- Email: [email protected]
Postharvest biotechnology of flowers and ornamental plants
T I B T E C H - NOVEMBER 1990 [Vol. 8]
335
(1987) Microbiol. Rev. 51,365-379 12 Colwell, R. R., Brayton, P. R., Grimes, D. J., Roszak, D. R., Huq, S. A. and Palmer, L. M. (1985) Biotechnology 3,817-820 13 Holben, W. E., Jansson, J. K., Chelm, B. K. and Tiedje, J. M. (1988) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 703-711 14 Ogram, A., Sayler, G. S. and Barkay, T. (1988) J. Microbiol. Methods 7, 57-66 15 Stephan, R. J., Goksoyr, J., Asim, K. B. and Atlas, R. M. (1988) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 2908-2915 16 Somerville, C., Knight, I. T., Straube, W. L. and Colwell, R. R. (1989) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55, 548-554 17 Hanahan, D. and Meselson, M. (1980) Gene 10, 63-68 18 Hazen, T. C. and Jimenez, L. (1988) Microbiol. Sci. 5,340-343 19 Sayler, G. S., Shields, M. S., Tedford, E. T., Breen, A., Hooper, S. W., Sirotkin, K. M. and Davis, J. W. (1985) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 49, 1295-1303 20 Jain, R. K., Sayler, G. S., Wilson, J. T., Houston, L. and Pacia, D. (1987)
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53, 996-1002 Pettigrew, C. A. and Sayler, G. S. (1986) J. Microbiol. Methods 5, 205-213 Barkay, T., Fouts, D. L. and Olsen, B. H. (1985) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 49,686-692 Stephan, R. J. and Atlas, R. M. (1990) Biotechniques 8,316-318 Mullis, K. B. and Faloona, F. A. (1987) Methods Enzymol. 155, 335-350 Stephan, R. J. and Atlas, R. M. (1988) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 2185-2191 Brayton, P. R., Tamplin, M. L., Huq, A. and Colwell, R. R. (1987) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53, 2862-2865 Lin, C. P., Well, J. M. and Van der zwet, T. (1986) Phytopathology 76, 564-571 Martensson, A. M., Gustafsson, J-G. and Ljunggren, H. D. (1984) J. Gen. Microbiol. 130, 247-253 Mason, J. and Burns, R. G. (1990) FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 73,299-308 O'Morchoe, S. B., Ogenseitan, O.,
IIIIiiiiiiiii i!
:i
i'
i
A valuable bench companion PCR P R O T O C O L S -- A GUIDE T O METHODS AND APPLICATIONS
edited b y M. A. Innis, D. H. Garfield, J. J. S n i n s k y and T. ]. White, A c a d e m i c Press, 1990. $39.95 (xviii + 482 pages) I S B N 0 12 372181 4 This collection of e x p e r i m e n t a l proc e d u r e s describes various aspects of the m e t h o d o l o g y of p o l y m e r a s e c h a i n reaction (PCR) as well as the applications of PCR to different p r o b l e m s in m o l e c u l a r biology and m e d i c i n e . Each article consists of a brief i n t r o d u c t i o n giving some theoretical b a c k g r o u n d as well as the p r i n c i p l e of the m e t h o d s or applications to be discussed, followed by a detailed description of the practical p r o c e d u r e s . In m a n y cases additional notes are given o n potential difficulties or mistakes, and indications on f o r t h c o m i n g d e v e l o p m e n t s . T h e articles are a c c o m p a n i e d by citations of the most p e r t i n e n t literature. This v o l u m e owes its value to the expertise of its contributors, all
specialists of international r e n o w n in the d e v e l o p i n g field of PCR. This c o l l e c t i o n of protocols, rather loosely g r o u p e d into five sections and i n t e r t w i n e d by a brief preface, d e m o n s t r a t e s the almost unbelievable variety of scientific forthcomings from a basic d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h originated only a few years ago. This book is an excellent compi[]
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[]
[]
31
32 33 34 35 36
37
Sayler, G. S. and Miller, R. V. (1988) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 1923-1929 Saunders, J. R., Morgan, J. A. W., Winstanley, C., Raitt, F. C., Carter, J. P., Pickup, R. W., Jones, J. G. and Saunders, V. A. (1990) in Bacterial Genetics in Natural Environments (Fry, J. C. and Day, M. J., eds), pp. 3-21, Chapman and Hall Li, W. K. W. and Wood, M. (1988) Deep-Sea Res. 35, 1615-1638 Robertson, B. R. and Button, D. K. (1989) Cflometry 10, 70-76 Giovannoni, S. J., Delong, E. F., Olsen, G. J. and Pace, N. R. (1988) J. Bacteriol. 170, 720-726 Amman, R. I., Krumholz, L. and Stahl, D. A. (1990) J. Bacteriol. 177, 762-770 Amman, R. I., Binder, B. J., Olsen, R. J., Chisholm, Si W., Devereux, R. and Stahl, D. A. (1990) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56, 1919-1925 Fredrickson, J. K., Bezdicek, D. F., Brickman, F. J. and Li, S. W. (1988) Appl. Environ: Microbiol. 54, 446-453
