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Mechanisms of resistance to plant diseases
Agriculture, Ecosystemsand Environment, 19 (1987) 365-370 Elsevier SciencePublishersB.V., Amsterdam-- Printed in The Netherlands
365
Book Reviews
PLANT RESISTANCETO DISEASE Mechanisms of Resistance to Plant Diseases. R.S.S. Fraser (Editor), Advances in Agricultural Biotechnology, M. Nijhoff/W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, 1985, 462 pp., hardcover, price Dfl. 190/US$71, ISBN: 90-247-3204-2.
This book was intended to be a review of the present knowledge on an issue which is now generally recognized as being of foremost importance for the future ( NRC Committee, 1986). It deals with the mechanisms by which plants cope with pathogens, in particular viruses, bacteria and fungi. Owing to the fact that the editor was not only responsible for assembling articles and writing the introduction but also contributed all the chapters concerned with viruses, the text and presentation as well as the terminology are extremely consistent throughout the book. The eight authors have adopted a fairly similar practical approach to reporting on the phenomena involved in plant resistance, for instance, by using the same working definition for most specialized expressions. The first part of the work, i.e. Chapters 2 and 3, describes how the host range is controlled and how non-hosts remain immune to attacks by microorganisms. It is concluded - not too surprisingly - that although much is still to be discovered, immunity may be understood as being the end result of a chain of hurdles which the pathogen must overcome to infest a plant successfully. The following two chapters are devoted to the genetic basis of host resistance to disease agents. The authors assume that in most instances, resistance to pathogens is based on simple Mendelian control by a single gene, or by recessive or incompletely dominant genes. It could undoubtedly be argued that the reality is probably more complex, especially if one considers that one or several genes are usually involved in the apparently simple model of fungal species becoming resistant to fungicides (van Tuyl, 1977). Chapters 6 to 8 concentrate on the mechanisms likely to play a r81e in the genetically controlled resistance of plants to viruses, bacteria and fungi; they also deal with the implications of resistance/pathogenicity in terms of population biology. It is made clear that the simple presence of pesticides in the environment cannot be sufficient to explain the economic damage inflicted by plant diseases as Chaboussou (1985) wanted to demonstrate. The two following chapters deal with induced resistance, i.e. with the ways for a primary inoculation or a chemical treatment to elicit a reaction in a plant towards another pathogen. Chapter 11 describes a number of techniques for widening the genetic basis of resistance, and, finally, discusses the potential use of induced resistance. It is worth noting that possible interactions between resistance and the various forms of biological control are mentioned on several
366 occasions, as was recently advocated by a number of research workers (Boethel and Eikenbary, 1986; NRC Committee, 1986). This well conceived and comprehensive book will certainly attract the attention of scientists active in all disciplines of plant protection. J.P. AESCHLIMANN CSIRO Biological Control Unit 335 Avenue Paul Parguel 34100 MontpeUier France
REFERENCES Boethel, D.J. and Eikenbary, R.D., 1986. Interactionsof Plant Resistance and Parasitoids and Predators of Insects.E. Horwood,Chichester,224 pp. Chaboussou, F., 1985.Sant~des Cultures.Une l~volutionAgronomique.FlammarionLa Maison Rustique, Paris, 271 pp. NRC Committee,1986. PesticideResistance. Strategiesand Tactics for Management.National AcademyPress, Washington,DC, 471 pp. Van Tuyl, J.M., 1977. Geneticsof Fungal Resistanceto SystemicFungicides. Medd. Landbouwhogesch.,Wageningen,77 (2), 137 pp. PESTS AND PARASITES Pests a n d Parasites as Migrants. A.J. Gibbs and H.R.C. Meischke (Editors),
Cambridge University Press, 1986, softcover, price £22.50/$39.50, 192 pp., ISBN: 0521 301637. This book is a collection of papers presented at a symposium organised in 1984 to broaden the discussions on the importation of exotic organisms into Australia, following the meeting at Geelong in 1982 which focussed on the importation of exotic viruses and particularly Foot and Mouth Disease Virus. The symposium met its aims and the papers reported will be of interest to a wider audience than just Australian scientists. The book does not appear to be aimed at any particular audience and individual chapters will appeal to different readers. It is to be hoped that all scientists, administrators and politicians concerned with quarantine services in any way will read parts of this book. The principles and lessons provided apply equally to all countries and particularly to those endeavouring to introduce new agricultural technology. The accounts of the processes involved in the establishment of the Australian National Animal Health Laboratory ( Chapter 9) and the importation of insects for biological control of E c h i u m weeds ( Chapter 24) reveal some of the great dangers of decisions made under pressure when established attitudes are not changed in the light of fresh evidence. If the book helps administrators strike a balance
365
Book Reviews
PLANT RESISTANCETO DISEASE Mechanisms of Resistance to Plant Diseases. R.S.S. Fraser (Editor), Advances in Agricultural Biotechnology, M. Nijhoff/W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, 1985, 462 pp., hardcover, price Dfl. 190/US$71, ISBN: 90-247-3204-2.
