The Agricultural Revolution – including the domestication of plants and animals in the Near East – that occurred 10,500 years ago ended millions of years of human existence in small, mobile, egalitarian communities of hunters-gatherers. This Neolithic transformation led to the formation of sedentary communities that produced crops such as wheat, barley, peas, lentils, chickpeas and flax and domesticated range of livestock, including goats, sheep, cattle and pigs. All of these plants and animals still play a major role in the contemporary global economy and nutrition. This agricultural revolution also stimulated the later development of the first urban centres. This volume examines the origins and development of plant domestication in the Ancient Near East, along with various aspects of the new Man-Nature relationship that characterizes food-producing societies. It demonstrates how the rapid, geographically localized, knowledge-based domestication of plants was a human initiative that eventually gave rise to Western civilizations and the modern human condition.

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• Demonstrates the centrality of human agency in plant and animal domestication
• Shows the role of knowledge-based human consciousness in plant and animal domestication and improvement
• Emphasizes the fact that the potential of our present-day crop plants is a function of their evolutionary history (domestication included)

A wide-ranging, interdisciplinary exploration of key topics that interrelate pest management, public health and the environment

This book takes a unique, multidimensional approach to addressing the complex issues surrounding pest management activities and their impacts on the environment and human health, and environmental effects on plant protection practices.

It features contributions by a distinguished group of authors from ten countries, representing an array of disciplines. They include plant protection scientists and officers, economists, agronomists, ecologists, environmental and public health scientists and government policymakers. Over the course of eighteen chapters, those experts share their insights into and analyses of an array of issues of vital concern to everyone with a professional interest in this important subject.

The adverse effects of pest control have become a subject of great concern worldwide, and researchers and enlightened policymakers have at last begun to appreciate the impact of environmental factors on our ability to manage pest populations. Moreover, while issues such as pesticide toxicity have dominated the global conversation about pest management, economic and societal considerations have been largely neglected. Environmental Pest Management: Challenges for Agronomists, Ecologists, Economists and Policymakers is the first work to provide in-depth coverage of all of these pressing issues between the covers of one book.

In this book about creative thinking in the teaching of natural sciences, you will find insights into teaching scientific subjects in a creative way.

The book relies on the author's forty years of experience in teaching and research in the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University and teaching in the educational system in all its frameworks, kindergartens, schoolchildren, students and teachers. The purpose of the book is to encourage and nurture unconventional thinking - sometimes called "out of the box thinking", "creative thinking" or "higher order thinking" - in teaching scientific subjects. The book is designed to enhance the skills and ability of teachers, professors, science students, students and naturalists to think creatively when they study, teach or observe nature.

The book presents examples of teaching diverse subjects. Each example stands on its own in a way that arouses the curious reader to say with amazement: "How did I not think of it before?" The author's experience shows that the skills of self-reflection and the ability to criticize are not taught in the educational system in an orderly fashion. The book attempts to open a window for the curious observer to see things in a different way than usual.

Prof. Eliezer (Eli) Zamski is Professor emeritus of the Hebrew University. He has published over 100 scientific articles in the professional literature, wrote and edited six science books in Hebrew and English and three books in non-scientific fields in Hebrew. Prof. Zamski was formerly Chief Scientist of the Nature and Parks Authority and president of the Achva Academic College.

About 10,500 years ago, after hundreds of thousands of years in which people lived in small, nomadic and nomadic communities, made their living from natural resources as hunter-gatherers and ate the so-called "Paleo diet," a revolution took place in our region - the "agricultural revolution" or the "Neolithic revolution." This led to the creation of permanent societies of food producers. These dense, complex and plentiful societies gave rise to Western culture.

The group of plants that have been captive to the Neolithic "package of crops" in the Near East includes barley, two kinds of wheat, peas, lentils,  chickpeas, and flax. Most of these species still provide a large part of the agricultural produce that nourishes man and his farm animals. The animals that were involved in that revolution were the goat, the sheep, the cattle and the pig.  Later  olive, grape, fig, pomegranate and date trees were added. The agricultural revolution of more than 10,000 years ago contributed the most important nutritional components to the environment and human society till this day in large parts of the world. The transition to an agricultural way of life resulted in far-reaching changes in man's worldview,  in social structure and organization, and quickly led human society and culture to the situation we now know.

The book examines the fundamental questions concerning plant domestication in the Near East. It presents various aspects of the domestication of plants and the new relationships between man and plants, and between man and nature in general as a result of domestication. The authors contend that domestication of plant life was rapid and took place in one area, today's southeastern Turkey and  northern Syria, and that it was a planned and well-informed process in which a balanced agricultural and nutritional package was constructed.

