This book by Janet I. Sprent, a leading world authority on nitrogen fixation, is a comprehensive review of current knowledge. It starts with an up-to-date review of nodulation in a taxonomic context, with details of nodulating genera and species. There are extensive descriptions of the tribes, genera and species of the three sub-families of the Leguminosae involved, with good further descriptive and detailed texts on their reported nodulation characteristics. Aspects of the commercial exploitation of different bacterial associates are also discussed.

The extensive habitats throughout the world, from deserts to rain forests, indeed all terrestrial areas of the world, in which nitrogen-fixation occurs, are described. The large variations in rates of nodulation between environments and in nitrogen-fixing efficiency are also noted. The discussion of the evolution of legume nodulation is fascinating and gives a detailed insight into the evolution of both legumes and nodulation, including the true mutualism of this phenomenon. It is suggested that the current distribution of nodulated legumes probably relates to dispersal over geological time rather than isolated evolution.

The chapter on bacteria nodulating legumes provides comprehensive information on bacteria known to fix nitrogen in symbiosis with legumes, the mechanisms and both the ecological and environmental aspects of legume nodulation at present and in the future. There are many interesting colour plates of nodulating plants throughout the world, and extensive appendices.

This text will be invaluable to plant scientists, agronomists, ecologists and microbiologists with an interest in this area, as well as libraries in establishments where biological and agricultural sciences are studied.