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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.

  • Control Mechanisms in Developmental Processes

    • 1st Edition
    • Michael Locke
    • English
    Control Mechanisms in Developmental Processes covers the proceedings of the 1967 26th Symposium of The Society for Developmental Biology, held in La Jolla, California. This book is divided into three parts encompassing 10 chapters that summarize the role of cytoplasmic units and the nucleus in developmental processes and the regulatory mechanisms. The opening part of the book describes the chemical changes during the development of plastids in leaves of higher plants. The book goes on discussing the nuclear and cytoplasmic controls in Neurospora morphology. This compilation also examines the aspects of development, growth, and control in the basal bodies and flagella of Chlamydomonas reinhardii. The second part describes genetic systems in plants that serve to initiate or program the sequence in plant development and the life cycle of hybrids between somatic cells of different species. A chapter discusses the genetic basis of higher plant morphogenesis by analysis of the differences between genotypes that differ from each other with respect to a single gene having a pronounced and highly specific effect upon form. A discussion on the activation of protein synthesis upon fertilization and early development of animal eggs to the biochemical basis of the determination process is also included. The concluding part deals with the differentiation of erythroid cells; the induction of hemoglobin synthesis; the regulation of heme and globin synthesis; and the role of heme in the synthesis and assembly of hemoglobin. This part also describes the differentiation of cells to the point where they can perform the various types of immunological reactions. This book is an invaluable source for developmental biologists and researchers.
  • Fungal Wilt Diseases of Plants

    • 1st Edition
    • Marshal Mace
    • English
    Fungal Wilt Diseases of Plants focuses on wilt diseases caused by the fungal genera Verticillium, Fusarium, and Ceratocystis. Special attention is given to the interactions of physiological, biochemical, and anatomical factors, as these relate to pathogenesis and mechanisms of disease resistance. Organized into 16 chapters, this book begins with a description, in a historical perspective, of the major research themes in fungal wilt diseases. It then looks into the worldwide status of this plant disease. The three subsequent chapters describe the epidemiology and life cycle of the major fungal wilt pathogens in Fusarium, Verticillium, and Ceratocystis. This book also provides an in-depth view of the genetics and biochemistry of these pathogens; the nature of pathogenesis and the effects of wilt pathogens on host-water relations; and the sources and genetics of host resistance in field and fruit crops, vegetable crops, and shade trees. Other chapters are dedicated to the biochemistry, physiology, and the anatomical aspects of resistance and to the progress in the biological and chemical control of these pathogens. This text will be of great value to graduate students and senior research scientists in plant pathology, physiology, and biochemistry, who are specifically involved in studying wilt diseases and host-parasite interactions. It will provide them the detailed background information needed to supplement their specialized research interests.
  • Metabolic Basis of Detoxication

    Metabolism of Functional Groups
    • 1st Edition
    • William B. Jakoby
    • English
    Metabolic Basis of Detoxication: Metabolism of Functional Groups considers the possible fates of the relatively circumscribed number of functional groups that xenobiotics bear. An understanding of the possible reactions, and the chemical and biological factors influencing them, will contribute to the overall predictability of the fate of "real" molecules. This approach attempts to knit together the understanding of metabolic pathways with that of the enzymes that catalyze the specific steps. The book contains 18 chapters and begins with a discussion of the biological oxidation of carbon atoms. This is followed by separate chapters on the metabolism of halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, aryl halides, heterocyclic rings, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones. Subsequent chapters cover oxidative processes such as metabolic dealkylations and biological oxidation at nitrogen centers; the reduction of nitro and azo compounds and tertiary amine N-oxides; the oxidation, alkylation, acylation, and glycosylation of mercaptans; epoxide metabolism; and conjugation of phenols. The book aims to inform and interest the pharmacologist and toxicologist concerning the biochemical aspects and to orient the biochemist to the pharmacological insights required in dealing with the metabolism of xenobiotics.
  • Plant Cold Hardiness and Freezing Stress

    Mechanisms and Crop Implications
    • 1st Edition
    • P.H. Li
    • English
    Plant Cold Hardiness and Freezing Stress: Mechanisms and Crop Implications, Volume 2 contains the proceedings of an International Seminar on Plant Cold Hardiness, held at the Sapporo Educational and Cultural Hall, Sapporo, Japan on August 11-14, 1981. Organized into five parts, this book aims to update the fundamental phenomena of plant cold acclimation and freezing behavior, to examine the hypotheses and ideas important to plant cold hardiness research, and to review the application of research findings for improving the quality of life. This volume particularly addresses the cold acclimation, freezing, and other temperature-related stresses in plants. Strategies for improving freezing survival are also presented. This volume will make an additional, significant contribution to researchers involved in understanding and planning research strategies for plant cold hardiness and for attenuating crop losses by frosts and severe winters.
  • Biology of Plant Litter Decomposition V2

