Author Description

The thirtieth volume of Advances in Biological Research incorporating Advances in Plant Pathology includes articles covering a broad range of subjects of interest to plant scientists.The mechanisms of uptake of nitrate and ammonium ions by plants have received renewed impetus, predominantly due to progress in the cloning and characterization of the various transporters. The review by Forde and Clarkson integrates the large body of information on physiological mechanisms with these advances at the molecular level.The interest in the potential for using natural defences within an integrated pest control strategy has heightened interest in the co-evolutionary development of defensive secondary metabolites in the plant and adaption to these by insects. The review by Pickett, Smiley and Woodcock describes the range of mechanisms by which secondary metabolites act. Particular emphasis is placed on semiochemicals and their potential value in novel crop protection strategies.The review by Ashihara and Crozier summarizes aspects of the matabolism of purine alkaloids found naturally in over 100 species of plant. Information on their biosynthesis and degradation is discussed as well as biotechnological aspects of alternative sources of caffeine production and the possibilities for transgenic manipulation of caffeine synthesis.Serpe and Nothnagel discuss recent data on structure/function inter-relationships of the arabinogalactan-proteins, a class of heterogeneous plant proteoglycans with a broad range of potential functions yet to be precisely identified. The final article by Keen review important milestones in the cloning and characterisation of pathogen avirulence genes and the matching or complementary host resistance genes. It considers how these advances in basic understanding may lead to strategies for practical disease control in the next century.