Avi Gopher is an archaeologist from Tel Aviv University who has been researching the Neolithic period and the subject of the beginning of agriculture in our region. Shahal Abbo is an agronomist from the Hebrew University's Faculty of Agriculture, who has been studying in crops for years, mainly hummus.

Brings together research findings that have been accumulated during the last 40 years, mainly by the authors, on wild relatives of cool season legumes

Indicates the wild relatives of lentil, chickpea, common and bitter vetch that can be exploited for breeding

Presents biological evidence that pulse domestication proceeded in a unique course, already in the wild. 

The study of origin and domestication of legumes described in this book emerged when it became apparent that while this kind of information is adequate for cereals, the pulses lagged behind. At the end of the 1960s the senior author initiated a study on the chickpea's wild relatives followed by similar attempts for broad bean, fenugreek, common vetch, bitter vetch, and lentil. The junior author joined the project in the late 1980s with a study of the genetics of interspecific hybrid embryo abortion in lentil and later has extensively investigated chickpea domestication and wild peas.

While this book mainly describes our research findings, pertinent results obtained by others are also discussed and evaluated. Studying the wild relatives of legumes included evaluation of their taxonomic status, their morphological variation, ecological requirements, exploration of their distribution, and seed collection in their natural habitats. Seeds were examined for their protein profile as preliminary hints of their affinity to the cultigens and plants grown from these seeds were used for establishing their karyotype, producing intra- and interspecific hybrids and analyses of their chromosome pairing at meiosis and fertility.

The aim of these investigations was the identification of the potential wild gene pool of the domesticated forms. Assessment of genetic variation among accessions, particularly in the genus Lens, was made by isozymes and chloroplast DNA studies.

The main findings include the discovery of the chickpea wild progenitor; studies of lentil in three crossability groups; wild peas proceeded in two lines of study; faba bean and fenugreek and their wild progenitors have not yet been identified; common vetch and its related form were treated here as an aggregate (A. sativa); we found gene flow between members of different karyotypes is possible; bitter vetch and its relation to the domesticated form were established by breeding experiments.

This volume of Advances in Insect Physiology contains comprehensive interdisciplinary reviews on basic and practical aspects relevant to major target receptors for crucial physiological functions and mechanisms in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, particularly insects. Chapters emphasize advanced genomic, molecular biology, chemical, and proteomic research on the receptors and their corresponding agonist and antagonist ligands. The book encompasses target systems such as sodium channels, octopamine/tyramine receptors, ABC transporters, acetylcholinesterase as a target enzyme, juvenile hormone receptors, and receptors targeted by neuropeptides.

Covers the most common hydrocolloids, including gelatin, agar–agar, alginates, curdlan, gum arabic, xanthan gum, and more

Discusses the classification of hydrocolloids, their market and economics, and gum constituents and their effects on processing

Supplies chefs with a wealth of recipes for the use of hydrocolloids in their cooking

Includes color images of the final product for each recipe as well of the more important steps in the preparation

Contains a glossary of terms, including lesser-known food ingredients and those taken from different cultures

Lists hydrocolloid manufacturers and suppliers

While hydrocolloids have been used for centuries, it took molecular gastronomy to bring them to the forefront of modern cuisine. They are among the most commonly used ingredients in the food industry, functioning as thickeners, gelling agents, texturizers, stabilizers, and emulsifiers. They also have applications in the areas of edible coatings and flavor release. Although there are many books describing hydrocolloids and their industrial uses, Cooking Innovations: Using Hydrocolloids for Thickening, Gelling, and Emulsification is the first scientific book devoted to the unique applications of hydrocolloids in the kitchen, covering both past uses and future innovations.

Each chapter addresses a particular hydrocolloid, protein hydrocolloid, or protein–polysaccharide complex. Starting with a brief description of the chemical and physical nature of the hydrocolloid, its manufacture, and its biological/toxicological properties, the emphasis is on practical information for both the professional chef and amateur cook. Each chapter includes recipes demonstrating the particular hydrocolloid’s unique abilities in cooking. Several formulations were chosen specifically for food technologists, who will be able to manipulate them for large-scale use or as a starting point for novel industrial formulations.

The book covers the most commonly used hydrocolloids, namely, agar–agar, alginates, carrageenan and furcellaran, cellulose derivatives, curdlan, egg proteins, galactomannans, gelatin, gellan gum, gum arabic, konjac mannan, pectin, starch, and xanthan gum. It also discusses combining multiple hydrocolloids to obtain novel characteristics. This volume serves to inspire cooking students and introduce food technologists to the many uses of hydrocolloids. It is written so that chefs, food engineers, food science students, and other professionals will be able to cull ideas from the recipes and gain an understanding of the capabilities of each hydrocolloid.

