BOOK REVIEW Soltis, D.E., Soltis, P.S. (ed.): lsozymes in Plant Biology. (Advances in Plant Sciences Series, Vol.4). - Dioscorides Press, Portland 1989. 268 pp. The book summarizes our knowledge in the field of occurrence of isozymes in plant tissue, of its genetic background, of genetic structure of plant populations and of the importance of isozyme spectra for evolution and taxonomic studies. The first chapter "Visualization and Interpretation of Plant Isozymes" brings detailed description of eleetrophoretic separation of isozymes and detection methods for 38 enzymes most otten studied in plants. The second chapter "Genetics of Plant Isozymes" brings data on isozyme number, subceUular localization and quartenary structure of 31 enzymes. Further on, gene duplication, polyploidy and linkage conservation are discussed. The further two chapters describe behavior of some.isozyme systems in mating and their possible use in analysis of genomic structure of plant populations ("Isozyme Analysis of Plant Mating Systems", "Isozymes an the Analysis of Genetic Structure in Plant Populations"). An approach to study strategies of colonizing plants based on studies of isozyme variation is also described ("Isozyme Variation in Colonizing Plants"). Isozyme variation may also correlate with physiological and demographic variations. Another field, where isozyme analyses are extensively being used is plant systematies and also, in connection with this field, in evolutionary studies ("Enzyme Electrophoresis and Plant Systematics", "Isozymic Evidence and the Evolution of Crop Plants"). Chapter "Isozyme Analysis of Tree Fruits" brings an example how isozymic spectra may be used for recognizing cultivars. Isozymes may be also used as markers for studying and manipulating quantitative traits, as e.g. time of maturity, plant height, number of tillers, number of seeds etc. Last ~vo chapters deal with isozymie systems in Bryophytes and Pteridophytes and deal mainly with systematic and evolutionary implications. In conclusion, the book brings an overview, what isozymic systems represent from the genetic, evolutionary and systematics point of view and in which fields the analysis of isozymes may be of benefit. Thus, it can be recommended to plant biologists interested in systematies, evolution and population genetics. I. MACFIA(~KOVA(Praha)

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