Chemistry in the Garden

Professor J R Hanson FRSC is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of Sussex. Early work on gibberellic acid at ICI has lead to a long and successful career in natural product and organic chemistry, documented by numerous research papers and books. In 2008 Professor Hanson received a Service Award from the RSC journal Natural Product Reports for his dedicated contribution to the journal, as author and editorial board member. Professor Hanson continues to teach chemistry and biochemistry and is a keen gardener.

• Preface: Chapter 1: Introduction;Chemical diversity in plants;The structure elucidation of natural products;The ecological role of natural products;Changes in the garden;Chapter 2: The biosynthetic relationships of natural products;Polyketides;Terpenoids;Phenylpropanoids;Alkaloids;Chapter 3: Natural products and plant biochemistry in the garden;The structural materials of plants;Photosynthesis;Oxidative co-enzymes;Plant hormones;Chapter 4: Garden soils;The mineral structure of the soil;The organic content of the soil;Nutrients from the soil;The role of pH;Fertilizers and compost;Microbial interactions within the soil;Chapter 5: The colour and scent of garden plants;Colouring matters;The carotenoids;The anthocyanins;Natural pigments;Floral and leaf scents;Chapter 6: Bioactive compounds from ornamental plants;Compounds from the Lamiaceae;Constituents of bulbs;Toxic compounds from ornamental plants;Compounds from ornamental trees;Mistletoe;Conifers;Chapter 7: Natural products in the vegetable and fruit garden;Root vegetables;Onions, garlic and asparagus;The brassicas;Lettuce;The legumes;Rhubarb;Tomatoes;Fruit trees;Soft fruit;Chapter 8: Fungal and insect chemistry in the garden;Microbial interactions;Lichens;Mycorrhizal and endophytic organisms;Interactions between fungi;Insect chemistry in the garden;Epilogue;Further Reading;Glossary;Index

"""An impressive feature of this book is its coverage of bread and butter substances, such as the properties that make cellulose such an important structural material.""""The book includes a through index and has a good bibliography.""""Priced at ú14.95, this is expecially good value for a hardback. I recommend this book to A-Level teachers not just for themselves, but also to give to students who want to discover organic chemistry beyond that in the A-Level chemistry specifications."""