lation for all who, having a general b a c k g r o u n d in m o l e c u l a r biology, w i s h to practise PCR. Those inv o l v e d in d e v e l o p i n g n e w m e t h o d ology will find suggestions for optimization. Likewise, it will p r o v i d e an orientation for all those w h o are working o n n e w applications. In short, this is a b o o k m e a n t for the laboratory bench, and no user of the PCR t e c h n i q u e c o u l d w i s h to miss it. H. SELIGER
Sektion Polymere, University of Ulm, Albert Einstein Allee 11, D-7900 Ulm, FRG. []
[]
[]
[]
A missed opportunity P O S T H A R V E S T B I O T E C H N O L O G Y OF FLOWERS A N D O R N A M E N T A L P L A N T S
b y D. H. Salunkhe, N. R. Bhat and B. B. Desai, Springer-Verlag, 1990. DM 129.00 (xii + 192 pages) I S B N 3 54O 194O6 1 The w o r l d p r o d u c t i o n of cut flowers, potted plants and foliage plants is steadily growing and of considerable c o m m e r c i a l value. Due to i m p r o p e r handling, about 20% of all floral
crops are unsaleable. This estimate does not i n c l u d e the quantity of crop that was n e v e r h a r v e s t e d and the post-harvest losses that o c c u r along the marketing channel. Salunkhe, Bhat and Desai have m a d e an inventory of the factors i n v o l v e d in postharvest losses of flowers and ornamentals. In an i n t r o d u c t o r y chapter t h e y describe the ultrastructural, bioc h e m i c a l and metabolic changes
336
T I B T E C H - N O V E M B E R 1990 [Vol. 8]
associated with senescence and discuss hormonal influences with special emphasis on ethylene action. Chapter-wise the important cut flower species (carnation, rose, chrysanthemum, tulip, orchid etc.) potted and foliage plants are dealt with. After a discussion of post-harvest quality requirements and properties of different cultivars, the nature of post-harvest losses of each of the individual crops is discussed. Each chapter ends with a 'Loss Reduction Biotechnology' paragraph. It treats the cultural practices; harvesting, grading and packaging technologies; effects of storage conditions; the use of growth regulators, floral preservatives, bud-opening solutions and, finally, control of pests and diseases. That the title of the book includes the word Biotechnology is somewhat
[]
[]
[]
misleading in my opinion, as modern biotechnology involves the use of molecular genetics and cell fusion technology. The authors have not even touched this subject, and the most recent reference dates back to 1983! The opportunity to incorporate some of the recent elegant work on ethylene regulation by William Woodson, Anastasios Theologis, Don Grierson and others, and to outline the possibilities of modern biotechnology to manipulate ethylene production or action at its receptor, has clearly been missed. The same criticism holds for the way the authors treat the issue of pest and disease control. The new possibilities of using Bt-toxins, protease inhibitors etc., and the potential use of natural resistance genes has not even been mentioned. In my view the
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
Eurobiotech after 1992 1992 - - P L A N N I N G F O R C H E M I C A L S , P H A R M A C E U T I C A L S AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
edited by Eurofi, Butterworth Scientific, 1989. £80.00 (xiii + 397 pages) ISBN 0 408 04095 5 The Vice-President of the commission of the European communities recently noted that the members of the community seem to have moved from Europhobia through Eurosclerosis to Europhoria, from the 1957 signing of the Treaty of Rome towards 1992. Eurosclerosis and perhaps even Eurosleep, exemplified the status of most people and governments until about 1985, when the idea of a single internal market was given a new 'shot in the arm' and the patient was resuscitated. 1992 Planning for Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology is an excellent compilation of the enormous number of directives, initiatives, legislation and proposals that have gone into 'planning' for 1992 since that time. Reading this book, one begins to comprehend the massive task of removing barriers - physical, technical and legal - to a common market. This book is also an invaluable handbook for those of us who have attempted to translate the various EEC directives and acronyms. Here
