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~AFKOV~[-BALATKOV~,V., HRAB~TOV~, E., TuP~, J.: Effect of some mineral ions on pollen tube growth and release of proteins in culture. -- Biol. Plant. 22 : 294--302, 1980. ~APKOV~, V., I-IRABf~TOV~,E., TUP~, J., 15,fHov-(, L.: Amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in cultured tobacco pollen. --" Biochem. Physiol. Pfianzen 178 : in press. MARTIn, T. E.: A simple general method to determine the proportion of active ribosomes in eucaryotic cells. -- Exp. Cell Res. 80 : 496--498, 1973. MASCAR~.XHAS, J. P.: The biochemistry of angiosperm pollen development. -- Bet. Rev. 41 : 259--314, 1975. MASCARENHAS,J. P., BELL, E. : R N A synthesis during development of the male ga,metophyte of Tradescantia. - - Dev. Biol. 21 : 475--490, 1970. STANLEY, R. G., L I ~ s ~ x s , H. F.: Pollen. Biology, Biochemistry, Management. -- Springer Verlag, Berlin-- Heidelberg -- New York 1974. STEFFENSEI~, D. M. : Synthesis of ribosomal R N A during growth and division in L i l i u m . - - Exp. Cell Res. 44 : 1-- 12, 1966. SITNDERLAN~D, N., DUI~WELL, J. 1~r Anther and pollen culture. -- In: STJa~.~.T, H. E. (ed.): P l a n t Tissue and Cell Culture. Pp. 223--586. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford 1978. Si#ss, J., TyPe, J.: Kinetics of uridine uptake and incorporation into RNA in tobacco pollen culture. -- Biol. Plant. 24 : 72--79, 1982. TuP~, J.: R N A synthesis and polysome formation in pollen tubes. -- Biol. Plant. 19 9 300--308, 1977. Tub'S, J.: Alterations in polya~lenylated RN'A during pollen maturation and germination. -Biol. Plant. 24 : 331--340, 1982.

BOOK R E V I E W I~[EI~EL, K., KIRKBY, E. A.: PRII~'CIPLES OF PLAINT NUTRITIO1F. 3rd Edition. -- International Potash Institute, Worblaufen--Bern 1982. 655 pp. One importaat a~pect of production of more and better food is t h a t o f plant nutrition as high p r o d u c t i v i t y can only be achieved if plants are properly fed. Therefore it is not surprising t h a t the theoretical as well as practical research of plant nutrition is extended all over the world and the excellent book from this field reached its third edition in four years. This book presents a wide spectrum of topics from soil science, plant physiology and biochemistry. Essential are the chapters of the general character dealing with the definition and classification of nutrients, the physieo-ehemieal properties of soils, the nutrient availability, uptake and distribution in plants, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and sulphur assimilation, plant-water relations, effect of nutrition on growth, principles of fertilizers application. The further chapters are specialized in individual elements: nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum, boron and so on. They are similarly arranged: occurrence of the element in soil, its uptake, translocation, assimilation, metabolic functions, deficiency symptoms, crop requirement, fertilizers and applications. The book is perfectly compiled, The text illustrated with m a n y figures and tables is so well understandable t h a t the book can be used as the text-book for advanced students and on the other hand a detailed survey of all the discussed topics (more t h a n 1700 references) is quite sufficient for specialists in this field. The t e x t of this third edition was revised and updated so t h a t covers the literature up to the end of 1981. JA~CA POSPI$ILOVA[ ( P r a h a )

