Plant scientists, achievements

The biological effects and uses of saffron, extracts of saffron and its specific constituents show that the plant must achieve more attention from Scientists as a real "active plant". Biotechnological preparation of saffron and its active metabolites will bring more light to the above investigations and establish Crocus sativus as a "multipurpose" plant. 

Ipatieff never received the honor he coveted the most, the Nobel Prize. However, he continued to publish voluminously and, ever the practical scientist, he obtained numerous patents. He continued to receive honors in the United States and internationally. He became a member of the National Academy of Sciences and received the prestigious Gibbs medal for his many achievements. Ipatieff lived long enough to see the petroleum industry transformed with process technologies that he created and that were rooted in his early scientific research. The first platforming plant, the cuhniiiation of his life s work in catalytic research, came on line just shortly before his death in 1952. 

The fortunate constellation of scientists at Wisconsin facilitated further achievements toward increasing pigment content in red beets. In a recurrent selection program, betalain contents of red beet crops were enhanced by 200%. This example should encourage both food scientists and plant breeders to join forces and invest in the improvement of promising color crops. 

The Suriname project has increased the knowledge of the flora of the region (as noted above), helped prevent the loss of traditional knowledge of plant-derived medicines, provided educational opportunities for Surinamese scientists and students that emphasize the benefits of intact forest ecosystems, and promoted sustainable economic development in Suriname s interior. A growing interest and support within the national government is also apparent, as can be seen by the recent rejection of large-scale timber concessions. The following specific achievements have been made in the area of biodiversity conservation. 

Cross, Charles F (1855 1935) British scientist, a pioneer in modern cellulose chemistry his prepn of acetyl benzoyl celluloses (1889-90) was a prelude to the great achievement of his career, the discovery of cellulose Na xanthate (viscose) which Was patented under the names of Cross, Bevan Beadle (1892). Cross E.J. Bevan published "Textbook of Papermaking (1887), "Cellulose, an Outline of the Structural Elements of Plants (1895), Wood Pulp and Its Applications (1911), and numerous other Works on every aspect of cellulose. The pioneer work and the persistent successful efforts of Cross were duly recognized during his life. He was awarded the medal of the Society of Chemical Industry... 

Because the role of plant enzymes in host-plant resistance to insects is poorly understood at both an ecological and mechanistic level, the enhancement and/or transfer of genes for crop improvement should proceed with caution. The combined input of molecular biologists, agronomists, food scientists, plant pathologists, weed scientists, and entomologists is needed to achieve optimal success in crop improvements. 

The present volume is the second edition of a successful first edition which was published in 1999 and which has received many positive responses from its readers. To achieve a comprehensive and up-to-date summary, we have invited scientists who are specialists in their particular areas to update their previous chapters. This volume draws together results from a broad area of plant biochemistry and it cannot be exhaustive on such a large and diverse group of substances. Emphasis was placed on new results and concepts which have emerged over the last decades. 

The practical problems of building a fusion power plant are incredible, however, and scientists are still a long way from achieving that goal. A much simpler challenge, however, is to construct a fusion power planf that does not need to be controlled, that is, a fusion bomb. 

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