BOOK REVIEWS The Rhizosphere: Biochemistry and Organic Substances at the Soil-Plant Interface. 2nd Edition. Edited by R. Pinton, Z. Varanini and P. Nannipieri. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press (2007), pp. 447, £86.00. ISBN 0-8493-3855-7

"Maintaining the interdisciplinary approach of the first edition, The Rhizosphere: Biochemistry and Organic Substances at the Soil-Plant Interface, Second Edition summarizes information on soil science, agronomy, plant nutrition, plant physiology, microbiology, and biochemistry to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the most recent advances in the field. Revised and expanded, the second edition presents new information on areas that are only recently gaining importance for understanding the complex biochemistry of the soil-microbe-plant interaction."--BOOK JACKET Read more... Content: Types, Amounts, and Possible Functions of Compounds Released into the Rhizosphere by Soil-Grown Plants, N.C. UrenThe Release of Root Exudates as Affected by the Plant Physiological Status, G. Neumann and V. R/mheldRhizodeposition and Microbial Populations, M.J. Brimecombe, F.A.A.M. De Leij, and J.M. LynchNutrient Transformations in the Rhizosphere, L. Badalucco and P. NannipieriNutrients as Regulators of Root Morphology and Architecture, W. Schmidt and B. LinkeRoot Membrane Activities Relevant to Nutrient Acquisition at the Plant-Soil Interface, Z. Varanini and R. PintonFunction of Siderophores in the Plant Rhizosphere, D.E. Crowley and S.M. KraemerMycorrhizal Fungi: A Fungal Community at the Interface between Soil and Roots, F. Martin, S. Perotto, and P. BonfanteMolecular Biology and Ecology of the Rhizobia-Legume Symbiosis, D. WernerBiocontrol of Plant Pathogens: Principles, Promises, and Pitfalls, B. Lugtenberg and J. LeveauChemical Signals in the Rhizosphere: Root-Root and Root-Microbe Communication, L.G. Perry, .R. Alford, J. Horiuchi, M.W. Paschke, and J.M. VivancoModeling the Rhizosphere, P.R. Darrah and T. RooseMethodological Approaches to the Study of Carbon Flow and the Associated Microbial Population Dynamics in the Rhizosphere, J.A. Van Veen, J. Alun, W. Morgan, and J.M. WhippsGene Flow in the Rhizosphere, Mercier, E. Kay, T.M. Vogel, and P. Simonet. Abstract: Describes the complex biochemical interactions that occur at the soil-plant interface. This book includes six chapters on topics such as the role of nutrient availability in regulating root morphology, gene flow, biochemistry of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis, root membrane activities, microbial manipulation, and plant-insect communication. Read more... Renewable Energy Sources......Page 4 Foreword......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT......Page 10 PART 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE REPORT......Page 9 The status of the respective technologies......Page 11 Prospects for the use of renewables: extent and economics of the exploitable resources......Page 12 Commercial prospects......Page 14 PRIVATISATION OF THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY INDUSTRY......Page 15 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS......Page 16 IEA RENEWABLE ENERGY RD& D POLICIES......Page 18 STATUS AND PROSPECTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN IEA COUNTRIES......Page 19 Economic renewable energy technologies......Page 21 ‘ Under- development’ renewable energy technologies......Page 23 GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY RD& D......Page 24 CONCLUSIONS......Page 25 TPER/GDP Ratio for IEA countries......Page 26 IEA electricity generation by fuels......Page 27 World crude oil price......Page 28 TECHNOLOGY......Page 30 PART 2. TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE......Page 29 COMPONENTS OF A TIDAL BARRAGE......Page 31 ECONOMIC APPRAISAL......Page 33 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS......Page 34 INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS......Page 35 APPROPRIATENESS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE UK......Page 36 REFERENCES......Page 37 Conversion principles......Page 38 Device design......Page 40 Other work since the end of the main DEn programme......Page 41 ENVIRONMENTAL ACCEPTABILITY......Page 42 APPENDIX 4.1 ETSU REPORT R26......Page 43 Economics of Wave Energy......Page 44 INTRODUCTION......Page 45 STATUS OF TECHNOLOGY......Page 46 EXPLOITABLE RESOURCE......Page 48 COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS......Page 50 ENVIRONMENTAL ACCEPTABILITY......Page 51 EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES......Page 52 BRITISH WORK......Page 53 STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS......Page 55 APPENDIX: GENERATION COSTS......Page 56 STATUS OF THE TECHNOLOGY......Page 58 EXPLOITABLE RESOURCES......Page 59 COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS......Page 60 Abstraction......Page 61 REFERENCES......Page 62 INTRODUCTION......Page 63 EXPLOITABLE RESOURCES IN THE UK......Page 66 Aquifers......Page 67 Electricity generation and CHP......Page 68 Heat supply......Page 69 HDR......Page 71 Aquifers......Page 72 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS......Page 73 REFERENCES......Page 74 TECHNOLOGY......Page 76 ECONOMIC APPRAISAL AND COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS......Page 79 INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS......Page 82 MARKET......Page 83 OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE UK......Page 85 REFERENCES......Page 86 EXPLOITABLE SOURCES IN THE UK......Page 88 Active solar systems......Page 89 The UK government and passive solar design......Page 90 Some applications......Page 91 Technology......Page 93 Photovoltaic systems......Page 94 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS......Page 95 INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS......Page 96 The flat plate collector......Page 97 Solar cells......Page 98 THE UK SCENE......Page 99 Direct combustion......Page 100 Pyrolysis and gasification......Page 101 Anaerobic digestion......Page 102 Ethanol fermentation......Page 104 Woody biomass......Page 105 Municipal refuse......Page 106 ECONOMIC APPRAISAL......Page 107 ENVIRONMENTAL ACCEPTABILITY......Page 108 CONCLUSIONS......Page 111 REFERENCES......Page 112 PART 3. SYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS......Page 114 PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION......Page 115 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 117 INTRODUCTION......Page 118 Thermal plant startup, ramp rates and part loading......Page 119 Power system control and operating reserve......Page 120 The potential role of load management and tariff incentives......Page 121 Capacity displacement and remix at higher penetrations......Page 122 Particular factors......Page 123 The nature of the interface......Page 125 Tidal power......Page 126 REFERENCES......Page 127 A case example: the integration of wind energy......Page 128 Possible methods of evaluation......Page 130 Factors affecting break- even costs......Page 131 Chosen method of costing: advantages and limitations......Page 132 Initial capital......Page 133 Refurbishing and replanting during life......Page 134 Resource availability......Page 135 Plant availability......Page 136 Real rates of return......Page 137 Private versus public capital......Page 138 Generation cost calculations......Page 139 Mini hydro......Page 140 Wind......Page 142 Wave......Page 143 Risks, uncertainties, sensitivity analyses, spider diagrams......Page 144 Effects of changing interest rate......Page 145 Exploitable resources at various cost levels......Page 150 Caveats......Page 151 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS......Page 152 REFERENCES......Page 153 Appendix 13.1: Data Collection Questionnaire......Page 154 Objectives, Historical Background and Current Programme......Page 157 Member Institutions of the Watt Committee on Energy......Page 159 Watt Committee Reports......Page 160

