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Book Molecular and Biotechnological Advancements in Hypericum Species

Download or read book Molecular and Biotechnological Advancements in Hypericum Species written by Gregory Franklin and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2017-03-17 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hypericum is an important genus of the family Hypericaceae and includes almost 500 species of herbs, shrubs and trees. Being the home for many important bioactive compounds, these species have a long traditional value as medicinal plants. Currently, several species of this genus have been used in ailments as knowledge-based medicine in many countries. In the recent past, several pharmacological studies have been performed using crude extracts to evaluate the traditional knowledge. Results of those studies have revealed that Hypericum extract exert multiple pharmacological properties including antidepressant, antimicrobial, antitumor and wound healing effects. Phytochemical analyses revealed that these species produce a broad spectrum of valuable compounds, mainly naphthodianthrones (hypericin and pseudohypericin), phloroglucinols (hyperforin and adhyperforin), flavonoids (hyperoside, rutin and quercitrin), benzophenones/xanthones (garcinol and gambogic acid), and essential oils. Noticeably, Hypericum perforatum extracts have been used to treat mild to moderate depression from ancient to present times and the antidepressant efficacy of Hypericum extracts has been attributed to its hyperforin content, which is known to inhibit the re-uptake of aminergic transmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline into synaptic nerve endings. Neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory responses are also linked with Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production. A wide range of flavonoids present in Hypericum extracts, namely, rutin, quercetin, and quercitrin exhibit antioxidant/free radical scavenging activity. Hypericin, beside hyperforin, is the active molecule responsible for the antitumor ability of Hypericumextracts and is seen as a potent candidate to treat brain tumor. Recent attempts of using hypericin in patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors showed promising results. Collectively, Hypericum species contain multiple bioactive constituents, suggesting their potential to occupy a huge portion of the phytomedicine market. Today, studies on medicinal plants are rapidly increasing because of the search for new active molecules, and for the improvement in the production of plants and molecules for the herbal pharmaceutical industries. In the post genomic era, application of molecular biology and genomic tools revolutionized our understanding of major biosynthetic pathways, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Hypericum species and individual compounds. This special issue mainly focuses on the recent advancements made in the understanding of biosynthetic pathways, application of biotechnology, molecular biology, genomics, pharmacology and related areas.

Book Plant Cell and Tissue Differentiation and Secondary Metabolites

Download or read book Plant Cell and Tissue Differentiation and Secondary Metabolites written by Kishan Gopal Ramawat and published by Springer. This book was released on 2020-12-04 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This reference work provides a comprehensive review of cell and tissue differentiation and its role in the formation of specific secondary metabolites. Divided into five sections, this book covers the main cellular processes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Chapters from expert contributors offer specific case studies of cell and tissue differentiation, examines secondary metabolites in shoot and root cultures, and present new scientific insights and original technologies with applications in medicinal plants and in plant biotechnology. Students, scholars and researchers with an interest in the fields of botany, agriculture, pharmacy, biotechnology and phytochemistry will find this book an important account. This book will also engage professionals working in plant-based industry.

Book Plant Biotechnology  Recent Advancements and Developments

Download or read book Plant Biotechnology Recent Advancements and Developments written by Suresh Kumar Gahlawat and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-05-31 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents an overview of the latest advances and developments in plant biotechnology. The respective chapters explore emerging areas of plant biotechnology such as RNAi technology, fermentation technology, genetic engineering, nanoparticles and their applications, climate resilient crops, bio-films, bio-plastic, bio-remediation, flavonoids, antioxidants etc. All chapters were written by respected experts and address the latest developments in plant biotechnology that are of industrial importance, especially with regard to crop yields and post-harvest strategies. As such, the book offers a valuable guide for students, educators and researchers in all disciplines of the life sciences, agricultural sciences, medicine, and biotechnology at universities, research institutions and biotechnology companies.

