Somatic Cell Genetics of Woody Plants, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1988 Proceedings of the IUFRO Working Party S2. 04–07 Somatic Cell Genetics, held in Grosshansdorf, Federal Republic of Germany, August 10–13, 1987 Forestry Sciences Series, Vol. 30

Most forest tree species were considered recalcitrant a decade ago, but now with the improved in vitro techniques some progress has been made towards culture-of tree species. Micro­ propagation has been achieved from the juvenile tissues of a number of forest tree species. On the other hand, tissues from most mature trees are still very difficult to grow and differen­ tiate in vitro. Nevertheless, there has been slow but steady progress in the application of tissue culture technology for culture of tissues, organs, cells and protoplasts of tree species. As compared to most agricultural crops, and herbaceous plant species, trees are a different lot. They have long gene­ ration cycles. They are highly heterozygous and have a large reservoir of genetic variability. Because of this genetic variability, their response in vitro is also variable. On a single medium, the response of tissues from different trees (genotypes) of a single species may be quite different: some responding by induction of growth and differentiation, while others showing minimal or no growth at all. That makes the somatic cell genetics of woody plants somewhat difficult, but at the same time interesting.

Somatic Embryogenesis.- Development and Characterization of in Vitro Embryogenic Systems in Conifers.- Studies on Embryogenesis of Woody Plants in China.- Morphological Definition of Phenocritical Period for Initiation of Haploid Embryogenic Tissue from Explants of Larix Decidua.- Production of Haploid Plantlets in Cultures of Unpolinated Ovules of Hevea Brasiliensis Muell. ARG.- Somatic Embryogenesis in Tissue Cultures of Walnut (Juglans Nigra, J. Major and Hybrids J. Nigra X J. Regia).- In Vitro Embryogenic Callus Formation in Chimonanthus.- Plant Regeneration of Horse Chestnut by in Vitro Culture.- Genetic Transformation.- A Model System for Gene Transfer in Conifers: European Larch and Agrobacterium.- Regeneration and Transformation of Apple Plants Using Wild-Type and Engineered Plasmids in Agrobacterium Spp..- Expression of an Herbicide Tolerance Gene in Young Plants of a Transgenic Hybrid Poplar Clone.- Transformation of Hybrid Populus Tremula X P. Alba by Agrobacterium Tumefaciens.- Gene Transfer in Woody Plants: Perspectives and Limitations.- Genetic Control of Morphogenesis.- Somatic Cell Genetic Research in Forestry: Integration of Cytogenetics, Tissue Culture, and Molecular Genetics.- Differential Norms of Reaction in Tissue Culture of Birch.- Determination of Plantlet Regeneration Capacity of Selected Aspen Clones in Vitro.- Suspension Culture of Dipterocarp Shorea Roxburghii G. Don..- Isozyme Analysis of Micropropagated Betula Pendula Roth..- Tissue Culture Studies of Mahogany Tree, Sweitenia.- Attempts to Micropropagate Mature Larix Decidua Mill..- Protoplast Culture of Woody Rosaceae and a Comparison to Herbaceous Rosaceae.- Differential Growth Response of Aspen Clones Stored at Sub-Zero Temperatures.- In Vitro Screening, Somaclonal Selection, Testing andDeployment.- Screening for Resistance to Hypoxylon Mammatum in Populus Tremuloides Callus and Micropropagated Plantlets.- Increased Herbicide Tolerance of in Vitro Selected Hybrid Poplar.- The Occurrence of Endogenous Bacteria in Birch Shoot Cultures.- Establishment of a Sterile Foam Cultivation System: Elimination of Formaldehyde.- Testing and Deployment of Brave New Plantlings.- Rules Governing the Release of Forest Reproductive Material Derived by in Vitro-Culture.- Guidelines for Research and Development in Biotechnology.

'The volume will be useful for investigators engaged in foretry research and is recommended as good addition for libraries.'H. Hattemer and P. Srivastava, Plant Breeding, 1990'The book will undoubtedly be an excellent source of information not only for researchers engaged in genetics and breeding of woody plants but for researchers in plant physiology, genetics, and related branches in general.'Biologi Plantarum, 33:1, 1991