you will find BRITE, ESPRIT, BRIDGE, STEP, ACE, SCIENCE and EUREKA - and, with the helpful explanations in this book, you will have 'got it'! Clearly written, the book makes the complexities of the European Commission straightforward and understandable. It avoids legalese but includes necessary detail. It is also printed in a highly legible format and font type, and the five pages of contents are sufficiently comprehensive that one only slightly regrets the absence of an index. At the end of the book, just when you are beginning to become a little stultified by the Eurospeak, a personal note is introduced and you are exposed to the views of individuals regarding the challenges and opportunities presented by the move towards a common market. The indi-
recently demonstrated delay in fruit ripening by antisense polygalacturonase genes is still the best example of post-harvest biotechnology. In summary, the authors have given a historical and useful overview of 'Postharvest Techniques of Flowers and Ornamental Plants' (references date back to 1908!) but have failed to include some of the most recent 'fruits' of biotechnology. Their statement in Chapter 2 (p. 13) that 'Experimental evidence is lacking to demonstrate the presence of specific ageing genes' is interesting in this respect. J. N. M. M O L
Department of Genetics, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. []
[]
[]
viduals are the heads of companies and institutions in the biotechnology, chemical, agrochemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Planning for 1992 is a moving target; this book was published in 1989, and obviously cannot deal with subsequent legislation, but it gives sufficient details of the status of proposed directives and the trends that it will probably remain a useful reference source for some years. I recommend this book for any European working in the chemical, agrochemical, biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries who wants to know h o w the European Commission and 1992 will affect his/her industry. J. N. GRINDLEY
British Bio-technology Limited, Wellington Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 5LY, UK.
Book RevieW, SuppJ
nt
:
" The: Biotechnoiogy w~Ji in-ciUde :a coltection:, of : ~ :!Bio{echnSl~gg!bookreviews~ :::: :-:/ ::: : : ::::i i ': #ubiis6ets~: p~tease:sen~-5ooE~ (o~: book: detai-[si fo~:~onsiaer~ti~n::{5~::Possible :: : :: :: .-: : !:rev[e~ i:~ f~ai'e:issbe~:of TIBTECH to:;:: :.":-: /.J-: f : Yi~TE~:B~oE::Re~iewsi : : " Elsewer: Trends JournalS:::: :t:: : : :::: .;: ::::::::::::: 68: Hills Road;:::::: : :": -. ::::
335
(1987) Microbiol. Rev. 51,365-379 12 Colwell, R. R., Brayton, P. R., Grimes, D. J., Roszak, D. R., Huq, S. A. and Palmer, L. M. (1985) Biotechnology 3,817-820 13 Holben, W. E., Jansson, J. K., Chelm, B. K. and Tiedje, J. M. (1988) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 703-711 14 Ogram, A., Sayler, G. S. and Barkay, T. (1988) J. Microbiol. Methods 7, 57-66 15 Stephan, R. J., Goksoyr, J., Asim, K. B. and Atlas, R. M. (1988) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 2908-2915 16 Somerville, C., Knight, I. T., Straube, W. L. and Colwell, R. R. (1989) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55, 548-554 17 Hanahan, D. and Meselson, M. (1980) Gene 10, 63-68 18 Hazen, T. C. and Jimenez, L. (1988) Microbiol. Sci. 5,340-343 19 Sayler, G. S., Shields, M. S., Tedford, E. T., Breen, A., Hooper, S. W., Sirotkin, K. M. and Davis, J. W. (1985) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 49, 1295-1303 20 Jain, R. K., Sayler, G. S., Wilson, J. T., Houston, L. and Pacia, D. (1987)
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53, 996-1002 Pettigrew, C. A. and Sayler, G. S. (1986) J. Microbiol. Methods 5, 205-213 Barkay, T., Fouts, D. L. and Olsen, B. H. (1985) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 49,686-692 Stephan, R. J. and Atlas, R. M. (1990) Biotechniques 8,316-318 Mullis, K. B. and Faloona, F. A. (1987) Methods Enzymol. 155, 335-350 Stephan, R. J. and Atlas, R. M. (1988) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 2185-2191 Brayton, P. R., Tamplin, M. L., Huq, A. and Colwell, R. R. (1987) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53, 2862-2865 Lin, C. P., Well, J. M. and Van der zwet, T. (1986) Phytopathology 76, 564-571 Martensson, A. M., Gustafsson, J-G. and Ljunggren, H. D. (1984) J. Gen. Microbiol. 130, 247-253 Mason, J. and Burns, R. G. (1990) FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 73,299-308 O'Morchoe, S. B., Ogenseitan, O.,
IIIIiiiiiiiii i!
