Biochemistry and Physiology of Herbicide Action


Book Description

Herbicides are part of modern agricultural production systems and therefore contribute significantly to the economy of agricultural products. At the same time, herbicides are potent and specific inhibitors of plant metabolism and may therefore be used as valuable tools in basic plant physiological research. A well-known example is the photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicide diuron, known to plant physiologists as DCMU, which has become one of the essentials in modern photosynthesis research. Similarly, knowledge in other areas of plant metabolism may be advanced by the use of herbicides as specific inhibitors. This book describes the effects of herbicides on the metabolism of higher plants from the viewpoint of the plant physiologist. The material of this book is therefore, as far as possible, divided into areas of metabolism. This book intends (1) to present the reader with current knowledge and views in the area of herbicide modes of action and (2) to promote the future use of herbicides as metabolic inhibitors in plant physiological research to the advantage of both, the pesticide and the plant sciences. I wish to express my thanks to my colleagues and friends Prof. N. Amrhein, Prof. E. Elstner, Dr. L. Eue, Dr. J. Konze, Dr. K. Liirssen, Dr. W.Oettmeier, Dr. H. Quader, Dr. R. R. Schmidt, Dr. R. H. Shimabukuro, Dr. J. Stetter, Prof.




Biology of Composts


Book Description

This book highlights the latest findings on fundamental aspects of composting, the interaction of various microorganisms, and the underlying mechanisms. In addition to addressing modern tools and techniques used for composting research, it provides an overview of potential composting applications in both agriculture and environmental reclamation. Composting is the process of organic waste decomposition, mediated by microorganisms. The end-product is called ‘compost’ and can be used as a supplement to improve soil fertility. As the municipal waste generated in most developing countries contains a substantial amount of organic matter suitable for composting, this technology offers a win-win opportunity for stakeholders in terms of disposing of organic waste and providing organic fertilizers for agriculture. In addition, using compost reduces the dependency on harmful chemical fertilizers, and represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative.




Termite Abstracts


Book Description







Plant-pathogen Interactions


Book Description

Plant diseases are destructive and threaten virtually any crop grown on a commercial scale. They are kept in check by plant breeding strategies that have introgressed disease resistance genes into many important crops, and by the deployment of costly control measures, such as antibiotics and fungicides. However, the capacity for the agents of plant disease - viruses, bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes - to adapt to new conditions, overcoming disease resistance and becoming resistant to pesticides, is very great. For these reasons, understanding the biology of plant diseases is essential for the development of durable control strategies. Plant-Pathogen Interactions provides and overview of our current knowledge of plant-pathogen interactions and the establishment of plant disease, drawing together fundamental new information on plant infection mechanisms and host responses. The role of molecular signals, gene regulation, and the physiology of pathogenic organisms are emphasized, but the role of the prevailing environment in the conditioning of disease is also discussed. Emphasizing the broader understanding that has emerged from the use of molecular genetics and genomics, Plant-Pathogen Interactions highlights those interactions that have been most widely studied and those in which genome information has provided a new level of understanding.




Techniques in Pheromone Research


Book Description

Insects as a group occupy a middle ground in the biosphere between bacteria and viruses at one extreme, amphibians and mammals at the other. The size and general nature of insects present special problems to the student of entomology. For example, many commercially available instruments are geared to measure in grams, while the forces commonly encountered in studying insects are in the milligram range. Therefore, techniques developed in the study of insects or in those fields concerned with the control of insect pests are often unique. Methods for measuring things are common to all sciences. Advances sometimes depend more on how something was done than on what was measured; indeed a given field often progresses from one technique to another as new methods are discovered, developed, and modified. Just as often, some of these techniques find their way into the classroom when the problems involved have been suffi ciently ironed out to permit students to master the manipulations in a few lab oratory periods. Many specialized techniques are confined to one specific research laboratory. Although methods may be considered commonplace where they are used, in another context even the simplest procedures may save considerable time. It is the purpose of this series (1) to report new developments in methodology, (2) to reveal sources of groups who have dealt with and solved particular entomo logical problems, and (3) to describe experiments which may be applicable for use in biology laboratory co~rses.




Actinomycetes in Biotechnology


Book Description

The actinomycetes are a group of bacteria well known as producers of antibiotics. With the advent of molecular biology they have become important to biotechnologists in the search for new antibiotics, vitamins, enzyme inhibitors, etc. They also play an important role in the biodegradation of wastes, and their wide (natural) distribution in soil, composts, water and elsewhere in the environment makes them important to the agricultural and waste industries. This research book presents a broad view of the current interest in actinomycetes, ranging from isolation/screening of actinomycetes, discovery of new antibiotics, a substantial contribution on genetic manipulation to actinomycetes in agriculture, forestry, and the threat of actinomycetes as pollutants in the environment.The chapters, which have been written by experts, are intended to provide a balanced view of the opportunities and problems in an expanding field of interest.




Industrial Exploitation of Microorganisms


Book Description

This book embodies 21 review articles contributed by subject experts of various areas of industrial microbiology. The articles are devoted to pharma industries, food and enzyme industries, textile industry, agro-industry and cottage industry. Yeast is one of the important microorganisms which have been used to produce beverages, alcohols and fermented food commodities for a very long time. In recent years, it has been the first choice among eukaryotes to use in recombinant technology. Yeast and Spirulina are being used and marketed as Single Cell Protein (SCP). Mushrooms have been used by humans down the ages. In addition to a rich source of mycoprotein, they have medicinal values also against many ailments. Number of bioactive novel compounds is increasing with the discovery of microbial species and newer groups of microorganisms. Some chapters are devoted to microbial bioinoculants used as biofertilizers because they are rich source of nitrogen and phosphorus for both legumes and non-legumes. They are being manufactured and sold in market with different trade names. In addition, several microbial enzymes have been produced and commercialized by various industries, but highly active and potential enzymes produced through recombinant DNA technology hold much importance. For example, microbial proteases find application in detergent leather, food and pharma industries and provide eco-friendly technology for bioremediation. Laccase has been worked out to be a good tool for bioremediation of non-degradable wastes and xenobiotic chemicals. Besides, laccase-based biosensors have also been constructed which can be used for phenol determination, monitoring of lignin and plant flavonoids. Various microbial phytases as feed supplemented have been used in freshwater and marine aquaculture for improving the growth performance of fishes. Nowadays aquaculture is growing rapidly to meet increasing food demand throughout the world for high quality fish. More than 16,000 bioactive compounds have been isolated from actinomycetes alone including antibiotics, enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, siderophores and nanoparticles. Biosynthesis of nanoparticles by bacteria, actinomycetes and algae has been reported and work is being done nationally and internationally.