Book Advancement of Melatonin Research in Plants

Download or read book Advancement of Melatonin Research in Plants written by Aryadeep Roychoudhury and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2023-12-22 with total page 549 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a widely studied biomolecule, and its function has been investigated in bacteria, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and plants. Melatonin research in plants the last five years has attained an exponential growth phase and the number of publications related to phytomelatonin has significantly increased in present times. All this research is directed towards establishing multifarious roles of melatonin in plants, including the promotion of seed germination and seedling growth, influencing plant development and senescence, alteration of flowering and fruiting time and grain yield, modulating circadian rhythms, improving resistance against biotic stress as well as tolerance to abiotic stress, reducing oxidative stress, and stimulating plant immune response. However, to date, an exhaustive book, solely and exclusively dedicated to melatonin research on various aspects of plant biology, has not been published by any renowned publisher or is available in the market. Keeping all these facts in mind, this book aims to compile the most recent developments in the arena of melatonin-mediated regulation of plant physiology under optimal and sub-optimal conditions. This book will initiate and introduce the readers to the state-of-the-art developments and trends in this field of study and will largely cater to the scientific need of scientists engaged in melatonin research across the globe. The book will be unique of its kind and will draw the attention of scientific and research communities engaged in the field of melatonin research. The key features of this book: Authors will address the topics which would provide advances in the understanding of diverse functions of melatonin in plants, encompassing almost all the aspects that have been investigated so far Integrate the overall mechanistic function of melatonin, genomics and proteomics tools, and genetic engineering to manipulate endogenous melatonin levels, thus giving a holistic view of plant-level studies under normal or challenging situations Largely help the readers to design future research programs in exploiting melatonin as a protective agent to develop climate-resilient and pathogen-resistant plants Benefit the crop protection program and ensure food security Chapters will be supplemented with ample illustrations and figures This book will be beneficial to research scholars and Ph.D. students involved in melatonin research and working on stress physiology, stress proteins, genomics, proteomics and genetic engineering in different universities and research institutes all over the world. The book can also be used as an advanced reference book for the coursework of research and master’s level students. It will be of use to people involved in improving plant growth and yield, as well as the performance of plant species in the face of climate change and pathogen infection, using melatonin as the prime protective agent and signaling molecule. Although the book will directly benefit the academic and scientific community, it will also indirectly draw the attention of industries or companies that manufacture or sell chemical products, since the book will highlight in detail the antioxidative potential of melatonin. This will create impetus at the industrial level for the isolation and synthesis of melatonin as a beneficial chemical agent. Applying melatonin as an ameliorating agent against different stresses at the field level will also increase the demand for this chemical among the farmers and will promote large-scale sales and utilization of melatonin for ensuring crop protection and increasing yield.

Book Natural Bio active Compounds

Download or read book Natural Bio active Compounds written by Mohd Sayeed Akhtar and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2019-09-28 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Natural bioactive compounds have become an integral part of plant-microbe interactions geared toward adaptation to environmental changes. They regulate symbiosis, induce seed germination, and manifest allelopathic effects, i.e., they inhibit the growth of competing plant species in their vicinity. In addition, the use of natural bioactive compounds and their products is considered to be suitable and safe in e.g. alternative medicine. Thus, there is an unprecedented need to meet the increasing demand for plant secondary metabolites in the flavor and fragrance, food, and pharmaceutical industries. However, it is difficult to obtain a constant quantity of compounds from the cultivated plants, as their yield fluctuates due to several factors including genotypic variations, the geography, edaphic conditions, harvesting and processing methods. Yet familiarity with these substances and the exploration of various approaches could open new avenues in their production. This book describes the basis of bioactive plant compounds, their mechanisms and molecular actions with regard to various human diseases, and their applications in the drug, cosmetic and herbal industries. Accordingly, it offers a valuable resource for students, educators, researchers, and healthcare experts involved in agronomy, ecology, crop science, molecular biology, stress physiology, and natural products.

Book New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Download or read book New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering written by Joginder Singh Panwar and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2020-08-19 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Recent Advances in Application of Fungi and Fungal Metabolites: Applications in Healthcare presents an account of recent development and applied aspects of fungi and its metabolites in the healthcare sector. Chapters are written by eminent researchers, emphasizing the incredible role of fungi and its metabolites in the field of medicine. This book offers reference material to all mycologists working on the exploration and usage of medicinal aspects of fungi and fungal metabolites. - Introduces the aspects and advances of fungi and fungal metabolites in healthcare - Includes a description of traditional uses and modern practices on how to harness the potential of fungi and its metabolites in healthcare applications - Provides details surrounding the use of fungi and its metabolites in medical purposes - Describes potential manifold prospects of fungi and fungal metabolites

Book Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Plant Organelles

Download or read book Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Plant Organelles written by Henry Daniell, Ph.D. and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-11-04 with total page 671 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We have taught plant molecular biology and biotechnology at the undergraduate and graduate level for over 20 years. In the past few decades, the field of plant organelle molecular biology and biotechnology has made immense strides. From the green revolution to golden rice, plant organelles have revolutionized agriculture. Given the exponential growth in research, the problem of finding appropriate textbooks for courses in plant biotechnology and molecular biology has become a major challenge. After years of handing out photocopies of various journal articles and reviews scattered through out the print and electronic media, a serendipitous meeting occurred at the 2002 IATPC World Congress held in Orlando, Florida. After my talk and evaluating several posters presented by investigators from my laboratory, Dr. Jacco Flipsen, Publishing Manager of Kluwer Publishers asked me whether I would consider editing a book on Plant Organelles. I accepted this challenge, after months of deliberations, primarily because I was unsuccessful in finding a text book in this area for many years. I signed the contract with Kluwer in March 2003 with a promise to deliver a camera-ready textbook on July 1, 2004. Given the short deadline and the complexity of the task, I quickly realized this task would need a co-editor. Dr. Christine Chase was the first scientist who came to my mind because of her expertise in plant mitochondria, and she readily agreed to work with me on this book.