:i
i'
i
A valuable bench companion PCR P R O T O C O L S -- A GUIDE T O METHODS AND APPLICATIONS
edited b y M. A. Innis, D. H. Garfield, J. J. S n i n s k y and T. ]. White, A c a d e m i c Press, 1990. $39.95 (xviii + 482 pages) I S B N 0 12 372181 4 This collection of e x p e r i m e n t a l proc e d u r e s describes various aspects of the m e t h o d o l o g y of p o l y m e r a s e c h a i n reaction (PCR) as well as the applications of PCR to different p r o b l e m s in m o l e c u l a r biology and m e d i c i n e . Each article consists of a brief i n t r o d u c t i o n giving some theoretical b a c k g r o u n d as well as the p r i n c i p l e of the m e t h o d s or applications to be discussed, followed by a detailed description of the practical p r o c e d u r e s . In m a n y cases additional notes are given o n potential difficulties or mistakes, and indications on f o r t h c o m i n g d e v e l o p m e n t s . T h e articles are a c c o m p a n i e d by citations of the most p e r t i n e n t literature. This v o l u m e owes its value to the expertise of its contributors, all
specialists of international r e n o w n in the d e v e l o p i n g field of PCR. This c o l l e c t i o n of protocols, rather loosely g r o u p e d into five sections and i n t e r t w i n e d by a brief preface, d e m o n s t r a t e s the almost unbelievable variety of scientific forthcomings from a basic d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h originated only a few years ago. This book is an excellent compi[]
[]
[]
[]
31
32 33 34 35 36
37
Sayler, G. S. and Miller, R. V. (1988) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54, 1923-1929 Saunders, J. R., Morgan, J. A. W., Winstanley, C., Raitt, F. C., Carter, J. P., Pickup, R. W., Jones, J. G. and Saunders, V. A. (1990) in Bacterial Genetics in Natural Environments (Fry, J. C. and Day, M. J., eds), pp. 3-21, Chapman and Hall Li, W. K. W. and Wood, M. (1988) Deep-Sea Res. 35, 1615-1638 Robertson, B. R. and Button, D. K. (1989) Cflometry 10, 70-76 Giovannoni, S. J., Delong, E. F., Olsen, G. J. and Pace, N. R. (1988) J. Bacteriol. 170, 720-726 Amman, R. I., Krumholz, L. and Stahl, D. A. (1990) J. Bacteriol. 177, 762-770 Amman, R. I., Binder, B. J., Olsen, R. J., Chisholm, Si W., Devereux, R. and Stahl, D. A. (1990) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56, 1919-1925 Fredrickson, J. K., Bezdicek, D. F., Brickman, F. J. and Li, S. W. (1988) Appl. Environ: Microbiol. 54, 446-453
lation for all who, having a general b a c k g r o u n d in m o l e c u l a r biology, w i s h to practise PCR. Those inv o l v e d in d e v e l o p i n g n e w m e t h o d ology will find suggestions for optimization. Likewise, it will p r o v i d e an orientation for all those w h o are working o n n e w applications. In short, this is a b o o k m e a n t for the laboratory bench, and no user of the PCR t e c h n i q u e c o u l d w i s h to miss it. H. SELIGER
Sektion Polymere, University of Ulm, Albert Einstein Allee 11, D-7900 Ulm, FRG. []
[]
[]
[]
A missed opportunity P O S T H A R V E S T B I O T E C H N O L O G Y OF FLOWERS A N D O R N A M E N T A L P L A N T S
b y D. H. Salunkhe, N. R. Bhat and B. B. Desai, Springer-Verlag, 1990. DM 129.00 (xii + 192 pages) I S B N 3 54O 194O6 1 The w o r l d p r o d u c t i o n of cut flowers, potted plants and foliage plants is steadily growing and of considerable c o m m e r c i a l value. Due to i m p r o p e r handling, about 20% of all floral
crops are unsaleable. This estimate does not i n c l u d e the quantity of crop that was n e v e r h a r v e s t e d and the post-harvest losses that o c c u r along the marketing channel. Salunkhe, Bhat and Desai have m a d e an inventory of the factors i n v o l v e d in postharvest losses of flowers and ornamentals. In an i n t r o d u c t o r y chapter t h e y describe the ultrastructural, bioc h e m i c a l and metabolic changes
336
T I B T E C H - N O V E M B E R 1990 [Vol. 8]
associated with senescence and discuss hormonal influences with special emphasis on ethylene action. Chapter-wise the important cut flower species (carnation, rose, chrysanthemum, tulip, orchid etc.) potted and foliage plants are dealt with. After a discussion of post-harvest quality requirements and properties of different cultivars, the nature of post-harvest losses of each of the individual crops is discussed. Each chapter ends with a 'Loss Reduction Biotechnology' paragraph. It treats the cultural practices; harvesting, grading and packaging technologies; effects of storage conditions; the use of growth regulators, floral preservatives, bud-opening solutions and, finally, control of pests and diseases. That the title of the book includes the word Biotechnology is somewhat
