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| Friday, 10 September 2004 |
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Handy reference book Conservation and Use of Crop Wild Relatives Conservation and Use of Crop Wild Relatives is an important collection of papers of the proceedings of the Joint Dept. of Agriculture (S.L.) and the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (Japan) held in 2003 at the Plant Genetic Resources Centre, Dept. of Agriculture, Peradeniya. According to the editors of this publication this workshop marked the end of three years of collaboration between the Sri Lanka Dept. of Agriculture and the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Japan on the conservation and analysis of crop wild relatives. This interesting book outlines the proceedings of this productive workshop which brought together experts on the wild relatives of crop plants and there is no doubt that this volume would provide students, researchers and even average laymen like you and me with useful fresh ideas related to the conservation and use of crop wild relatives. It is seen that much research and labour has gone into the publication of this book whose editors, Dr. A. H. M. Jayasuriya and Dr. D. A. Vaugham, have striven hard to bring out this publication maintaining a very high standard throughout. The language used is simple to understand and the printing is elegant and this well brought out book has an attractive front cover in colour. The layout of the book is very methodical and impressive and the papers are arranged under three broad headings, namely, Conservation Perspectives, Genetic Diversity of Wild Legumes and Wild Rice, Use and an Appendix and comprehensive reports of field surveys carried out both in Sri Lanka and in Japan. Under Conservation Perspectives the papers, Protected areas System for in situ Conservation of Biodiversity in Sri Lanka by Dr. A. H. M. Jayasuriya of the Plant Genetic Resources Centre, Peradeniya and The Importance of Botanic Gardens in ex situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives by Dr. D. S. A. Wijesundera of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya give the readers a wealth of information on these interesting topics. Under the heading Genetic Diversity of Wild Legumes and Wild Rice four important papers, Advances in Understanding Genus Vigna subgenus Ceratotropics, Studies on the Wild Relatives of Grain Legumes in Southern South Asia, The Vigna angularis Complex as a Model for Legum Research and The Tropical Forest Savannah Continum: The Diploid CC Genome Oryza Species, all of which have been contributed by highly competent scientists, should draw the attention of specially the scientific community. They are also of absorbing interest to the general reader. P. K. Samarajeewa's paper, Wild Abelmoschus Species in the Improvement of Okora should draw the attention of both students as well as researchers of this subject. The appendix comprises interesting collaborative reports of Japanese and Sri Lankan scientists and important papers on field research carried out in both these countries. The clear diagrams, tables and maps add much to the academic value of this book. Though this handsome compendium provides very useful material for the researchers and those with a scientific bent, it is also of absorbing interest to the lay readers who wish to widen their intellectual horizons. This publication would also serve as a very handy reference book. - Andrew Scott |
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