Book Advances in Regenerative Medicine  Role of Nanotechnology  and Engineering Principles

Download or read book Advances in Regenerative Medicine Role of Nanotechnology and Engineering Principles written by Venkatram Prasad Shastri and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-08-14 with total page 414 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book summarizes the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on “Nanoengineered Systems for Regenerative Medicine” that was organized under the auspices of the NATO Security through Science Program. I would like to thank NATO for supporting this workshop via a grant to the co-directors. The objective of ARW was to explore the various facets of regenerative me- cine and to highlight role of the “the nano-length scale” and “nano-scale systems” in defining and controlling cell and tissue environments. The development of novel tissue regenerative strategies require the integration of new insights emerging from studies of cell-matrix interactions, cellular signalling processes, developmental and systems biology, into biomaterials design, via a systems approach. The chapters in the book, written by the leading experts in their respective disciplines, cover a wide spectrum of topics ranging from stem cell biology, developmental biology, ce- matrix interactions, and matrix biology to surface science, materials processing and drug delivery. We hope the contents of the book will provoke the readership into developing regenerative medicine paradigms that combine these facets into cli- cally translatable solutions. This NATO meeting would not have been successful without the timely help of Dr. Ulrike Shastri, Sanjeet Rangarajan and Ms. Sabine Benner, who assisted in the organization and implementation of various elements of this meeting. Thanks are also due Dr. Fausto Pedrazzini and Ms. Alison Trapp at NATO HQ (Brussels, Belgium). The commitment and persistence of Ms.

Book Nanotechnology in Plant Growth Promotion and Protection

Download or read book Nanotechnology in Plant Growth Promotion and Protection written by Avinash P. Ingle and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2021-08-16 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover the role of nanotechnology in promoting plant growth and protection through the management of microbial pathogens In Nanotechnology in Plant Growth Promotion and Protection, distinguished researcher and author Dr. Avinash P. Ingle delivers a rigorous and insightful collection of some of the latest developments in nanotechnology particularly related to plant growth promotion and protection. The book focuses broadly on the role played by nanotechnology in growth promotion of plants and their protection through the management of different microbial pathogens. You’ll learn about a wide variety of topics, including the role of nanomaterials in sustainable agriculture, how nano-fertilizers behave as soil feed, and the dual role of nanoparticles in plant growth promotion and phytopathogen management. You’ll also discover why nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the current agricultural landscape through the development of nano-based products, like plant growth promoters, nano-fertilizers, nano-pesticides, and nano-insecticides. Find out why nano-based products promise to be a cost-effective, economically viable, and eco-friendly approach to tackling some of the most intractable problems in agriculture today. You’ll also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the prospects and impacts of using nanotechnology to promote the growth of plants and control plant diseases An exploration of the effects of titanium dioxide nanomaterials on plant growth and the emerging applications of zinc-based nanoparticles in plant growth promotion Practical discussions of nano-fertilizer in enhancing the production potentials of crops and the potential applications of nanotechnology in plant nutrition and protection for sustainable agriculture A concise treatment of nanotechnology in seed science and soil feed Toxicological concerns of nanomaterials used in agriculture Perfect for undergraduate, graduate, and research students of nanotechnology, agriculture, plant science, plant physiology, and crops, Nanotechnology in Plant Growth Promotion and Protection will also earn a place in the libraries of professors and researchers in these areas, as well as regulators and policymakers.

