)(

Genetic Vulnerability: A World ProblemCrop and Parasite Populations: Genetic ModelsGenetics and Physiology of Epidemics: Causes andMechanismsSpecific Examples of EpidemicsSpecific Examples of Plant Breeding and AgronomicProgramsMore Examples of Breedings and Agronomic ProgramsSources of Genetic DiversityThe Genetic Basis of Epidemics in Agriculture confirms

that genetic conformity is a pronounced trend in modernagriculture that directly threatens us with catastrophe. Thepurpose of the present volume is to summarise currentknowledge, provide direction for further research andplanning. to promote an exchange of ideas and informa­tion so that the circumstances involved are clearly un­derstood and so that ways of averting epidemics aredeveloped and tested.

PRICE: $US35.00 (Please add $1.00 mailing and handl­ing) 400 pages, 30 papers, ISBN: 0-89072-033-9

Available from: THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OFSCIENCES P.O. Box 5057, F.D.R. Station, New York, NewYork 10022, U.S.A.

Figure 3. Effect of latent period (p) on early progress of simulatedepidemics. Proportion of diseased plants (x) plotted against timein units of pathogen generations (t), to demonstrate absence ofdisease increase from time 0 to time p (0), simple-interest in­crease from time p to time 2p (&). and compound-interest in­crease after time 2p (0). Upper line: p = 5. Lower line: p = 7.

REFERENCES

(1) Chilvers, G. A. and Burdon. J. J. (1975) - "The RhizosquareDisease". Australian Plant Pathology Society Newsletter 4: 39-40.

(2) Chilvers, G. A. and Burdon, J. J. (1976) - "Sprintrot",Australian Plant Pathology Society Newsletter 5 : 9-11.

(3) Chilvers, G. A.. Burdon, J. J. and Porter, D. L. (1975) ­"Popperdrop". Australian Plant Pathology SocietyNewsletter 4 : 31-32.

(4) van der Plank. J. E. (1963) - Plant Diseases: Epidemics andControl. New York: Academic Press.

NEW PUBLICATIONS"The Genetic Basisof Epidemics in Agriculture"

Edited by P. R. Day,Genetics Department, Connecticut Agricultural Experi­

ment Station.

In April, 1976, The New York Academy of Sciencessponsored a conference on The Genetic Basis ofEpidemics in Agriculture. The organization of the con­ference itself stemmed from the 1969 epidemic of cornthat destroyed a substantial portion of the 1970 crop andrevealed that 75% of U.S. corn was uniformally vulnerableto a new form of southern corn leaf blight - a susceptibili­ty that was due to genetic conformities created byaqricultural technology.

The proceedings of this conference. published inFebruary, 1977, bring together 30 papers by plantpathologists, entomologists, plant breeders,epidemiologists, and geneticists. The papers are groupedunder the following sections:

34

"Diseases of Grasses and Forage Legumes inIreland"

By C. J. O'Rourke,Oak Park Research Centre, Carlow.A5, vi + 115 pp, with 2 colour plates, 12 halftoneplates and 1 line drawing.ISBN 0-905442-07-5

Published by An Foras Taluntais (TheAgricultural Institute), Dublin, Ireland.Copies available at the price of £3, fromPublications Section Foras Taluntais, 19 San­dymount Avenue, Dublin 4, Ireland.

This publication is intended as a practical handbook foruse by plant pathologists, grassland research workers,agricultural advisers, grass-seed producers, farmers,students and others interested in herbage production. Itdescribes a total of 57 diseases caused by fungalpathogens on grasses, clovers and other forage legumesfrom the following aspects: general importance and oc­currence; disease identifications in the field and in thelaboratory; effects of diseases on herbage swards and onanimal performance; host ranges and descriptions of thefungal pathogens; and disease control by means of swardmanagement, resistant cultivars, fungicides, etc.

The illustrations consist of 36 photographs of diseasesymptoms (18 in colour and 18 in black-and-white) and 46photomicrographs and one line drawing of fungalpathogens. The colour subjects are also available asseparates in both reprint and duplicate transparency form(18 diseases on one sheet, 50p; as 18 transparencies, 3.00pound).

The book contains over 300 references, drawn mostlyfrom recent world literature on grass and forage-legumediseases. It also contains a full host and pathogen(including synonyms) index, and a glossary of technicalterms.