searchable problems de novo from a base of farmer interviews and discussions remains in question. Table 2.7 (p. 25) of the book reveals a fairly uniform scatter of (vaguely defined ) prob- lems over a range of regions - not very meaning- ful as a guide for research.

It appears that FSR has moved beyond the project level, to achieve a fairly high degree of integration within the Ethiopian agricultural re- search system. This is well described in the book. Not many other countries have achieved that po- sition. Papua New Guinea is one other to em- brace the FSR concept (for food crops), but sadly that research system has deteriorated to the point that the approach cannot be realistically assessed.

The book contains excellent descriptions of the major farming systems in Ethiopia, and the FSR experiments are rather cleverly integrated into, and around, those descriptions. The 'warts and all' exposition of the experiments is a major pos- itive feature of the book. By thoroughly docu- menting their experiences, a far more useful out- come is achieved than by a recipe book approach to FSR. It is certainly more interesting reading.

A number of challenging issues are presented. Question, what is the point of technology devel- opment in the face of a hostile agricultural policy environment? Should such technologies be dis- carded or should research resources be devoted to their development in the hope of inducing a policy change? Answer, it depends, in part, upon the capacity of the research institution to 'sell' the necessary policy change to the policy makers. Success on this front is more likely if people with policy research and advisory skills are on the FSR team.

An impressive book! Ethiopian and neigh- bouring country researchers should ensure that they have access to it. People interested in FSR, and new FSR practitioners, can save themselves heartache and resources by learning from the de- tailed Ethiopian experiences. FSR can success- fully bring researchers and farmers closer to- gether. It is an evolving methodology, far from being obsolete. On the evidence of this book, FSR is better at refining or rejecting hypotheses about the acceptability of technologies emerging from the scientific pipeline. But where do these tech-

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nologies have their genesis? The effectiveness of FSR in generating new ideas for technologies is less clear.

K.M. MENZ Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

Can berra, ACT Australia

References

Menz, K.M. and Knipscheer, H.C., 1981. The location spec- ificity problem in farming systems research. Agric. Sys- tems, 7:95-103.

TAC (CGIAR), 1978. Farming Systems Research at the In- ternational Agricultural Research Centres. TAC Secretar- iat, FAO, Rome.

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Adaptation to Environmental Stress

Reproductive Adaptation of Rice to Environmen- tal Stress(Development in Crop Science 22), by Y. Takeoka, A. AIMamun, T. Wada and P.B. Kaufman, Japan Scientific Socie- ties,Tokyo, 1992, 266 pp., ISBN 0-44-98678- 2.

As indicated in the preface, this book is about the process of spikelet formation and changes in morphogenesis of reproductive organs of rice in- duced by environmental stress. According to the authors "it has been written not only for re- searchers and students in Agronomy who are concerned with rice studies and production, but also for those who are concerned with reproduc- tive physiology and morphogenesis of plants and their response to environmental stress".

This book is particularly significant in two re- spects; it concentrates attention on the processes of organogenesis and how these processes are af- fected by environmental stress to produce char- acteristic abnormalities, and it draws into the English literature detailed information from studies previously published only in Japanese with, at best, an English summary. The text is

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liberally illustrated with an impressive array of photomicrographs, scanning electron micro- graphs and illustrative drawings which add clar- ity and precision to the presentation. There is lit- tle doubt that the work will prove to be of value to both rice scientists and to scientists and stu- dents interested in plant sexual organogenesis but with no special interest in rice.

A discussion of the significance of rice in sat- isfying world food demand, and examples of en- vironmental limitations on rice productivity, provides the backdrop for a short historical ov- erview of studies on spikelet morphogenesis in the introductory chapter. The philosophy under- lying the selection and arrangement of informa- tion presented in the book is clearly enunciated here: "Knowledge of the morphogenetic devel- opment of the panicle, and especially of the spi- kelet, and the control mechanisms for this devel- opment .... will inevitably lead to a clearer understanding of the formation and physiology of the rice panicle"

The real work of the book begins in Chapter 2 with a detailed description of the comparative structure and cytology of vegetative and repro- ductive shoot apices. Changes in size, shape and internal histological structure of the apical mer- istem during vegetative development, and through the transition from vegetative stage to reproductive stage, are characterised and quan- tified. Differences between varieties and the ef- fects of mineral nutrition, temperature, cultural conditions and photoperiod are explored.

Chapter 3 is dominated by an extraordinarily detailed and comprehensive account of the nor- mal organo-histogenesis of the rice panicle and spikelet. Photomicrographs and SEM presented in this section are of exceptional quality. There is also a brief review of the developmental evo- lution of the rice spikelet and an analysis of the primary sites and timing of silica deposition. Al- though not the particular focus of this book, the meticulously detailed presentation, combined with dynamic consideration of the processes de- scribed, will make this chapter a valuable refer- ences or scientists and students whether or not they are interested in rice as a crop.

The remaining chapters of this book are con-

cerned primarily with characterisation of abnor- malities of the panicle and spikelets as a result of environmental stresses and with discussion about the physiological processes which lead to abnor- mal sexual organogenesis and spikelet sterility. The authors observe that "rice plants usually re- spond to various environmental stresses by showing a change in the balance of their sex expression. This may include feminization, and under extremely stressful conditions, transfor- mation of the mode of reproduction from sexual to asexual".

The effect on spikelet morphogenesis of a range of environmental stresses is reviewed. Particular attention is given to temperature (cold and heat), soil induced stress, high salinity, flooding, drought and fungal infection. Illustrations are again of excellent quality and add greatly to the clarity of description.

One of the more unusual features of the book is the discussion on morphogenesis and histoge- nesis of "proliferative rice spikelets" in Chapter 6. Proliferative spikelets are defined as those "which cannot generate normal reproductive or- gans. Instead (they) produce one or more florets lacking in the usual number of stamens, but hav- ing usually more than one pistil or a pedicel bearing one or more spikelets, or one or more leafy shoots (vegetative propagules)". They oc- cur naturally owing to environmental stresses and may also be induced mutagenically. Various forms of proliferative spikelets have been shown to be capable of being genetically transmitted. The significance and potential usefulness of types which produce vegetative propagules instead of seeds is discussed. Of particular interest to breeders will be the speculation on their useful- ness as an alternative to normal cultivar breed- ing processes and for production ofF1 hybrids.

The mode of action of growth regulators (GA3, auxins, GA antagonists) and nitrogen on spike- let morphogenesis is compared with that of en- vironmental stresses in Chapter 7 and some con- clusions are drawn about physiological pathways through which environmental stresses may exert their effects on morphogenesis. The authors con- clude that "rice plants under ...... unfavourable conditions develop a new system of vegetative

propagation rather than proceed through the original propagation system via seed produc- tion" ... and that .... "the formation of vegetative shoots due to spikelet proliferation may possibly be treated as a kind of apomixis, especially veg- etative apomixis".

The book concludes with a disappointingly di- dactic discussion of strategies for protection of

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rice sexual organogenesis from the effects of ex- posure to environmental stress.

D.J. McDONALD N.S. W. Agriculture

Orange N.S.W.

Australia

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