Like a curate's egg, this eclectic compilation is good in parts, although the choice of topics was puzzling, even accepting that ‘biotechnology’ is more than GM, and that ‘microbes’ encompass more than bacteria. Sadly, the overall consistency and standard of editing are both poor to non-existent. Some chapter titles make little sense in English, and little or no effort has been made to avoid substantial overlap and redundancy between chapters, and/or apparently with chapters in Volume 1.

Chapter 1 is a structurally muddled attempt to provide an overview of GM crops, with little reference to horticulture. Only 11 pages out of 85 attempt (confusingly) to describe the biotechnicalities of GM. Chapter 2 is slightly more focussed on horticulture, but there is considerable overlap with the GM technology covered in Chapter 1. Chapter 3 is another simplistic repetition of GM methodology with little or no mention of horticulture. Chapter 4 is more readable and authoritative, complementing two chapters in Volume 1 on nitrogen-fixing and biocontrol bacteria. Chapter 5 reiterates a chapter on mycorrhizal fungi in horticulture in Volume 1. While Chapter 6 is far more readable, sound and informative, it repeats the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi saga of Chapter 5. Chapter 7 introduces biopesticides, specifically baculoviruses, with their long tradition of sound, high-quality molecular biology research. Chapter 8 focuses on natural anti-microbial compounds from plants (predominantly), animals or microbes (very few) that could be used to prolong the shelf-life of horticultural products. Finally, Chapter 9, which is well-structured and clearly presented, focuses on mycotoxigenic organisms (Penicillium, Aspergillus and Alternia spp.) that affect fruit, a subject of major importance to human health.

In conclusion, tighter editing and greater focus would have added to the value and timeliness of this collection of topics.