This mammoth book (all of 47 chapters and 1215 pages) aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date reference on all issues relating to plant and crop stress, bringing together in one place information on a wide range of stresses. The preface notes that although there are many books that competently cover individual stresses, these stresses are interrelated and should therefore be covered comprehensively within a single text; this is what is attempted here. The text, with a rather eclectic set of contributions from more than 100 authors, aims to provide a resource for preparing lectures and for conducting research. The format follows earlier editions with the content being divided into ten sections on topics ranging from ‘Soil salinity and sodicity problems’, through ‘Plant and crop responses to pollution stress’ and ‘Future promises: Improving plant and crop adaptation/tolerance and cultivation under stressful conditions’, to ‘Genetic factors and plant/crop genomics under stress’. Around 80% of the text is completely new since the second edition (1999) with only eleven of the chapters being modified from the previous edition.

Does this volume succeed in its aim to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive text showing the interrelations between stresses and their responses? There is substantial variability in the depth and usefulness of the different chapters with some excellent summaries of specific topics while others are perhaps less useful. Although generally well produced, not enough effort appears to have gone into editing with cross-referencing between sections being minimal, while there were a number of examples of poor proof reading (e.g. the repetition of ‘Any trait that reduces transpiration or increases photosynthesis will increase water use efficiency.’ twice in three lines on p. 805). In conclusion, therefore, I feel that although this book contains much useful information and can be dipped into to source specific facts, it fails in its aim of integration and completeness with little emphasis on common underlying principles.