Advances in Insect Physiology

Contributions from the leading researchers in entomology

Discusses arachnid physiology and behaviour

Includes in-depth reviews with valuable information for a variety of entomology disciplines

The latest volume in this series contains articles on insect growth disruptors. The papers in this special issue give rise to key themes for the future

This book describes a novel and effective use of solar energy to control soilborne pests, to maintain healthy crops, and to preserve a healthy environment.

Soil Solarization: Theory and Practice summarizes and updates the vast amount of information on soil solarization made available in the 20 years since the previous book on this topic was published. It provides the reader with an updated and comprehensive view of the solarization concept and its application, including the disinfestation of soils of plant pathogens and pests, innovations in the implementation of integrated pest management practices, and the importance of these technologies in view of changes in the kinds and uses of soil fumigants. It also summarizes new post-plant treatments for controlling plant pests and pathogens and the technology of soil disinfestation in various cropping systems.

Soil solarization is a relatively new, nonchemical method of pest and pathogen control by soil disinfestation. It was the environmentally friendly, cost effective answer to the methyl bromide crisis and through this book everyone in agriculture can come to understand the benefits of the concept made possible through advances in plastic mulch technology.

First described in 1976, it is based on solar heating and has been studied or adopted in more than 70 countries, as reflected by the more than 1,400 research papers describing its effectiveness in controlling a large variety of pests and pathogens in numerous crops. The book explains and demonstrates how the method actually triggers and induces chemical, physical, and biological changes beyond the elevation of soil temperature. It includes 28 chapters (in 6 sections) written by 42 authors who are intensively involved in the research and development on relevant topics, covering recent achievements with this method, as well as its future prospects.

In 1991, a book entitled Soil Solarization was published and detailed the progress made during the first 15 years of research and development of soil solarization. The current question was whether the progress made in soil solarization since 1991 justified the writing of a new book. The content of the current book answers that question with a resounding YES. It places soil solarization as an integral component of pest management programs in both its theoretical and practical aspects. This new title offers basic reference material, literature reviews, historical accounts, and even biographical segments, all packed with new information and research.

Each of the six sections of this new book provides specific benefits to its readers. For example, sections on the fundamental basics and practical aspects of soil solarization support researchers and those practicing, and learning to practice, this technology. The book’s use of prediction modeling allows researchers and crop production experts to better predict and perform solarization under their own conditions. The description of basic approaches as well as application technologies for various soil disinfestation methods gives researchers tools for developing new disinfestations strategies. This book gives a global look at the practice, providing people in all parts of the world with information about how they can use solarization most effectively. It shows that today, soil solarization is being implemented in environments previously considered unavailable to its benefits. Many of the challenges of climate dependency have been overcome making the work of these scientists more adaptive and available to agriculturalists in new geographic regions.

Soil Solarization: Theory and Practice is well suited for a variety of crops and agricultural expertise levels. Extension experts, policy makers in agriculture, and growers, as well as professionals employed at universities, private research organizations, and plant protection services, and even individuals involved in agriculture or agrochemistry will all come to rely on this book. It can also be helpful for those teaching students an introductory course of plant pathology, crop protection, and pest and disease management

 This book not only reflects current thinking on the topic of fusarium wilts, but considers them in the context of the greenhouse—an agricultural setting that is increasingly prevalent, particularly for certain crops. Fusarium wilts have always presented a challenge to greenhouse growers of vegetable and ornamental crops. The crops in this category are economically important and environmentally significant and their care is vital to our world economy and food supply. An update of this topic is long overdue and editors Lodiovica Gullino, Katan, and Garibaldi have led this effort to bring together their fellow leading scientists for a worldwide perspective as reflected by both the international assortment of chapter authors and the research cited.

The book begins with a current review of the genus Fusarium, its biology and epidemiology, genetics, and diagnosis. This includes coverage of improved diagnostic tools that permit better discrimination of the formae speciales, a crucial advance that is vital in this century long battle with Fusarium.

Management strategies, cultural practices, and genetic approaches for either preventing or containing the disease are covered in depth and provide an integrated arsenal of tactics—from breeding for resistance, to irrigation, to chemical controls. The case studies in the book provide specific discussions of key greenhouse crops giving the reader applied knowledge for diagnostic and prevention strategies by crop or crop type. Greenhouse growers and those that advise them will gain valuable insight to put into practice right away.

Anyone studying the impact of fusarium wilts will consider this book a major addition to the scientific knowledge on the topic. This text provides a very complete overview of fusarium wilt diseases and many of the most important hosts afflicted by them. The book will be a core resource for students, researchers, and extension professionals worldwide.