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SCH~IDT, W.: UNGEST{)RTE UND GELENKTE SUKZESSION AUF BRACH~.CKERN. Scripta Geobotaniea 15. -- Erich Goltze Verlag, GSttingen 1981. 199 pp., 39 + 59 figs., 73 tabl. DM 40,--. I n recent years the a t t e n t i o n of ecologists has been concentrated on the s t u d y of vegetation succession on desolate fields. Dec. Schmidt's publication brings very extensive a n d expert results of 10 years' study (1969--1978) of overgrowing of desolate fields in the area of the new botanical garden of the GSttingen University (3450 m2). Changes in specific composition of vegetation, cover of the individual species, changes in life forms, sociologie groups of the individual plots, and in the way of spreading of plants have been studied as well as production a n d some pedologic characteristics, partly on plots without intervention, i.e. with undisturbed succession, partly on plots affected b y cultivation (ploughing, cutting, fertilizing, shading). I n 10 years a n enormous a m o u n t of d a t a has been gathered (for example 1660 vegetation photographs) which are precisely a n d clearly statistically treated. Their synthetic evaluation is carried out with unusual thoroughness (e.g. ecologic and dynamic behaviour of different species is interesting) so t h a t succession trends on the plots studied are very prominent. I t is espechtlly valuable t h a t in synoptic tables in the appendix the author gives all the measured p r i m a r y d a t a so t h a t they can be used also for other purposes (e.g. for comparison with similar experiments). The book is useful to all ecologists, especially to those who are interested in vegetation dynamics. I t brings m a n y concrete data and conclusions which show the impact of h u m a n interference on the sttccession development of vegetation a n d its environment. JIi~INA SLAVIKOV~ (Praha)

GASPAR, T., PENEL, C., THORPE, T., GREPPIN, H.: PEROXIDASES 1970--1980. A Survey of t h e i r Biochemical a n d Physiological Roles in Higher Plants. -- Universit6 de Geneva -- Centre de Botanique, Geneva 1982. 324 pp., SF 45.--. Wide distribution and multiplicity of forms a n d functions made of peroxidase the most extensively examined enzyme in plants. This book brings together the references of a b o u t 1600 articles concerned with peroxidases, t h a t have appeared during the last decade a n d provides a critical review covering in 7 chapters all aspects of our knowledge of the enzyme. The discussion on enzyme biochemistry deals with the problem of chemical structure a n d of formation a n d catalytic mechanisms of various peroxidase compounds, with specific peroxidase reactions, especially with peroxidase implication in indole-3-acetic acid degradation, lignine biosynthesis a n d ethylene formation, and finally provides a survey of different types of peroxidases h a v i n g a particular affinity for specific substrates. Studies involving isoperoxidases are complicated b y a n u m b e r of difficulties related to peroxidase extraction, fractionation a n d detection which cast some doubt as to the real nature and significance of the large n u m b e r of peroxidase isoforms found in most plants. A summary of reports on cellular localization of peroxidase shows a surprisingly large n u m b e r of plant cell parts exhibiting peroxidase activity, the highest activities being associated with the endocellular membrane system a n d the cell wall. They are, however, several sources of artifacts and misinterpretations, such as a redistribution of peroxidases due to mechanical injury a n d the presence of m a n y inhibitors of peroxidase activity. Similar sources of error together with extreme variation of the stability of m R N A for peroxidase complicate investigations of peroxidase biosynthesis. They are indications t h a t besides transcription a n d translation, different post-translational events present a n i m p o r t a n t step in the control of peroxidase activity. Of m a n y physiological reactions mediated directly or indirectly b y pcroxidases, five major areas of their implication are examined in detail: control of auxin level, lignin formation, cell wall biosynthesis, participation in defense mechanisms against pathogens, and in some respiratory and light mediated processes. The potential practical exploitation of peroxidase and its isozyme forms is considered from different aspects, such as genetic research, phylogenetic studies a n d possibilities of rapid indication of sex expression, ploidy status, ripening and senescence, different physiological stresses, a n d plant responses to pollutants. This clearly presented review together with the exhaustive bibliography section and three indexes {author names, subjects and organisms) make the book an invaluable source of rapid information on the topic it covers.

d. TuP~ (Praha)

