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Peas: Genetics, molecular biology and biotechnology
s
AN p Plant Science
CiENCE
108 (1995) 119-120
Book review Peas: Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, by R. Casey and D.R. Davies, CAB Inter-
national, Wallingford, 323 pp., st&49.95, 1993 This last publication in the series Biotechnology in Agriculture has taken pea having dealt with other agronomic plants (barley, rice, potato and perennial fruit crops). Published in 1993, the book reviews all aspects of pea biology and biotechnology. Since its use by Mendel in his seminal experiments, pea has been well known to geneticists. Moreover, as clearly outlined in the first chapter, the plant also represents a valuable subject for plant physiologists and biochemists. The first chapter is a general presentation of the species from botanical and, agronomical points of view. The reader will find ten other chapters each dealing with a specific topic: the nuclear genome, the plastid genome, regulation of gene expression, genetic and developmental analysis of the seed, biochemistry and molecular biology of seed products, developmental mutants, molecular approaches to the study of diseases in pea, root nodules, Rhizobium and nitrogen fixation, tissue culture and transformation, and opportunities from developments in plant biotechnology. In Chapter 2 (The Nuclear Genome), the state of the art of cytogenetics and genetics is described. A list of classical and molecular markers is given and links between the two RFLP maps and the classical linkage map are discussed. Karyotypic variability in pea is highlighted and some details of known translocations are given. The general organization of DNA sequences is described, including particular topics dealing with gene clusters, and with recombination. The conclusion is quite optimistic: ‘The pea is likely to continue to be a 0168-9452/95/$09.50
@ 1995 Elsevier Science Ireland
SSDI 0168-9452(95)04131-D
source of cloned genes...‘, but the author points out that the relationship between the genetic and cytogenetic maps needs clarification. Searching for conserved regions of synteny could be helpful in this area. Chapter 3 (The Plastid Genome) is shorter and more general. It presents what is known about the structure of the plastid genome taking pea and Vicia as examples - the reader will be obliged to search out references from the bibliography in order to get more extensive information. Chapter 4 (Regulation of Gene Expression) describes what has been established about the regulatory DNA sequences that govern and modulate the temporal and spatial control of plant genes. The pea rbcS genes, which code for the small subunit of RUBISCO, are dealt with in considerable detail, which should interest a lot of readers. Moreover, the associated bibliography is a valuable source of reference material dealing with general gene regulation. Chapters 5 and 6 consist of detailed reports concerning the genetics and development seed, and the biochemistry and molecular biology of seed products. Both are closely linked and the reader, specialist or not, will find all necessary data here to initiate experiments in this or related areas. Chapter 7 on developmental mutants has similar value. Many developmental mutants are described which should be of interest, not only to those interested in pea, but to all working on plant development. For example if relationships between mutants in pea and Arabidopsis could be found, pea could be used to facilitate the study of their physiological and biochemical aspects. The problems posed by pathogens are described in chapter 8 (Molecular Approaches to the Study of Diseases of Pea). The author does not give an
Ltd. All rights reserved
120
Book Review/ Plant Science 108 (1995)
extensive review of all pathogens of pea but rather concentrates on several related aspects: phytoalexins and PR proteins, avirulence genes in Pseudomonas syringae pv. phi, and the state of knowledge concerning pea-seed-born mosaic virus and pea early browning virus. The chapter is relatively short but there are numerous references and the author stresses the great hope given by the successful cloning of resistance genes in Arabidopsis and their potential in pea. Pea species have also been studied in relation to nitrogen fixation. The nitrogen-fixing root nodules of pea are a typical example of the Rhizobiumlegume symbiosis. In Chapter 9 (Root Nodules, Rhizobium and Nitrogen Fixation) the authors use this example to expose what is known in this area relating it to both the plant and the bacterium. The reader will find lists of nodulation genes, of nod and fix genetic loci and mutants, and finally a list of phenotypic classes and observations made on symbiotically defective pea mutants. It constitutes a very good summary of research knowledge and future directions and is yet comprehensive enough to provide a rapid overview of the topic. Chapter 10 (Tissue Culture and Transformation) is one of the shortest in the book - not sur-
119-120
prising given the species’ recalcitrant nature. Nevertheless all successes are described and the bibliography is almost exhaustive, making it easy to find all important data and inform the reader of efforts to initiate a biotechnology program on this crop. Finally, the potential of biotechnology in pea crop improvement is explored in the last chapter (Opportunities in Relation to Developments in Plant Biotechnology), and it is a good synthesis of the previous chapters. Characters that could be improved and the main limitations in each case are discussed. In conclusion, this book is certainly a useful tool for all working with pea, even though some of may not find sufficient details in some parts. This criticism is a minor one because the material lacking can generally be found in the accompanying references. This book should also interest students or researchers working in related areas.