In the rhizosphere, exudates from plants and microorganisms as well as stable soil organic matter influence processes that can control plant growth, microbial infections, and nutrient uptake. As the chemistry and biochemistry of these substances becomes more and more clear, their study promises to shed light on the complex interactions between plant and soil microflora.

Maintaining the interdisciplinary approach of the first edition, The Rhizosphere: Biochemistry and Organic Substances at the Soil-Plant Interface, Second Edition summarizes information on soil science, agronomy, plant nutrition, plant physiology, microbiology, and biochemistry to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the most recent advances in the field. Revised and expanded, the second edition presents new information on areas that are only recently gaining importance for understanding the complex biochemistry of the soil-microbe-plant interaction. New topics include the role of nutrient availability in regulating root morphology and architecture, the involvement of root membrane activities in determining and responding to the nutritional conditions in the rhizosphere, molecular signals between root-root and root-microbe, and gene flow and the evolution of rhizosphere organisms and their coevolution with plants. The book also covers mathematical modeling and methodological approaches to the study of the rhizosphere. Information in all chapters derives from a molecular approach which contributes to a better understanding of the biochemical processes occurring at the plant-soil interface.

Drawing on the expertise of pioneers in the field, The Rhizosphere: Biochemistry and Organic Substances at the Soil-Plant Interface, Second Edition contributes to the vigorous interchange between rhizosphere biochemistry and molecular biology to provide the most current information and stimulate further interest and research on this fascinating topic.

Biological Agricultur and Horticulture

"...a valuable source of information for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as researchers."

Table of Contents Preface Contributors 1 The Rhizosphere as a Site of Biochemical Interactions Among Soil Components, Plants, and Microorganisms 1 2 Types, Amounts, and Possible Functions of Compounds Released into the Rhizosphere by Soil-Grown Plants 19 3 The Release of Root Exudates as Affected by the Plant's Physiological Status 41 4 The Effect of Root Exudates on Rhizosphere Microbial Populations 95 5 Direct Versus Indirect Effects of Soil Humic Substances on Plant Growth and Nutrition 141 6 Mineralization and Immobilization in the Rhizosphere 159 7 Organic Signals Between Plants and Microorganisms 197 8 Function of Siderophores in the Plant Rhizosphere 223 9 Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Fungal Community at the Interface Between Soil and Roots 263 10 Functional Ecology of the Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis 297 11 Modeling the Rhizosphere 327 12 Methodological Approaches to the Study of Rhizosphere Carbon Flow and Microbial Population Dynamics 373 Index 411 "Summarizing data on the processes that occur in soil-plant interaction, this text emphasizes the biochemistry and the role of organic compounds in the rhizosphere environment. It considers developments in experimental approaches to the biochemical and molecular interaction among plants, microbes, and soil components."--Provided by publisher