Secondary Products from Plant Tissue Culture

Plants are superb synthesizers of organic compounds, producing an extensive range of products from carbon dioxide, water and inorganic ions. These secondary products are widely used in commerce, particularly the food and pharmaceutical industries. Recent dramatic advances in the techniques of plant biotechnology and genetic engineering have increased the potential of plant cell cultures as an alternative source of these compounds. Researchers are now beginnning to understand the factors that control the expression and regulation of genes involved in the synthesis, transport, storage and metabolism of natural products. This volume contains the proceedings of an international symposium on secondary compounds in plant tissue culture held in December 1988. Contributions from eminent researchers provide an up-to-date review of current work in the field and details the exciting advances now being made.