Plant Science 156 (2000) 253 – 254
Book review
www.elsevier.com/locate/plantsci
Mycorrhiza Manual. Edited by Ajit Varma, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1998. 542 pp. ISBN 3-540-62437-6; DM 148
Previous widely distributed books on mycor-rhiza methodology include the APS publication from 1982 edited by Norman Schenck and the two Academic Press volumes from 1991 and 1992 in the series Methods in Microbiology. Those books are still very useful, but there is no doubt that the publication of this manual is justified alone by the rapid development within mycorrhizal research, including the implementation of molecular tools. Let it be said already here: the Mycorrhiza Man-ual contains valuable and useful information, it is written by absolutely leading scientists and the book should be at hand in all laboratories where mycorrhiza research is carried out.
A few of the chapters are perhaps too review-like to warrant their inclusion in a laboratory manual, but in general the contributions have a uniform and adequate manual structure. The gen-eral lay-out template used includes Introduction, Materials, Procedures, Results (examples) and References. Many chapters also contain sections on troubleshooting, general comments and list of suppliers. In spite of the large number of proto-cols, the manual is easy to read and nearly 150 well-presented diagrams, figures and tables help in this respect. The presence of a subject index at the end of the manual is appreciated.
A manual of the present size cannot cover all methods used in mycorrhizal research and some sort of selection was obviously required in order to avoid a too heterogeneous publication. The editor does not reveal the selection criteria used, but molecular and biochemical techniques are pre-sented in 21 out of 34 chapters in total. This
priority is most welcomed, as these tools are neces-sary for the identification and functional charac-terisation of mycorrhizal fungi. PCR-based techniques for identification and biodiversity stud-ies of mycorrhizal fungi (including orchid mycor-rhiza formers) in roots and in soil are thoroughly discussed in five chapters. Protocols for the cloning and characterisation of genes and the lo-calisation of their site of expression are presented in seven chapters. The use of differential display techniques, mutant complementation and EST databases represent just a few of the methods described. Four chapters describe methods for the measurement of enzymes like peroxidases, poly-galacturonases and phosphatases, while two chapters describes targeted and untargeted ap-proaches for the analysis of mycorrhiza specific proteins.
The remaining chapters cover some rather con-trasting topics like immunodetection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, protoplast regeneration from ectomycorrhizal fungi, mushroom cultivation, ecology of actinorhizal symbioses and several oth-ers. What should be included and what should not? Undoubtedly, this manual would have been even more useful if focus had been kept on the molecular, biochemical and physiological aspects. The inclusion of some novel technologies would have made the book even better. These include general methods for providing fungal material e.g. monoxenic cultivation of arbuscular mycorrhizas, in vivo NMR methods for the study of metabolic pathways, and the use of plant mutants to study the control of mycorrhiza formation.
An unfortunate delay in the writing of this review had one advantage: it allowed the manual to be used in our laboratory during a period where different molecular techniques were implemented
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by an otherwise experienced group of mycorrhiza researchers. The manual proved to be a valuable tool in that process and still serves as a frequently used handbook. It is therefore highly recom-mended.
I. Jakobsen
Plant Biology and Biogeochemistry Department,
Risø National Laboratory, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
E-mail: [email protected]
