Manipulating Secondary Metabolism in Culture

This volume surveys the most recent and exciting advances in the practical utilisation of biotechnology to produce useful medicinal, colouring and flavour compounds from plant cell cultures. The volume shows how plant cells can be induced to form these so-called 'secondary' products in defined biotechnological conditions and describes the way this is activated in several species. It also covers recent developments in this field towards the selection of cells with improved characteristics for making these products, in particular the new approach of using transformation to provide organised cultures. The volume provides an important account of the practicalities and techniques involved in the exploitation of commercially important secondary plant products. The volume will be particularly useful for biotechnologists, plant biochemists and research staff developing new chemicals and drugs.