Molecular Biology of Weed Control assesses the impact of the new tools of molecular biology on the science of weed control as well as the ways in which the science of weed control has helped and influenced molecular biology. Accentuating the utility of molecular biology to contribute to the control of intransigent weed species both in the developing and developed world, the book also looks to the future and describes how molecular biology can be used to diminish the use of chemical herbicides, and enhance crop competitiveness for light, nutrients and water. This volume is essential reading for all weed scientists, environmental students, researchers, and regulators.

Herbicide Resistance in Weeds and Crops is a collection of papers presented at the 11th Long Ashton International Symposium in September 1989. The said symposium is held to study about the increasing incidence of herbicide-resistant weeds and the consideration of the production of herbicide-resistant crops. The book includes studies that suggest the delay and prevention of herbicide resistance; the gravity of the infestation of different herbicide-resistant weed; the management of herbicide resistance; and the mechanisms of herbicide tolerance. Also covered in the book are the improvement of different herbicides, as well as the prospective development of genetically engineered herbicide-resistant plants. Botanists, biochemists, and farmers would greatly benefit from the text, especially those who would like to explore and study the phenomenon.

In recent decades, repeated use of herbicides in the same field has imposed selection for resistance in species that were formerly susceptible. On the other hand, considerable research in the private and public sectors has been directed towards introducing herbicide tolerance into susceptible crop species. The evolution of herbicide resistance, understanding its mechanisms, characterisation of resistant weed biotypes, development of herbicide-tolerant crops and management of resistant weeds are described throughout the 36 chapters of this book. It has been written by leading researchers based on the contributions made at the International Symposium on Weed and Crop Resistance to Herbicides held at Córdoba, Spain. This book will be a good reference source for research scientists and advanced students.

Edited by a recognized leader in the field, Herbicide-Resistant Crops is the first book to cover all of the issues related to the controversial topic of herbicide-resistant crops. It provides extensive discussions of the modern biotechnological methods that have been used to develop such crops, and reviews the implications - both positive and negative - of developing crops that are resistant to herbicides. The creation and anticipated applications of specific herbicide-resistant crops are also discussed. In addition, the book covers the potential impact of herbicide-resistant crops on weed management practices and the environment, and presents issues related to the regulation and economics of these crops. The editor has brought together a diverse group of professionals, representing the several distinct areas impacted by the new technology of herbicide-resistant crops. The wide range of viewpoints presented in this book creates a balanced and complete survey, providing a notable contribution to the literature.

This book provides a comprehensive and in-depth discussion on the development of herbicide resistance during the past 50 years, emphasizing the biochemical pathways of herbicide resistance in weeds. It discusses the principles of plant genetics, different methods of genetic engineering, makingof transgenic plants, various transgenic crops conferred with herbicide resistance, evolution of weed, problems subsequent to growing of transgenic crops, benefits and risks of growing transgenic crops, and management of transgenic crops. Packed with up-to-date information, the book includes relevant references, data, figures, and illustrations.

First attempts to isolate plant genes were for those genes that are abun dantly expressed in a particular plant organ at a specific stage of devel opment. However, many important gene products are produced in a very minute quantity and in specialized cell types. Such genes can now be isolated using a variety of approaches, some of which are described in this volume. The rapid progress during the last decade in regeneration of a number of crop plants and the availability of molecular tools to introduce foreign genes in plants is allowing the engineering of specific traits of agri cultural importance. These genes must, however, be regulated in a spatial and temporal manner in order to have desired effects on plant devel opment and productivity. The habitat of plants necessitate adaptive responses with respect to the environmental changes. Starting from germination of the seed, the plant begins to sense environmental cues such as moisture, light, temperature and the presence of pathogens, and begins to respond to them. Little is known about various signal transduction pathways that lead to biochemical and morphogenetic responses, in particular, transition from vegetative to reproductive phase. With the availability of tools to generate specific mutations via transposon tagging, identification and isolation of genes affecting these processes may be facilitated. Transfer of these genes into heterologous environments will allow understanding of the complex processes that control plant development.

The late 1980s saw an explosion in the amount and diversity of herbicide resistance, posing a threat to crop production in many countries. The rapid escalation in herbicide resistance worldwide and in the understanding of resistance at the population, biochemical, and molecular level is the focus of this timely book. Leading researchers from North America, Australia, and Western Europe present lucid reviews that consider the population dynamics and genetics, biochemistry, and agro-ecology of resistance. Resistance to various herbicides is discussed in detail, as well as the mechanisms responsible for cross resistance and multiple resistance. This reference is invaluable to those interested in evolution and the ability of species to overcome severe environmental stress.