Book Plant Tissue Culture  Propagation  Conservation and Crop Improvement

Download or read book Plant Tissue Culture Propagation Conservation and Crop Improvement written by Mohammad Anis and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-10-08 with total page 616 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents basic concepts, methodologies and applications of biotechnology for the conservation and propagation of aromatic, medicinal and other economic plants. It caters to the needs and challenges of researchers in plant biology, biotechnology, the medical sciences, pharmaceutical biotechnology and pharmacology areas by providing an accessible and cost-effective practical approach to micro-propagation and conservation strategies for plant species. It also includes illustrations describing a complete documentation of the results and research into particular plant species conducted by the authors over the past 5 years. Plant Biotechnology has been a subject of academic interest for a considerable time. In recent years, it has also become a useful tool in agriculture and medicine, as well as a popular area of biological research. Current economic growth is globally projected in a highly positive manner, but the challenges many countries face with regard to food, feed, malnutrition, infectious diseases, the newly identified life-style diseases, and energy shortages, all of which are worsened by an ever-deteriorating environment, continue to pull the growth digits back. The common thread that connects all of the above challenges is biotechnology, which could provide many answers. Molecular biology and biotechnology have now become an integral part of tissue culture research. The tremendous impact generated by genetic engineering and consequently of transgenics now allows us to manipulate plant genomes at will. There has indeed been a rapid development in this area with major successes in both developed and developing countries. The book introduces several new and exciting areas to researchers who are unfamiliar with plant biotechnology and also serves as a review of ongoing research and future directions for scholars. The book highlights numerous methods for in vitro propagation and utilization of techniques in raising transgenics to help readers reproduce the experiments discussed.

Book Endophytic Fungi

    Book Details:
  • Author : Ahmed M. Abdel Azeem
  • Publisher : Academic Press
  • Release : 2024-08-07
  • ISBN : 032399315X
  • Pages : 466 pages

Download or read book Endophytic Fungi written by Ahmed M. Abdel Azeem and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2024-08-07 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Endophytic Fungi: The Full Story of the Untapped Treasure covers the developments in endophytic fungal research from beginning to the end by the eminent researchers involved in the field. It sheds light on the endophytic fungal current research, challenges, and future possibilities, the trending recent topics in the plant-fungal endophytes' biodynamics for sustainable development of bioproducts and its applications are supported in large-scale biosynthesis of industrially and pharmaceutical important biomolecules.Endophytic Fungi: The Full Story of the Untapped Treasure highlights the bioprospecting and applied aspects of endophytic fungal communities from diverse hosts and discusses the practical applications of such endophytes in detail. It also reviews recent strategies on alternative sustainable sources of medicines such as secondary metabolites of fungi instead of over collection of plants under prohibiting of biodiversity conventions. The uniqueness of this book is the inclusion of updated bioinformatics-based strategies and its importance in bioactive molecules produced by endophytic fungi. The book addresses one of the most eminent issues in this field: how to translate the potential that endophytic fungi hold in stable practical application. - Covers major concepts of plant-fungi interaction, biodiversity of endophytic fungi from diverse and biotechnological applications for sustainable development - Is extensively illustrated and clearly written, using easy-to-understand language, sharing the latest developments and potential of fungal products for various applications - Sheds light on the endophytic fungal current research, challenges, and future possibilities

Book Recent Advances in Plant in vitro Culture

Download or read book Recent Advances in Plant in vitro Culture written by Annarita Leva and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2012-10-17 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this book is to provide the advances in plant in vitro culture as related to perennial fruit crops and medicinal plants. Basic principles and new techniques, now available, are presented in detail. The book will be of use to researchers, teachers in biotechnology and for individuals interested to the commercial application of plant in vitro culture.

Book Molecular Plant Taxonomy

Download or read book Molecular Plant Taxonomy written by Pascale Besse and published by Humana. This book was released on 2014-01-11 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plant taxonomy is an ancient discipline facing new challenges with the current availability of a vast array of molecular approaches which allow reliable genealogy-based classifications. Although the primary focus of plant taxonomy is on the delimitation of species, molecular approaches also provide a better understanding of evolutionary processes, a particularly important issue for some taxonomic complex groups. Molecular Plant Taxonomy: Methods and Protocols describes laboratory protocols based on the use of nucleic acids and chromosomes for plant taxonomy, as well as guidelines for phylogenetic analysis of molecular data. Experts in the field also contribute review and application chapters that will encourage the reader to develop an integrative taxonomy approach, combining nucleic acid and cytogenetic data together with other crucial information (taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, ecology, reproductive biology, biogeography, paleobotany), which will help not only to best circumvent species delimitation but also to resolve the evolutionary processes in play. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Molecular Plant Taxonomy: Methods and Protocols seeks to provide conceptual as well as technical guidelines to plant taxonomists and geneticists.

