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Books in Agricultural and biological sciences

The Agricultural and Biological Sciences collection advances science-based knowledge for the improvement of animal and plant life and for secure food systems that produce nutritious, novel, sustainable foods with minimal environmental impact. Food Science titles include not only those products from agriculture but all other aspects from food production to nutrition, health and safety, chemistry to security, policy, law and regulation. Biological Sciences address animal behaviour and biodiversity, organismal and evolutionary biology, entomology, marine biology and aquaculture, plant science and forestry.

  • Tropical Forests

    Some African and Asian Case Studies of Composition and Structure
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 22
    • J. Borota
    • English
    This publication deals with the composition and structure of both natural and artificially established tropical forests. After a general introduction, the role of tropical forests in the production of timber is discussed. Attention is then given to the structure of natural tropical forests, especially in Congo, Gabon, Ghana and Laos. The structure of artificially established forests is dealt with in another chapter. At the end, information is given on the thinning of such forest stands in Tanzania.
  • Integument, Pigments, and Hormonal Processes

    Volume 9: Integument, Pigments and Hormonal Processes
    • 1st Edition
    • Dorothy E. Bliss
    • English
    The Biology of Crustacea is a comprehensive treatise, which should become the standard reference in its field. Incorporating the contributions of a distinguished international group of scientists, it encompasses the significant findings - including methods - in three general areas of crustacean research: systematics, morphology, evolution, and the fossil record; physiology, ecology, and behaviour; applied biology, including fisheries, mariculture, and pathology.The state-of-the-art presentations provide both background information and vital perspective. The complete set, and the individual volumes, will be of value to zoologists, marine biologists, fisheries biologists, physiologists, ecologists, environmentalists, endocrinologists, anatomists, neurobiologists, and paleontologists.
  • Soil Water Measurement, Plant Responses, and Breeding for Drought Resistance

    • 1st Edition
    • T.T. Kozlowski
    • English
    Water Deficits and Plant Growth, Volume IV: Soil Water Measurement, Plant Responses, and Breeding for Drought Resistance explores the physiological effects of water deficits on plants and their implications on crop yield, water use, and drought resistance. This book also considers drought-resistance measurements and their application to breeding programs. This volume is organized into eight chapters and begins with an overview of measurement of soil water content and the state of water in soils. Particular emphasis is placed on methods developed from technological advances. The next two chapters focus on the structure and functioning of stomata and stomatal conductance in control of gas exchange. The discussion then shifts to the effects of water supply on photosynthesis, leaf shedding, flow of latex, and nitrogen-fixing root nodules. The final chapter is a comprehensive treatment of plant breeding for drought resistance, emphasizing breeding and testing methods as well as parameters and application to breeding programs of drought resistance. This book is a valuable resource for scientists and investigators in fields such as botany, agronomy, forestry, agriculture, and biology.
  • Isozymes in Plant Genetics and Breeding

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 1A
    • English
    Developments in Plant Genetics and Breeding, 1A: Isozymes in Plant Genetics and Breeding, Part A focuses on the advancements in the processes, methodologies, and approaches involved in the study of isozymes, including its role in plant genetics and breeding. The selection first elaborates on the historical perspectives of plant isozymes, plant genetics, and isozyme systems to study gene regulation during development. Discussions focus on the use of isozyme and similar comparisons to study differential gene regulation, gene preservation, dissemination of cultivars, propagation of cultivars and breeding lines, and studies on the effect of viral infection and hormones on isozyme expression. The text then examines allozymes in gene dosage studies, gene mapping, and plastid isozymes. The manuscript takes a look at the genetics of mitochondrial isozymes, evolution of plant isozymes, and detection of somatic variation. Topics include evolution of isozymes in plants, generation of isozymes, glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamate-oxaloaceta... transaminase, and malate dehydrogenase. The text also ponders on enzyme activity staining, isozymic variation and plant breeders' rights, genetic purity of commercial seed lots, and use of isozymes in plant disease research. The selection is a valuable reference for researchers interested in the role of isozymes in plant genetics and breeding.
  • Low Temperature Stress In Crop Plants

    The Role of The Membrane
    • 1st Edition
    • James Lyons
    • English
    Low Temperature Stress in Crop Plants: The Role of the Membrane contains the proceedings of an international seminar on ""Low Temperature Stress in Crop Plants"" held at the East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, March 26-30, 1979. Organized into five parts, this book focuses on the fundamental mechanisms involved in the temperature response of crop plants. It examines the hypotheses related to the primary temperature sensor in crop plants and the mechanisms of low temperature injury. It also explores the genetic potential for cold resistance. Special topics related to the utilization of Arrhenius plots of the temperature response of plants are also discussed.
  • Physicochemical and Plant Physiology

