A great fascination for biologists, the study of embryo development provides indispensable information concerning the origins of the various forms and structures that make up an organism, and our ever-increasing knowledge gained through the study of plant embryology promises to lead to the development of numerous useful applications. In Plant Embryo Culture: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers from the field provide a ready source of information for culturing zygotic embryos for different types of studies, both theoretical and practical. The book’s main sections examine a wide range of related topics, including the culture of zygotic embryos for developmental studies, the application of embryo culture techniques focusing on embryo rescue methods, cryopreservation of zygotic embryos, the use of zygotic embryos as explants for somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis, as well as transformation protocols using zygotic embryos as starting material. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, the detailed chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and vital notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and convenient, Plant Embryo Culture: Methods and Protocols serves as a key reference that can be used by scientists of all backgrounds to help develop their own customized methods for many different species and for a variety of purposes.

The resource of useful tree species: identification of priorities for domestication; Techniques to domesticate trees; Regeneration of new forest resources; Case studies.

This book provides a solid scientific basis for researchers, practitioners and students interested in the application of genetic principles to tropical forest ecology and management. It presents a concise overview of genetic variation, evolutionary processes and the human impact on forest genetic resources in the tropics. In addition, modern tools to assess genetic diversity patterns and the dynamics of genetic structures are introduced to the non-specialist reader.

Features the proceedings of a Joint Work Conference, held in Mutare, Zimbabwe, 9-14 April 1984, by IUFRO Working Parties (Tropical species provenances).

It has become apparent, during discussions with students and colleagues in forest genetics, that a universal concern is the achievement of diverse goals of forestry from fiber production in industrial as well as farm forests to conserving forest ecosystems. Although we generally have several breeding methods available and several species to breed, we seek to satisfy multiple-use goals on diverse sites by management techniques that at best can only partially control edaphic environmental variation. The dominant approach, which was agriculturally motivated, has involved inten sive effort with complicated breeding plans on single species for uniform adaptability and single-product plantations. However, this is obviously neither the only, nor necessarily the best, solution for the genetic management of tree species, and thus our intent in this volume is to develop ways to achieve multiple objectives in tree breeding. We include an array of breeding plans from simple iterated designs to sets of multiple populations capable of using gene actions for different traits in different environments for uncertain futures. The presentation is organized around the development of breeding from single-to multiple-option plans, from single to multiple traits, from single to mUltiple environ ments, and from single to multiple populations. However, it is not a complete "How To" book, and includes neither exercises nor instructions on data handling. It also does not include discussion of all modes of reproduction and inheritance encountered in plants.

Reproductive Ecology of Tropical Forest Plants reviews recent developments in the reproductive ecology of tropical forest plants and explores the implications of current findings on forest structure, function, management, and conservation. It examines how insights gained from reproductive ecology can be helpful in the management of tropical forest resources and discusses directions of future research.