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239

B ~ V ~ E , W., L ~ , A., TA~rm:~T, H. : PFLANZENANATOMISCHESPRAKTIKUM II. Einffihrung in den Bau, das Fortpflanzungsgeschehen und die Ontogenetie der niederen Pflanzen und die Embryologie der Spermatophyta. Zweite, fiberarbeitete Auflage. -- VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, J e n a 1982. 426 S. 135 Abb. DDR 37,-- M. Ausland 45,-- M. Die erste Aufiage dieses Buches ist im Jahre 1976 unter dem Titel ,,Praktikum zur Morphologic und Entwicklungsgeschichte der Pflanzen" erschienen. Die Neuauflage ist ~hnlich wie die erste Auflage eine praktische Einfiihrung zur Morphologie und zu den Entwicklunszyklen der niederen Pflanzen (Bakterien, Blaualgen, Algen, Pilze, Flechten, Moos- und Farnpflanzen) und eine Anleltung zur selbst~ndigen Erarbeitung der Embryologie der Samenpflanzen (mit Anhang fiber Mitese und Mei~)se). Der Text der Neuauflage wurde dem Erkenntnisfortschritt angepasst und an versehiedenen Stellen gestrafft, einige neue Abbildungen wurden hinzugefiigt. Jedes Kapitel wird mit einer allgemeinen Charakteristik der systematischen Gruppe eingeleitet. Es folgt eine ~ b e r s i e h t fiber das System -- eine Bestimmungshilfe, die erleichtern soU die vorgeschlagenen Objekte in natfirliehen Populationen aufzufinden, und dann Anleitungen zu einzelnen praktischen Aufgaben und Beobachtungen. Die Anleitungen sind sehr sorgfaltig zusammengestellt worden, besonders wertvoll sind die Anffihrung m6glicher Fehlorquellen und deren Behebung. I n diesem Zusammenhang sell auch noch das am Ende des Buches st~hende Methodenregister erw~hnt werden, welches die einzelnen Handhabungen, Substanzen resp. Begriffe in alphabetischer Anordnung erl~utert. Ausser dem Methodenregister enth~lt das Buch ein Pflanzen- und ein Sachregister und ein kurzes Verzeichnis yon weiterffihrender Literatur (Auswahl yon Praktika und technischen Anleitungen). Der Text des Buches ist sehr fibersichtlich gegliedert und ist mit 753 Teilbildern in 135 Abbildungen (Mikrofotografien, Zeichnungen) und Randleistenschemata auf 63 Seiten wirklich reich illustriert, wie es sich ffir ein pfianzenanatomisches Praktikum gehSrt. Dem gestellten Ziel des Bandes ,,zu helfen, mit einfachen Methoden elementare Informationen fiber die Objekte des Pflanzenreiches durch eigene Anschauung und durch praktischen Umgang mit den Organismen zu gewinnen" entspricht der I n h a l t des Buehes bestens. E s wird bes t i m m t zusammen .m~t dora Pflanzenanatomischen Praktikum I (1979) derselben Autoren, welches eino ~,hnliche Anleitung zum Studinm der Anatomic der hSheren Pflanzen bringt (Besprochung siehe Biol. Plant. 22 : 204, 1980), zum unentbehrlichen Behelf ffir viele Studenten und P~,dagogen werden. I~Ga~D TICH/, (Praha)

INDUCED MUTATIOI~'S I~r VEGETATI~rELY PROPAGATED PLANTS II. (Proceedings of the Final Co-ordination Meeting, Coimbatore, 11 -- 15 February 1980). International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1979, 310 pp. 6S 520,--. Vegetatively propagated plants are particularly suited to the application of modern breeding methods, as can be seen from the steadily increasing number of induced m u t a n t s t h a t are being put on the market. This publication reports on the results of the Final Co-ordination Meeting of the 8-year programme on the Improvement of Vegetatively Propagated Crops and Tree Crops Through Induced Mutations. The research was organized and sponsered by the Joint F A O / I A E A Division. Previous meetings were held in J a p a n 1974, Netherlands 1976 and Polland 1978. The aims of the co-ordinated research were to develop techniques for the induction, selection and utilization of mutants of vegetatively propagated plants. I t is important for the improvement of vegetatively propagated plants to establish a procedure for raising new clones from desirable portions of the chimera induced through mutations. I n vitro culture of m u t a n t tissues for regenerating new plants seems to be a successful way. This is documented by the papers dealing with the in vitro techniques applied in mutation breeding of ornamental plants, of potato, fruit trees, further in banana, sugar-cane etc. Several papers deal with the induction of m u t a n t s of agronomic importance (plant size reduction, early ripening, fruit colour change, resistance to disease, compact growth etc.) in cherry, grape, olive, apple and others. An early ripening type and a nectarine type m u t a n t have been induced in peach. Many mutants induced in ornamental plants have been released for commercial use. Papers on the induction of mutations in sugar-cane, forage grasses, sweet potato and mulberry are also included. The publication is concluded by the final review of the co-ordinated research programme and by a useful table for converting common units to SI equivalents. Readership: plant breeders and geneticists, T. GICH~R (Praha)