Book Plant and Human Health  Volume 1

Download or read book Plant and Human Health Volume 1 written by Munir Ozturk and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-10-02 with total page 814 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Early anthropological evidence for plant use as medicine is 60,000 years old as reported from the Neanderthal grave in Iraq. The importance of plants as medicine is further supported by archeological evidence from Asia and the Middle East. Today, around 1.4 billion people in South Asia alone have no access to modern health care, and rely instead on traditional medicine to alleviate various symptoms. On a global basis, approximately 50 to 80 thousand plant species are used either natively or as pharmaceutical derivatives for life-threatening conditions that include diabetes, hypertension and cancers. As the demand for plant-based medicine rises, there is an unmet need to investigate the quality, safety and efficacy of these herbals by the “scientific methods”. Current research on drug discovery from medicinal plants involves a multifaceted approach combining botanical, phytochemical, analytical, and molecular techniques. For instance, high throughput robotic screens have been developed by industry; it is now possible to carry out 50,000 tests per day in the search for compounds, which act on a key enzyme or a subset of receptors. This and other bioassays thus offer hope that one may eventually identify compounds for treating a variety of diseases or conditions. However, drug development from natural products is not without its problems. Frequent challenges encountered include the procurement of raw materials, the selection and implementation of appropriate high-throughput bioassays, and the scaling-up of preparative procedures. Research scientists should therefore arm themselves with the right tools and knowledge in order to harness the vast potentials of plant-based therapeutics. The main objective of Plant and Human Health is to serve as a comprehensive guide for this endeavor. Volume 1 highlights how humans from specific areas or cultures use indigenous plants. Despite technological developments, herbal drugs still occupy a preferential place in a majority of the population in the third world and have slowly taken roots as alternative medicine in the West. The integration of modern science with traditional uses of herbal drugs is important for our understanding of this ethnobotanical relationship. Volume 2 deals with the phytochemical and molecular characterization of herbal medicine. Specifically, it focuess on the secondary metabolic compounds, which afford protection against diseases. Lastly, Volume 3 discusses the physiological mechanisms by which the active ingredients of medicinal plants serve to improve human health. Together this three-volume collection intends to bridge the gap for herbalists, traditional and modern medical practitioners, and students and researchers in botany and horticulture.

Book Plant derived Natural Products

Download or read book Plant derived Natural Products written by Anne E. Osbourn and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-07-07 with total page 588 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plants produce a huge array of natural products (secondary metabolites). These compounds have important ecological functions, providing protection against attack by herbivores and microbes and serving as attractants for pollinators and seed-dispersing agents. They may also contribute to competition and invasiveness by suppressing the growth of neighboring plant species (a phenomenon known as allelopathy). Humans exploit natural products as sources of drugs, flavoring agents, fragrances and for a wide range of other applications. Rapid progress has been made in recent years in understanding natural product synthesis, regulation and function and the evolution of metabolic diversity. It is timely to bring this information together with contemporary advances in chemistry, plant biology, ecology, agronomy and human health to provide a comprehensive guide to plant-derived natural products. Plant-derived natural products: synthesis, function and application provides an informative and accessible overview of the different facets of the field, ranging from an introduction to the different classes of natural products through developments in natural product chemistry and biology to ecological interactions and the significance of plant-derived natural products for humans. In the final section of the book a series of chapters on new trends covers metabolic engineering, genome-wide approaches, the metabolic consequences of genetic modification, developments in traditional medicines and nutraceuticals, natural products as leads for drug discovery and novel non-food crops.

Book Hypericum

    Book Details:
  • Author : Edzard Ernst
  • Publisher : CRC Press
  • Release : 2003-01-23
  • ISBN : 9781420023305
  • Pages : 264 pages

Download or read book Hypericum written by Edzard Ernst and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2003-01-23 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is one of the best-selling herbal medicines in the world. For that reason, research into all aspects of St. John's wort continues to intensify. Hypericum: The Genus Hypericum summarizes the current knowledge on a wide range of issues, such as botany, plant infections, cultivation, manufacturing, standardization, quality control, biochemistry, pharmacology and clinical application. This landmark book tackles issues not previously addressed, such as selection of the pharmacologically active compounds, application for severe depression, mechanisms of action, long-term effects and risks, marketing issues (dietary supplements or drugs), and comparison to synthetic drugs for the same indications. Containing many updated references, Hypericum will be of immense value to those involved in industry and academia alike, including researchers, producers, processors, importers and end users.

Book Biotechnology and Sustainable Agriculture 2006 and Beyond

Download or read book Biotechnology and Sustainable Agriculture 2006 and Beyond written by Zhihong Xu and published by Springer. This book was released on 2010-10-19 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This timely work is a collection of papers presented at the XIth international congress of the International Association of Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology. It continues the tradition of the IAPTC&B in publishing the proceedings of its congresses. The work is an up-to-date report on the most significant advances in plant tissue culture and biotechnology as presented by leading international scientists. It will be crucial reading for agricultural scientists, among others.