E. Tt?ouit?,C, Rameau
(Station de G&itique et d’Amtlioration des Plantes, INRA, Versailles, France)
AN p Plant Science
CiENCE
108 (1995) 119-120
Book review Peas: Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, by R. Casey and D.R. Davies, CAB Inter-
national, Wallingford, 323 pp., st&49.95, 1993 This last publication in the series Biotechnology in Agriculture has taken pea having dealt with other agronomic plants (barley, rice, potato and perennial fruit crops). Published in 1993, the book reviews all aspects of pea biology and biotechnology. Since its use by Mendel in his seminal experiments, pea has been well known to geneticists. Moreover, as clearly outlined in the first chapter, the plant also represents a valuable subject for plant physiologists and biochemists. The first chapter is a general presentation of the species from botanical and, agronomical points of view. The reader will find ten other chapters each dealing with a specific topic: the nuclear genome, the plastid genome, regulation of gene expression, genetic and developmental analysis of the seed, biochemistry and molecular biology of seed products, developmental mutants, molecular approaches to the study of diseases in pea, root nodules, Rhizobium and nitrogen fixation, tissue culture and transformation, and opportunities from developments in plant biotechnology. In Chapter 2 (The Nuclear Genome), the state of the art of cytogenetics and genetics is described. A list of classical and molecular markers is given and links between the two RFLP maps and the classical linkage map are discussed. Karyotypic variability in pea is highlighted and some details of known translocations are given. The general organization of DNA sequences is described, including particular topics dealing with gene clusters, and with recombination. The conclusion is quite optimistic: ‘The pea is likely to continue to be a 0168-9452/95/$09.50
@ 1995 Elsevier Science Ireland
SSDI 0168-9452(95)04131-D
source of cloned genes...‘, but the author points out that the relationship between the genetic and cytogenetic maps needs clarification. Searching for conserved regions of synteny could be helpful in this area. Chapter 3 (The Plastid Genome) is shorter and more general. It presents what is known about the structure of the plastid genome taking pea and Vicia as examples - the reader will be obliged to search out references from the bibliography in order to get more extensive information. Chapter 4 (Regulation of Gene Expression) describes what has been established about the regulatory DNA sequences that govern and modulate the temporal and spatial control of plant genes. The pea rbcS genes, which code for the small subunit of RUBISCO, are dealt with in considerable detail, which should interest a lot of readers. Moreover, the associated bibliography is a valuable source of reference material dealing with general gene regulation. Chapters 5 and 6 consist of detailed reports concerning the genetics and development seed, and the biochemistry and molecular biology of seed products. Both are closely linked and the reader, specialist or not, will find all necessary data here to initiate experiments in this or related areas. Chapter 7 on developmental mutants has similar value. Many developmental mutants are described which should be of interest, not only to those interested in pea, but to all working on plant development. For example if relationships between mutants in pea and Arabidopsis could be found, pea could be used to facilitate the study of their physiological and biochemical aspects. The problems posed by pathogens are described in chapter 8 (Molecular Approaches to the Study of Diseases of Pea). The author does not give an
Ltd. All rights reserved
120
Book Review/ Plant Science 108 (1995)
extensive review of all pathogens of pea but rather concentrates on several related aspects: phytoalexins and PR proteins, avirulence genes in Pseudomonas syringae pv. phi, and the state of knowledge concerning pea-seed-born mosaic virus and pea early browning virus. The chapter is relatively short but there are numerous references and the author stresses the great hope given by the successful cloning of resistance genes in Arabidopsis and their potential in pea. Pea species have also been studied in relation to nitrogen fixation. The nitrogen-fixing root nodules of pea are a typical example of the Rhizobiumlegume symbiosis. In Chapter 9 (Root Nodules, Rhizobium and Nitrogen Fixation) the authors use this example to expose what is known in this area relating it to both the plant and the bacterium. The reader will find lists of nodulation genes, of nod and fix genetic loci and mutants, and finally a list of phenotypic classes and observations made on symbiotically defective pea mutants. It constitutes a very good summary of research knowledge and future directions and is yet comprehensive enough to provide a rapid overview of the topic. Chapter 10 (Tissue Culture and Transformation) is one of the shortest in the book - not sur-
119-120
prising given the species’ recalcitrant nature. Nevertheless all successes are described and the bibliography is almost exhaustive, making it easy to find all important data and inform the reader of efforts to initiate a biotechnology program on this crop. Finally, the potential of biotechnology in pea crop improvement is explored in the last chapter (Opportunities in Relation to Developments in Plant Biotechnology), and it is a good synthesis of the previous chapters. Characters that could be improved and the main limitations in each case are discussed. In conclusion, this book is certainly a useful tool for all working with pea, even though some of may not find sufficient details in some parts. This criticism is a minor one because the material lacking can generally be found in the accompanying references. This book should also interest students or researchers working in related areas.
E. Tt?ouit?,C, Rameau
(Station de G&itique et d’Amtlioration des Plantes, INRA, Versailles, France)