanthene dyes. The chapter on juvenile hormone analogs includes an extensive survey of the literature, citing over 300 original papers. This volume is easy to read and would be a valuable reference for undergraduate and graduate students studying and conducting research into the biochemical
141 0048-3575185 $3.00 Copyright c’ 1985 by Academic Press. Inc. All rights of reproduction m any form reserved.