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PLANT, D. W., REIMERS, N. J., ZII~DER, ~'. D. (ed.): PATEI~TII~(~ OF LIFE FORMS. Banbury Report 10. -- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1982. 337 pp. Cloth $ 65.00 (outside USA $ 78.00). The discovery and utilization of two natural phenomena in bacteria have made the molecular gone manipulation possible. First, circles of double-strand DNA (plasmids) were found which replicated independently of the bacterial chromosome. Second was the isolation of a class of bacterial enzymes, restriction endonucleases, which recognize a particular short sequence of DNA and cleave the double-stranded DIqA within this sequence. In 1980, the United States Supreme Court decided t h a t microorganisms, created b y genetic manipulation techniques, could be patented along with processes for making or using such microorganisms, This led to a strong need for a meeting between biologists, engaged in genetic engineering and p a t e n t lawyers. Such a meeting occurred in Cold Spring Harbor in 1981. This book, which represents the proceedings of the Banbury 10 Symposium, can be divided into 2 main parts. The first part, under the heading: "Scientific issues" includes reviews on DNA recombinant techniques used to insert new genes into bacterial cells, on monoclonal antibodies, on hybridomas in cancer research and on transfer of the insulin gone into the germ line of mice. The second main part of the book, under the heading: "Legal issues" is opened by an overview: " P a t e n t i n g the results of genetic engineering research" presented by A. P. Halluin. The paper presents a historical background of U.S. patents in the field of microbiology. One of the first patents was granted to L. Pasteur and included a claim to a pure culture of yeasts. A list of selected bioteehnology patents is also presented. Other interesting papers dealing with legal questions: Speculations on proprietary rights and biotechnology (T. D. Kiley), Arc the fruits of genetic engineering patentable ? (B. Rowland), Primer on law, patents and other intellectual property (D. W. Plant). As in all previous Banbury Reports, each session is concluded b y an informal discussion. The Banbury Report 10 provides a valuable guidance as set down by experts, both geneticists and lawyers, who were brought together for a debate on all aspects of patenting the results of genetic engineering research. T. GICH~CEE (Praha)

NICOLINI, C. (ed.): CELL GROWTH. -- Plenum Press, New Y o r k - - L o n d o n 1982. 821 pp. US $ 75,00. Cell studies by microscopy, known as cytology, have been joined with biochemical, genetic and physiological studies to produce the modern discipline of cell biology. This book, edited in a tutorial format, is a result of a course of the International School in Pure and Applied Biostrueture held in Erice, Sicily 1980, with participants from 16 different countries. The main attention is devoted to the search of the molecular-cellular mechanisms regulating cell growth, differentiation and ultimately cancer. The opening lecture given b y D. Mazia presents a perspective review on the cell cycle. This is followed b y a section " W h a t is a cell?" with lectures on the structure of the eukaryotic cell. The second section under the heading: "Cell Probes" is mainly devoted to methods used in cell studies, e.g. immunocytological, immunoenzymatie, autoradiographic, flow and scanning eytometry techniques. The lectures in the 3rd section are focussed on the cell cycle and on mitotic division processes t h a t lead to new cell generations, and on other cell activities t h a t accompany the reproductive events. Topics discussed include chromatin structure, protein and R N A synthesis, regulation of histone gone expression etc. I n recent years there has been a considerable infusion of basic cell biology into medical research and even into clinical practice. The concluding 2 sections: "Normal versus abnormal cell growth" and "Cell kinetics and clinical applications" are a clear demonstration of such efforts. This international state-of-the-art source book provides a great wealth of new knowledge of the growing and reproducing ceils. That the authors are distinguished contributors themselves makes the paper more insightful t h a n the usual review articles. T. GmmCgR (Praha)