This revised edition of Herbicides and Plant Physiology is an excellent addition to the bookshelf of any advisers, researchers or agronomy students. This authoritative, yet readable resource (first published in 1992) delves beneath the surface of herbicide activity to examine a wide range of past and present weed control strategies and developments from the viewpoint of plant physiology, but also provides a far wider perspective.

Herbicides are by far the most important sector of global crop protection and, at a time of unprecedented population demands, both in terms of quantity and quality, this is an important area of technical, economic and environmental optimization. The preface provides a timely warning about the misguided EU Plant Protection directive, which will reduce our range of active ingredients within the EU, but still allow global imports treated with the EU banned actives: although both sources will be perfectly safe. The understanding of modes of action and their impact on resistance management is even more important under this misguided legislative environment.

A first-class introduction to weed biology is followed by useful chapters on herbicide discovery and development and uptake and movement, selectivity and metabolism, including the important area of formulation and adjuvant effects. The coverage of the various groups of herbicidal activity is in commendable detail and the final chapters constitute updates in the areas of herbicide resistance, herbicide-tolerant crops and a look to the future of herbicide development and biological control.

In summary, this is an invaluable updated edition, which will continue to be of great value to the widest range of those interested in weed control, both from a practical and theoretical perspective.