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Lehrbuch der Pflanzenphysiologie
108
Book revlewo
chapters are certainly relevant. The introductory essay “What is microbiology?” by R. Y. Stanier is a concise and interesting account that would.form an excellent basis for any study of the subject. Of the four chapters on form and function, that by R. G. E. Murray on bacteria is a good introductory account, with clear micrographs to illustrate it. C. Booth’s account on form and function of fungi is a valiant attempt to cover an impossibly wide field in 32 pages; unfortunately, it does not quite succeed. Taxonomy and structure are mixed together although the classification of the fungi imperfecti is separated from that of the perfect fungi. The range of form among fungi is well covered. The essay by D. Watson on viruses is clearly written and would provide a good introduction to virology, although the mathematical treatment may not be welcomed by some students. The chapters by C. R. Curds and C. G. Ogden (“Form and function IV-Protozoa”), P. M. Meadow (“The chemistry and composition of micro-organisms”), D. W. Tempest (“Intermediary metabolism”) are well-written accounts, which may constitute a worthwhile introduction to an unfamiliar area of microbiology for plant pathologists. P. H. A. Sheath has written two essays, on classification and identification of micro-organisms, which are understandably slanted towards numerical and computer-assisted systems. The essays give clear definitions of taxonomic terms and outline the methods of an area becoming more and more useful for plant pathologists. The remaining essays are by M. H. Richmond (“The genetic organization of bacteria and its expression”), D. Kay (“Interactions between phage and bacteria”-useful background reading for those using phage-typing schemes), H. Smith (“The determinants of microbial pathogenicity”-in which pathogenicity to animals only is considered), R. Slepecky (“Resistant forms”), D. C. Smith (“Symbiosis in the microbial world”) and R. Whittenbury (“Bacterial nutrition”). Of these, the chapters on resistant forms and symbiosis seem to me to be of most potential interest to a plant pathologist. As a whole, the book shows signs of expert editing in its clearly laid-out sections and subsections. Key words are italicized for easy location in the text, although this sometimes makes awkward reading. There is an excellent reading list at the end of each essay. I think that selected chapters, (at the very reasonable price of 0*65p), can safely be recommended to plant pathology students as an important addition to standard texts. B. A. UNSWORTH
Lehrbnch der P&mzenphysiologie: Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.
by H. MOHR and P. SCHOPFER. 1978. 608 pp, 639 figures.
Springer-
The authors of the third edition of the well-known student text Lehrbuch &r PJlanzmphysiologic (“Textbook of Plant Physiology”) are to be congratulated. They have produced a well-illustrated text which German-speaking students will find easy to read and which will provide a very useful introduction into plant physiology. The book provides an up-to-date account of a wide-ranging field of interests which all come under the heading of plant physiology. The end of each chapter is provided with a literature guide which is of value. So too is the appendix at the end of the book dealing with S.I. units.
Book
reviews
109
The subject of plant physiology is now a very wide one, and this is evident from the 49 chapters which the authors have given to the book. It is refreshing to see that the authors have also included some of the more applied aspects including a mention of crop production and crop protection, important topics which are often ignored by plant physiologists. The text will be of great use for students of German-speaking universities or technical polytechnics. It will be used much less in English-speaking institutions largely because of the language barrier but also because of the many alternative plant physiology textbooks available in the English language. Like most other Springer-Verlag books the quality of publication is excellent, but the cost is very high, putting it out of reach of the individual student and making it essentially a library book. E. A. KIRKBY
Book revlewo
chapters are certainly relevant. The introductory essay “What is microbiology?” by R. Y. Stanier is a concise and interesting account that would.form an excellent basis for any study of the subject. Of the four chapters on form and function, that by R. G. E. Murray on bacteria is a good introductory account, with clear micrographs to illustrate it. C. Booth’s account on form and function of fungi is a valiant attempt to cover an impossibly wide field in 32 pages; unfortunately, it does not quite succeed. Taxonomy and structure are mixed together although the classification of the fungi imperfecti is separated from that of the perfect fungi. The range of form among fungi is well covered. The essay by D. Watson on viruses is clearly written and would provide a good introduction to virology, although the mathematical treatment may not be welcomed by some students. The chapters by C. R. Curds and C. G. Ogden (“Form and function IV-Protozoa”), P. M. Meadow (“The chemistry and composition of micro-organisms”), D. W. Tempest (“Intermediary metabolism”) are well-written accounts, which may constitute a worthwhile introduction to an unfamiliar area of microbiology for plant pathologists. P. H. A. Sheath has written two essays, on classification and identification of micro-organisms, which are understandably slanted towards numerical and computer-assisted systems. The essays give clear definitions of taxonomic terms and outline the methods of an area becoming more and more useful for plant pathologists. The remaining essays are by M. H. Richmond (“The genetic organization of bacteria and its expression”), D. Kay (“Interactions between phage and bacteria”-useful background reading for those using phage-typing schemes), H. Smith (“The determinants of microbial pathogenicity”-in which pathogenicity to animals only is considered), R. Slepecky (“Resistant forms”), D. C. Smith (“Symbiosis in the microbial world”) and R. Whittenbury (“Bacterial nutrition”). Of these, the chapters on resistant forms and symbiosis seem to me to be of most potential interest to a plant pathologist. As a whole, the book shows signs of expert editing in its clearly laid-out sections and subsections. Key words are italicized for easy location in the text, although this sometimes makes awkward reading. There is an excellent reading list at the end of each essay. I think that selected chapters, (at the very reasonable price of 0*65p), can safely be recommended to plant pathology students as an important addition to standard texts. B. A. UNSWORTH
Lehrbnch der P&mzenphysiologie: Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.
by H. MOHR and P. SCHOPFER. 1978. 608 pp, 639 figures.
Springer-
The authors of the third edition of the well-known student text Lehrbuch &r PJlanzmphysiologic (“Textbook of Plant Physiology”) are to be congratulated. They have produced a well-illustrated text which German-speaking students will find easy to read and which will provide a very useful introduction into plant physiology. The book provides an up-to-date account of a wide-ranging field of interests which all come under the heading of plant physiology. The end of each chapter is provided with a literature guide which is of value. So too is the appendix at the end of the book dealing with S.I. units.
Book
reviews
109
The subject of plant physiology is now a very wide one, and this is evident from the 49 chapters which the authors have given to the book. It is refreshing to see that the authors have also included some of the more applied aspects including a mention of crop production and crop protection, important topics which are often ignored by plant physiologists. The text will be of great use for students of German-speaking universities or technical polytechnics. It will be used much less in English-speaking institutions largely because of the language barrier but also because of the many alternative plant physiology textbooks available in the English language. Like most other Springer-Verlag books the quality of publication is excellent, but the cost is very high, putting it out of reach of the individual student and making it essentially a library book. E. A. KIRKBY