Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Volume 6: Molecular Biology of Plant Nuclear Genes focuses on the spectacular and rapid advances in the molecular biology and genetics of plants. This book consists of 19 chapters. Chapters 1 to 5 describe the most commonly used approaches for the genetic transformation of plants. The light-inducible and tissue-organ-specific genes are discussed in Chapters 6 to 11. In Chapters 12 to 14, the genes regulating phytohormone synthesis, heat shock proteins, and nodulation in legume roots are treated, while in Chapters 15 to 16, the relationship between chromatin structure and gene expression and molecular biology of plant RNA viruses are analyzed. The development of transgenic plants resistant to viruses, insects, and herbicides is dealt with in the last three chapters. This volume is suitable for plant molecular biologist, genetic engineers, and researchers concerned with plant cell and tissue culture.

In the preface to the first edition ofthis book, we expressed a conviction that there was a need for a short book that highlighted important advances in the new discipline of plant molecular biology. The rapid development of this topic has been brought about by the recognition of the unique properties of plants in the study of growth and development together with the application of recombinant DNA techniques to tackle these problems. Plant cells contain DNA in nuclei, plastids and mitochondria, and so offer the unique challenge of studying the interaction of three separate genetic systems in a single organism. The molecular approach has provided, in recent years, a wealth of important information about how plants function, and how they interact with bacteria, fungi and viruses. Furthermore, plant development involves the regulation of gene expression in response to intern al and external signals, and plant molecular biology has provided a fundamental insight into how this development is regulated. This is not only of considerable scientific interest, but also has important implications for the production of plants and plant products in agriculture, horticulture and the food industries.

This text, concisely sets out the fundamentals required by students in this rapidly growing field. Plant Molecular Genetics is split into four parts: the first deals with the structure and inheritance of plant genomes; the second with the biology of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and its use in plant transformation; the third with key topics in plant molecular biology, including nitrogen fixation, the effect of light on plant development, flowering, breeding systems and disease resistance. The final section provides an overview of plant biotechnology, including a discussion of its future prospects.

This volume contains the presentations of the principal speakers at the NATO Advanced Study Institute held at Porto Portese, Italy,23 August - 2 September, 1982. This meeting was the third in a series devoted to the molecular biology of plants. The initial meeting was held in Strasbourg, France in 1976 (J. Weil and L. Bogorad, organizers), and the second in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1979 (C. Leaver, organizer). As in these previous meetings, we have attempted to cover the major topics of plant molecular biology so as to promote the integration of information emerging at an accelerating rate from the various sub-disciplines of the field. In addition, we have introduced several topics, unique to higher plants, that have not yet been approached with the tools of molec ular biology, but that should present new and important aspects of plants amenable to study in terms of DNA -+ RNA -+ Protein. This meeting also served to inaugerate the new International Society for Plant Molecular Biology. The need for this society is, like the NATO meetings themselves, an indication of the growth, vitalitv and momentum of this field of research.

The purpose of this book is to present classical plant development in modern, molecular-genetic terms. The study of plant development is rapidly changing as plant genome projects uncover a multitude of new genes. This book provides a framework for integrating gene discovery and genome analysis into the context of plant development. Molecular Genetics of Plant Development is designed to be used as a text-book for upper-division or graduate courses in plant development. The book will also serve as a reference book for scientists in the field of plant molecular biology or plant molecular genetics. The book is also useful for general development courses in which both animal and plant development are presented.