    • 1st Edition
    • Park Nobel
    • English
    Physicochemical and Environmental Plant Physiology provides an understanding of various areas of plant physiology in particular and physiology in general. Elementary chemistry, physics, and mathematics are used to explain and develop concepts. The first three chapters of the book describe water relations and ion transport for plant cells. The next three chapters cover the properties of light and its absorption; the features of chlorophyll and the accessory pigments for photosynthesis that allow plants to convert radiant energy from the sun into chemical energy; and how much energy is actually carried by the compounds ATP and NADPH. The last three chapters consider the various forms in which energy and matter enter and leave a plant as it interacts with its environment. These include the physical quantities involved in energy budget analysis; the resistances affecting the movement of both water vapor and carbon dioxide in leaves; and the movement of water from the soil through the plant to the atmosphere.
  • Agricultural Ecology and Environment

    • 1st Edition
    • B.R. Stinner + 2 more
    • English
    The increased use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in crop production has adversely affected both the environment and the agricultural economy. Not only has it led to environmental pollution, but also the increasing costs of chemical inputs and the low prices received for agricultural products have contributed to economic unprofitability and instability.The International Symposium on Agricultural Ecology and Environment was organised in order to discuss ways of achieving the goals of economically and environmentally sustainable agriculture. It is apparent that a truly multidisciplinary effort is required and for this reason the meeting was attended by authors from many different disciplines and geographical locations. Although their papers reflect a wide diversity of agroecosystem types and examples, several common themes emerge: the increased importance of biotic control of ecosystem processes in lower input systems; the key role of soil organic matter in stabilizing nutrient cycling; the importance of agricultural landscape diversity and complexity; the importance of studying ecological processes in natural and agricultural ecosystems; the critical need to integrate socio-economic and ecological approaches.
  • Primate Ecology: Studies of Feeding and ranging Behavior in Lemurs, Monkey and apes

    • 1st Edition
    • T.H. Clutton-Brock
    • English
    Primate Ecology: Studies of Feeding and Ranging Behavior in Femurs, Monkeys and Apes describes the behavioral aspects of ecology, including activity patterning, food selection, and ranging behavior. The book is composed of 19 chapters; 17 of which are concerned with the ecology or behavior of particular social groups of primates, arranged in the taxonomic order of the species concerned. The final two chapters review some of the generalizations emerging from comparison of inter- and intraspecific differences in feeding and ranging behavior. The book aims to suggest areas of particular interest where research can be usefully developed.
  • Tropical Diseases of Legumes

    • 1st Edition
    • Julio Bird
    • English
    Tropical Diseases of Legumes consists of papers presented at a workshop held at Rio Piedras Agricultural Station, University of Puerto Rico, in June 1974. Legumes are group of plants that provide an important and often sole source of protein in the diet of millions of people. In the growing problem of hunger, there is an immediate need to raise the production of legumes through better knowledge of plant diseases, by ultimate prevention of these diseases, and through improved crop production. Consequently, a workshop is organized and the presented papers, grouped into four parts, are shown in this book. The first two parts describe the rugaceous and mosaic diseases. Bacterial diseases, chemical control, and ecology of pathogens are explained in the third part of this book. The last part explores the origin and improvement of the common bean, as well as its diseases in the tropical Americas. This book aims to provide a stimulating forum for discussion of the findings and observations in tropical legume disease research.
  • Plant Disease: An Advanced Treatise

    How Plants Defend Themselves
    • 1st Edition
    • James G. Horsfall
    • English
    Plant Disease An Advanced Treatise, Volume V: How Plants Defend Themselves describes the active, passive, physical, chemical, mechanical, and physiological defense systems of plants against the pathogens. Divided into 23 chapters, this volume discusses theories, experimental approaches, and ways to help plant defend themselves. The opening chapters of this volume deal with certain general aspects of plant defense, such as the theories of “tolerance to disease” and “the time sequence of defense”, including a dynamic model of defense. A chapter discusses how plant populations defend themselves in natural ecosystem and the implications of disease management on agroecosystems. Considerable chapters examine the defense by the host by analogy with defense of a medieval castle, such as perimeter, internal, and chemical defenses. Discussions on the defenses triggered by the invading pathogen; recognition and compatibility phenomena; the concept of hypersensitivity; the role of phytoalexins in defense; and the metabolic detoxification done by plants to suffer less damage from toxins are provided. This volume also discusses the theory and mechanisms of hypovirulence and hyperparasitism. The concluding chapters summarize the effects of numerous nutrients on disease and the mechanisms involved. This volume is an invaluable source for plant pathologists, mycologists, advanced researches, and graduate students.