Eds. M.Lalonde, C.Camire and J.O.Dawson. 1985. (Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol. 18). 220 p. Cloth.

This book, containing papers presented at a meeting of scientistsworking with Frankia and actinorhizal plants, features several research"firsts". These include: the first extensive survey of Frankia and theirhost specificity ranges from Asia; a report that protoplasts of Frankiahave been produced and regenerated for the first time; a report ofsuccessful mass inoculation of actinorhizal plants commercially forstabilization and reclamation of disturbed soils around hydroelectricpower projects in Quebec. Improved methods for researching actinorhizalpartners reported here include freeze substitution of Frankia for electron microscopy, the use of microbeads for precision placement ofFrankia colonies near root surfaces, and tissue culture of host plantsfor studies of interactions between host and endophyte. Unusual spore-like structures similar to chlamydospores and reportedly occurring onisolate from Casuarina nodules are also discussed.