[]
[]
[]
misleading in my opinion, as modern biotechnology involves the use of molecular genetics and cell fusion technology. The authors have not even touched this subject, and the most recent reference dates back to 1983! The opportunity to incorporate some of the recent elegant work on ethylene regulation by William Woodson, Anastasios Theologis, Don Grierson and others, and to outline the possibilities of modern biotechnology to manipulate ethylene production or action at its receptor, has clearly been missed. The same criticism holds for the way the authors treat the issue of pest and disease control. The new possibilities of using Bt-toxins, protease inhibitors etc., and the potential use of natural resistance genes has not even been mentioned. In my view the
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
Eurobiotech after 1992 1992 - - P L A N N I N G F O R C H E M I C A L S , P H A R M A C E U T I C A L S AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
edited by Eurofi, Butterworth Scientific, 1989. £80.00 (xiii + 397 pages) ISBN 0 408 04095 5 The Vice-President of the commission of the European communities recently noted that the members of the community seem to have moved from Europhobia through Eurosclerosis to Europhoria, from the 1957 signing of the Treaty of Rome towards 1992. Eurosclerosis and perhaps even Eurosleep, exemplified the status of most people and governments until about 1985, when the idea of a single internal market was given a new 'shot in the arm' and the patient was resuscitated. 1992 Planning for Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology is an excellent compilation of the enormous number of directives, initiatives, legislation and proposals that have gone into 'planning' for 1992 since that time. Reading this book, one begins to comprehend the massive task of removing barriers - physical, technical and legal - to a common market. This book is also an invaluable handbook for those of us who have attempted to translate the various EEC directives and acronyms. Here
you will find BRITE, ESPRIT, BRIDGE, STEP, ACE, SCIENCE and EUREKA - and, with the helpful explanations in this book, you will have 'got it'! Clearly written, the book makes the complexities of the European Commission straightforward and understandable. It avoids legalese but includes necessary detail. It is also printed in a highly legible format and font type, and the five pages of contents are sufficiently comprehensive that one only slightly regrets the absence of an index. At the end of the book, just when you are beginning to become a little stultified by the Eurospeak, a personal note is introduced and you are exposed to the views of individuals regarding the challenges and opportunities presented by the move towards a common market. The indi-
recently demonstrated delay in fruit ripening by antisense polygalacturonase genes is still the best example of post-harvest biotechnology. In summary, the authors have given a historical and useful overview of 'Postharvest Techniques of Flowers and Ornamental Plants' (references date back to 1908!) but have failed to include some of the most recent 'fruits' of biotechnology. Their statement in Chapter 2 (p. 13) that 'Experimental evidence is lacking to demonstrate the presence of specific ageing genes' is interesting in this respect. J. N. M. M O L
Department of Genetics, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. []
[]
[]
viduals are the heads of companies and institutions in the biotechnology, chemical, agrochemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Planning for 1992 is a moving target; this book was published in 1989, and obviously cannot deal with subsequent legislation, but it gives sufficient details of the status of proposed directives and the trends that it will probably remain a useful reference source for some years. I recommend this book for any European working in the chemical, agrochemical, biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries who wants to know h o w the European Commission and 1992 will affect his/her industry. J. N. GRINDLEY
British Bio-technology Limited, Wellington Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 5LY, UK.
Book RevieW, SuppJ
nt
:
" The: Biotechnoiogy w~Ji in-ciUde :a coltection:, of : ~ :!Bio{echnSl~gg!bookreviews~ :::: :-:/ ::: : : ::::i i ': #ubiis6ets~: p~tease:sen~-5ooE~ (o~: book: detai-[si fo~:~onsiaer~ti~n::{5~::Possible :: : :: :: .-: : !:rev[e~ i:~ f~ai'e:issbe~:of TIBTECH to:;:: :.":-: /.J-: f : Yi~TE~:B~oE::Re~iewsi : : " Elsewer: Trends JournalS:::: :t:: : : :::: .;: ::::::::::::: 68: Hills Road;:::::: : :": -. ::::