Applied and Fundamental Aspects of Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture

Book excerpt: Progress in the field of plant cell and tissue culture has made this area of research one of the most dynamic and promising not only in plant physiology, cell biology and genetics but also in agriculture, forestry, horticulture and industry. Studies with plant cell cultures clearly have bearing upon a variety of problems as yet unsolved in basic and applied research. This was the compelling reason for assembling such a comprehensive source of information to stimulate students, teachers, and research workers. This book comprises 34 articles on regeneration of plants, vegetative propagation and cloning; haploids; cytology, cytogenetics and plant breeding; protoplasts, somatic hybridization and genetic engineering; plant pathology; secondary products and a chapter on isoenzymes, radiobiology, and cryobiology of plant cells. Particular attention has been paid to modern , fast-growing and fascinating disciplines - e.g. the induction of haploids, somatic hybridization and genetic manipulation by protoplast culture, which possess an enormous potential for plant improvement.