Spiral Grain and Wave Phenomena in Wood Formation

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Holm Altenbach, Samuel Forest, Anton Krivtsov

This volume presents contributions describing the micro- and macro-behaviours, new existence and uniqueness theorems, the formulation of multi-scale problems, etc. and now it is time to ponder again the state of matter and to discuss new trends and applications. The main focus is directed on the following items - Modelling and simulation of materials with significant microstructure, - Generalized continua as a result of multi-scale models, - Multi-field actions on materials resulting in generalized material models, and - Comparison with discrete modelling approaches

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Hermann J. Heege

High yields and environmental control in crop farming call for precise adaptations to local growing conditions. Treating large fields in a uniform way by high capacity machinery cannot be regarded as a sustainable method for many situations. Because differences existing within single fields must be considered. The transition from former field work carried out manually or by small implements to present day high capacity machinery caused that the farmers lost the immediate and close contact with soils and crops. However, modern sensing and controlling technology can make up for this deficit. High tech methods that include proximal sensing and signals from satellites can provide for controls that allow adjusting farming operations to small fractions of one ha and sometimes even down to some m2, hence in a site-specific mode. This applies to operations for soil cultivation, sowing, fertilizing and plant protection. This book deals with concepts, applications and results, and has an interdisciplinary approach that pervades all chapters.

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Donald Pigott

"Lime trees (Tilia spp.) are widely distributed and locally important members of northern temperate broad-leaved forests. In marked contrast to the largely uniform morphology of the genus its taxonomic treatment has become increasingly confused and controversial, with over one hundred species and numerous subspecies described. Using extensive data from field studies of natural populations around the world, this book clarifies the situation, proposing a revised taxonomy of 23 species and 14 subspecies. Detailed descriptions are provided for all recognised taxa and are accompanied by illustrations. Data from herbaria and cultivated trees are used to extend the analyses where appropriate and type specimens are included to stabilise nomenclature. Lime tree ecology is also considered, with an exploration of experimental and analytical data on regeneration, growth and reproduction in relation to climate and soils. Additional material includes a glossary of botanical terms and appendices of herbarium codes and relevant physical concepts"-- "Tilia is the type genus of the family name Tiliaceae Juss. (1789), and T. x europaea L. the type of the generic name (Jarvis et al. 1993). Members of Tiliaceae have many morphological characters in common with those of Malvaceae Juss. (1789) and both families were placed in the order Malvales by Engler (1912). In Engler's treatment, Tiliaceae consisted mainly of trees and shrubs belonging to several genera, including a few herbaceous genera, almost all occurring in the warmer regions. This treatment was revised by Engler and Diels (1936). The family was retained by Cronquist (1981) and consisted of about 50 genera and 700 species distributed in the tropics and warmer parts of the temperate zones in Asia, Africa, southern Europe and America. Several genera of trees, such as Apeiba in South America and Tilia itself, are of economic value for timber, and similarly the herbaceous genus, Corchorus, includes C. olitorius which is grown extensively in Bengal as the source of a brown fibre, jute, used for string, cloth ('hessian'), formerly carpet-backing and paper"--

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Robert Verpoorte, A. W. Alfermann

Plant secondary metabolism is an economically important source of fine chemicals, such as drugs, insecticides, dyes, flavours, and fragrances. Moreover, important traits of plants such as taste, flavour, smell, colour, or resistance against pests and diseases are also related to secondary metabolites. The genetic modification of plants is feasible nowadays. What does the possibility of engineering plant secondary metabolite pathways mean? In this book, firstly a general introduction is given on plant secondary metabolism, followed by an overview of the possible approaches that could be used to alter secondary metabolite pathways. In a series of chapters from various authorities in the field, an overview is given of the state of the art for important groups of secondary metabolites. No books have been published on this topic so far. This book will thus be a unique source of information for all those involved with plants as chemical factories of fine chemicals and those involved with the quality of food and ornamental plants. It will be useful in teaching graduate courses in the field of metabolic engineering in plants.