This book was intended to be a review of the present knowledge on an issue which is now generally recognized as being of foremost importance for the future ( NRC Committee, 1986). It deals with the mechanisms by which plants cope with pathogens, in particular viruses, bacteria and fungi. Owing to the fact that the editor was not only responsible for assembling articles and writing the introduction but also contributed all the chapters concerned with viruses, the text and presentation as well as the terminology are extremely consistent throughout the book. The eight authors have adopted a fairly similar practical approach to reporting on the phenomena involved in plant resistance, for instance, by using the same working definition for most specialized expressions. The first part of the work, i.e. Chapters 2 and 3, describes how the host range is controlled and how non-hosts remain immune to attacks by microorganisms. It is concluded - not too surprisingly - that although much is still to be discovered, immunity may be understood as being the end result of a chain of hurdles which the pathogen must overcome to infest a plant successfully. The following two chapters are devoted to the genetic basis of host resistance to disease agents. The authors assume that in most instances, resistance to pathogens is based on simple Mendelian control by a single gene, or by recessive or incompletely dominant genes. It could undoubtedly be argued that the reality is probably more complex, especially if one considers that one or several genes are usually involved in the apparently simple model of fungal species becoming resistant to fungicides (van Tuyl, 1977). Chapters 6 to 8 concentrate on the mechanisms likely to play a r81e in the genetically controlled resistance of plants to viruses, bacteria and fungi; they also deal with the implications of resistance/pathogenicity in terms of population biology. It is made clear that the simple presence of pesticides in the environment cannot be sufficient to explain the economic damage inflicted by plant diseases as Chaboussou (1985) wanted to demonstrate. The two following chapters deal with induced resistance, i.e. with the ways for a primary inoculation or a chemical treatment to elicit a reaction in a plant towards another pathogen. Chapter 11 describes a number of techniques for widening the genetic basis of resistance, and, finally, discusses the potential use of induced resistance. It is worth noting that possible interactions between resistance and the various forms of biological control are mentioned on several
366 occasions, as was recently advocated by a number of research workers (Boethel and Eikenbary, 1986; NRC Committee, 1986). This well conceived and comprehensive book will certainly attract the attention of scientists active in all disciplines of plant protection. J.P. AESCHLIMANN CSIRO Biological Control Unit 335 Avenue Paul Parguel 34100 MontpeUier France
REFERENCES Boethel, D.J. and Eikenbary, R.D., 1986. Interactionsof Plant Resistance and Parasitoids and Predators of Insects.E. Horwood,Chichester,224 pp. Chaboussou, F., 1985.Sant~des Cultures.Une l~volutionAgronomique.FlammarionLa Maison Rustique, Paris, 271 pp. NRC Committee,1986. PesticideResistance. Strategiesand Tactics for Management.National AcademyPress, Washington,DC, 471 pp. Van Tuyl, J.M., 1977. Geneticsof Fungal Resistanceto SystemicFungicides. Medd. Landbouwhogesch.,Wageningen,77 (2), 137 pp. PESTS AND PARASITES Pests a n d Parasites as Migrants. A.J. Gibbs and H.R.C. Meischke (Editors),
Cambridge University Press, 1986, softcover, price £22.50/$39.50, 192 pp., ISBN: 0521 301637. This book is a collection of papers presented at a symposium organised in 1984 to broaden the discussions on the importation of exotic organisms into Australia, following the meeting at Geelong in 1982 which focussed on the importation of exotic viruses and particularly Foot and Mouth Disease Virus. The symposium met its aims and the papers reported will be of interest to a wider audience than just Australian scientists. The book does not appear to be aimed at any particular audience and individual chapters will appeal to different readers. It is to be hoped that all scientists, administrators and politicians concerned with quarantine services in any way will read parts of this book. The principles and lessons provided apply equally to all countries and particularly to those endeavouring to introduce new agricultural technology. The accounts of the processes involved in the establishment of the Australian National Animal Health Laboratory ( Chapter 9) and the importation of insects for biological control of E c h i u m weeds ( Chapter 24) reveal some of the great dangers of decisions made under pressure when established attitudes are not changed in the light of fresh evidence. If the book helps administrators strike a balance