Some volumes in the series have comprised a mixture of articles covering a wide range of subjects; others have focussed on one topic only, covering certain aspects in depth. The present volume deals with mycorrhiza, an association between roots and fungi that is an ubiquitous and essential component of most natural communities of higher plants. It is also of considerable economic value in forestry, the production of some perennial and annual crops and the rehabilitation of degraded land. All aspects of plant production are intimately associated with the growth and function of mycorrhiza and roots. The essays in the volume report progress and challenge some current concepts in understanding the contribution of mycorrhiza to the function of the plants as a whole, its application to agriculture and forestry and our capacity to predict its role, so essential to management in production, conservation and ecological impact assessment.