    • 1st Edition
    • C.H. Dickinson
    • English
    Biology of Plant Litter Decomposition, Volume II is organized into two parts. The first part focuses on the organisms involved in plant litter decomposition, particularly, their structure and function. The second part deals with the environmental conditions under which breakdown occurs over the whole global surface. This volume separately considers terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. Furthermore, it describes two anthropocentric aspects: agriculture, with an emphasis on the importance of the saprophytic activity of plant pathogenic fungi, and the increasingly important composting of urban waste. This book will be invaluable to science students and instructors, as well as to biologists, botanists, marine ecologists.
  • The Computerized Greenhouse

    Automatic Control Application in Plant Production
    • 1st Edition
    • Bozzano G Luisa
    • English
    The aim of this book is to open up research areas in automatic control engineering for crop production systems in horticulture and agriculture, and to explain the principle ideas of advanced automatic control in plant production. The text includes detailed discussions of:- Fundamental systems engineering concepts- Modeling- Control for agricultural systems- Optimal control and its applications- Artificial intelligence for agricultural applications
  • Macromolecules Regulating Growth and Development

    • 1st Edition
    • Elizabeth Hay
    • English
    Macromolecules Regulating Growth and Development documents the proceedings of the 30th Symposium of the Society for Developmental Biology, held at the University of Washington in Seattle, June 17-19, 1971. The contributions made by researchers at the symposium are organized into three parts. Part I deals with regulatory factors in the selective growth of mammalian cells. It includes papers on the role of the cell surface in growth and transformation; the epidermal growth factor; and the role in regulation of tumor growth. Part II examines the formation and organization of plant cell walls and the plasma membrane. It presents studies on the origin and growth of cell surface components; synthesis and secretion of proteins in plant cells; and lipids and membrane structure. Part III deals with the organization and expression of genetic information. The contributions in this section include organization of DNA and proteins in mammalian chromosomes; total synthesis of transfer RNA genes; and biosynthesis of bacterial ribosomes.
  • Insect Biology in The Future

    VBW 80
    • 1st Edition
    • Michael Locke
    • English
    Insect Biology in the Future: ""VBW 80"" contains essays presented to Sir Vincent Wigglesworth during his 80th year. Wigglesworth is fairly designated as the founding father and remarkable leader of insect physiology. His papers and other works significantly contribute to this field of study. This book, dedicated to him, underlines the value of insect material in approaching a wide spectrum of biological issues. The essays in this book tackle the insects' physiology, including their evolution and dominance. The papers also discuss the various avenues of water loss and gain as interrelated components of overall water balance in land arthropods. This reference suggests possible areas for further research mainly at the whole animal level. It also describes the fat body, hemolymph, endocrine control of vitellogenin synthesis, reproduction, growth, hormones, chemistry, defense, and survival of insects. Other topics of importance include cell communication and pattern formation in insects; plant-insect interaction; and insecticides.
  • Physiological Mammalogy V2

    • 1st Edition
    • William Mayer
    • English
    Physiological Mammalogy, Volume II: Mammalian Reactions to Stressful Environments deals with natural mammalian populations and their adaptations to stressful environments. The book explores the physiology and morphology of reproduction and development; water metabolism; and hibernation. This volume is organized into three chapters and begins with a discussion of aspects of reproduction and embryology that are purely mammalian, emphasizing the mammalian reproductive organs and the evolutionary trends in such organs. The next chapter focuses on water balance in desert rodents. Inasmuch as reproduction is considerably affected by the environment, it also can be considered a process modified by environmental stresses. The final chapter examines hibernation as a mechanism for mammals to avoid periods of unfavorable environment. This chapter also describes the poikilothermic state of mammalian populations during hibernation, along with the consequences of reduced metabolic rate during hibernation. Experimental animal biologists and those who work with mammals will find this book invaluable.
  • Trace Elements in Soil-Plant-Animal Systems

    • 1st Edition
    • D Nicholas
    • English
    Trace Elements in Soil–Plant–Animal Systems discusses the adverse effects or the essentiality of trace elements in soil, plants, and animals under field and laboratory conditions. The book explores the chemistry, biochemistry, and physics of the availability of trace elements to several organisms, as well as their functions in cell metabolism. Organized into six parts encompassing 24 chapters, the book starts with an overview of the chain of events whereby trace elements are released from different soil and rock sources. The trace elements are then taken up by living organisms, transferred to their sites of action, and function in different metabolic events. The text explores how the trace elements occur in various chemical compounds with varying solubilities. Other chapters explore the principles governing the distribution of elements in minerals and igneous rocks. The final chapter deals with trace element disorders in living organisms. The book is a valuable resource to physicists, chemists, biochemists, geochemists, mineralogists, agriculturists, pedologists, scientists, researchers, and students.