Book description
Weeds affect everyone in the world by reducing crop yield and crop
quality, delaying or interfering with harvesting, interfering with
animal feeding (including poisoning), reducing animal health,
preventing water flow, as plant parasites, etc. Weeds are common
everywhere and cause many $ billions worth of crop losses annually,
with the global cost of controlling weeds running into $ billions.
The anatomy of plants is generally well understood, but the examples
used for explanations in most books are often restricted to non-weed
species. Weeds have many features that make them more competitive, for
example enabling them to more quickly recover after herbicide
treatment. Some of these adaptations include rhizomes, adapted roots,
tubers and other special structures. Until now,
no single book
has concentrated on weeds' anatomical features. A comprehensive
understanding of these features is, however, often imperative to the
successful implementation of many weed control measures.
Beautifully and comprehensively illustrated, in full colour
throughout, Weed Anatomy provides a comprehensive insight into the
anatomy of the globally-important weeds of commercial significance.
Commencing with a general overview of anatomy, the major part of the
book then includes sections covering monocotyledons, dicotyledons,
brackens and horsetails, with special reference to their anatomy.
Ecological and evolutionary aspects of weeds are also covered and a
number of less common weeds such as Adonis vernalis, Caucalis
platycarpos and Scandix pecten-veneris are also included.
The authors of this book, who have between them many years of
experience studying weeds, have put together a true landmark
publication, providing a huge wealth of commercially-important
information. Weed scientists, plant anatomists and agricultural
scientists, including personnel within the agrochemical and crop
protection industry, will find a great deal of useful information
within
the book's covers. All libraries in universities and
research establishments where agricultural and biological sciences are
studied and taught should have copies of this exceptional book on
their shelves.
Hansjoerg Kraehmer is Past President of the European Weed
Research Society and is based at Bayer CropScience, Frankfurt,
Germany.
Peter Baur heads the Competence Center Crop Protection,
Clariant, Frankfurt, Germany. He is external Professor at the Faculty
of Natural Sciences, Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany, and Past
President of the International Society for Agrochemical Adjuvants.
