- Email: [email protected]
Bipyridinium herbicides
CROP PROTECTION (1982) 1 (1) 121-128 © 1982 Butterworths
Book reviews Bipyridinittrn Herbicides, by L. A. Summers. ISBN 0 12 676450 6. (449 pp; £33~00; $79.50). London: Academic Press. 1980. Any 'Top Ten' list of herbicides must include the bipyridinium compounds paraquat and diquat, as these materials are recognized as being amongst the most successful of the world's weedkillers. It seems entirely fitting then that an entire book should be devoted to them and deal with the many fascinating aspects of their different properties. This book summarizes all the main points of the bipyridiniums and covers their synthesis, chemistry, their structure and herbicidal activity relationships, environmental fate, analysis and residues, herbicidal usage, mode of action and physiological aspects together with their toxicology. The book includes appropriate references to the discontinued material morfamquat. This is a first-rate book that covers in detail the bipyridinium herbicides. The author seems to have encompassed sensibly all relevant literature up to the middle of 1978 and his book stands as an excellent reference work on these chemicals. Indeed, one must imagine that in time this book will become the standard reference work on the bipyridiniums as it clearly surpasses in both depth and detail all previous reviews on these herbicides. In some parts, the book makes turgid reading because it cites well over 2500 references in its 449 pages. However, it never becomes a mere checklist as there is judicious use both of tables and of chemical structures throughout each chapter. A minor point is that the layout of the different chapters seems disparate as, for example, the sections on environmental fate and toxicology, which are related topics, are separated by chapters on herbicidal usage and mode of action. However, this apparently illogical distribution of subject matter is only a very minor criticism as this book has a good index which is clearly and sensibly
arranged, thus allowing points of detailed inquiry to be located at ease. This book is remarkable on two points. First, it is unusual for a major review to be undertaken by scientists outside the employment of the chemical company who discovered and developed the materials being reviewed. Secondly, a reference work of such detail and magnitude is usually the composite work of several different authors. On this latter point the author must be congratulated as the book represents an outstanding solo achievement. Everyone concerned with the many different aspects of herbicides will find something new and of value in this book. It should find a place in the libraries of all those interested by innovative and successful work on herbicides. R. TURNER
New T e c h n o l o g y o f Pest Control, ed. by Carl B. Huffaker. ISBN 0 471 05336 8. (500 pp; £25.15). Wiley-InterScience Publication. New York-Chichester-BrisbaneToronto: John Wiley & Sons. 1980. Pest control techniques have processed very far since the Second World War, when, after the discovery of a wide range of new pesticides, it was hoped that insect pests, diseases and weeds could be controlled easily by the use of chemicals. However, indiscriminate use of pesticides often led to the development of new pest problems, necessitating even more extensive use of chemicals. Gradually, pest control techniques have taken more account of ecological principles, become more sophisticated, and developed through the concepts of integrated control in the 1950s and 1960s and integrated pest management in the 1970s. It is fitting that this definitive book sponsored by the International Center for Integrated and Biological Control at the University of California
Book reviews Bipyridinittrn Herbicides, by L. A. Summers. ISBN 0 12 676450 6. (449 pp; £33~00; $79.50). London: Academic Press. 1980. Any 'Top Ten' list of herbicides must include the bipyridinium compounds paraquat and diquat, as these materials are recognized as being amongst the most successful of the world's weedkillers. It seems entirely fitting then that an entire book should be devoted to them and deal with the many fascinating aspects of their different properties. This book summarizes all the main points of the bipyridiniums and covers their synthesis, chemistry, their structure and herbicidal activity relationships, environmental fate, analysis and residues, herbicidal usage, mode of action and physiological aspects together with their toxicology. The book includes appropriate references to the discontinued material morfamquat. This is a first-rate book that covers in detail the bipyridinium herbicides. The author seems to have encompassed sensibly all relevant literature up to the middle of 1978 and his book stands as an excellent reference work on these chemicals. Indeed, one must imagine that in time this book will become the standard reference work on the bipyridiniums as it clearly surpasses in both depth and detail all previous reviews on these herbicides. In some parts, the book makes turgid reading because it cites well over 2500 references in its 449 pages. However, it never becomes a mere checklist as there is judicious use both of tables and of chemical structures throughout each chapter. A minor point is that the layout of the different chapters seems disparate as, for example, the sections on environmental fate and toxicology, which are related topics, are separated by chapters on herbicidal usage and mode of action. However, this apparently illogical distribution of subject matter is only a very minor criticism as this book has a good index which is clearly and sensibly
arranged, thus allowing points of detailed inquiry to be located at ease. This book is remarkable on two points. First, it is unusual for a major review to be undertaken by scientists outside the employment of the chemical company who discovered and developed the materials being reviewed. Secondly, a reference work of such detail and magnitude is usually the composite work of several different authors. On this latter point the author must be congratulated as the book represents an outstanding solo achievement. Everyone concerned with the many different aspects of herbicides will find something new and of value in this book. It should find a place in the libraries of all those interested by innovative and successful work on herbicides. R. TURNER
New T e c h n o l o g y o f Pest Control, ed. by Carl B. Huffaker. ISBN 0 471 05336 8. (500 pp; £25.15). Wiley-InterScience Publication. New York-Chichester-BrisbaneToronto: John Wiley & Sons. 1980. Pest control techniques have processed very far since the Second World War, when, after the discovery of a wide range of new pesticides, it was hoped that insect pests, diseases and weeds could be controlled easily by the use of chemicals. However, indiscriminate use of pesticides often led to the development of new pest problems, necessitating even more extensive use of chemicals. Gradually, pest control techniques have taken more account of ecological principles, become more sophisticated, and developed through the concepts of integrated control in the 1950s and 1960s and integrated pest management in the 1970s. It is fitting that this definitive book sponsored by the International Center for Integrated and Biological Control at the University of California