To keep pace with developments in the field of plant biotechnology, Mujib (botany, Hamdard U., New Delhi, India) and international colleagues offer a review of current and emerging trends in in vitro lab techniques. The 18 chapters treat basic science and application areas such as the role of plant tissue culture in plant improvement generally, and induced mutation for producing specific crops with greater disease resistance and yield. Mijib defends against concerns over genetically-modified food production, by looking to strategies that extend plants' own disease resistance rather than transfer genes from other species. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)