From the foreword by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan: Director General, International Rice Research Institute, Manila. "Recent advances in molecular biology have opened by unusual possibilities for the construction of molecular linkage maps and for gene transfer across sexual barriers. A basic requisite in such work is a precise understanding of chromosome numbers and morphology. Unfortunately in many plants, we still do not know the chromosome number and whether chromosome races within a species or polyploidy within the genus occur. It is in this context that the present compilation made by Drs. Virendra Kumar and B. Subramaniam assumes great significance and value. As mentioned by the authors, over 15,000 angiosperm species occur in India. All the knowledge available up to 1982 has been brought together in this book. The authors have drawn attention to the fact that less than 50% of the angiosperm species occurring in India have been subjected to cytological studies. Therefore, this book not only gives information on what we know but also bring out clearly the gaps in existing knowledge. We cannot take advantage of the tools of molecular genetics if we do not have basic information on chromosome number and structure helpful to the development of a standardised system of chromosome nimenclautre in each species. The authors have arranged the available information in a very methodical and informative manner. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude for the careful and painstaking work they have done over 10 years to help all fellow scientists and scholars interested in the cytology and breeding of the flowering plants of the Indian subcontinent.
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