REVIEWSBasra, Amarjit S. (ed.). Spring 2006. Handbook of seed science and technology. The Haworth Press, Binghamton (www.haworth press.com) (imprint: Food Products Press) (series: Seed biology, production, and technology, unnum.). [vi], xviii, 795 pp., errata slip, ill., ISBN 1560223146 HB, $124.95, ISBN 1560223154 PB, $94.95. -Contents: bionote; 26 chaps. (see rev.); index.The seed, being the plant structure transitional between the old generation and the new, lends itself to study by morphologists, physiologists, ecologists, agriculturalists, and even nutritionists. This massive (813 pages) but sparsely illustrated (93 figures), multifaceted work consists of 4 topic areas with 26 chapters authored by 54 contributors: 9 chapters on development, physiology, and biotechnology; 3 on dormancy and germination; 7 on ecology; 7 on technology. Most chapters have lengthy bibliographies. The book concludes with a detailed, 47-page index. The ecology section, which unfortunately is not reflected in the title, is surprisingly strong. Its 191 pages cover competition for pollination and seed set, seed size, seed predation, natural defense mechanisms, protease inhibitors, soil seed banks, and weed seed longevity in soil. Libraries will file the book under "SB" for "plant culture." This is a place not ordinarily favored by botanists and ecologists, who should not overlook this valuable work. The poorly bound hardbound version will not take much use; the $30 less expensive paperbound version is the one to buy