Geoffrey Dixon

The Brassica genus contains diverse and economically important species and crops, for example, Brassica oleracea including cauliflower to kohlrabi, B.rapa including pak choi to mizuna, and aquatic crucifers such as watercress. These provide humankind with huge diversities of foods, promoting health and well-being. This substantially expanded second edition reflects the significant advances in knowledge of plant breeding and crop production which have occurred since publication of the original book in 2006. Embracing new Brassicaceae research and concepts of sustainable and automated crop production, topics include: Brassica evolution and transcontinental spread as the basis for crop breeding Gene-editing, rapid sequencing, genetic markers and linkage mapping to enable efficient plant breeding Seed development, F1 cultivars and rapid maturing crops for profitable cropping Environmental impacts on pests, pathogens, crop reliability and quality Soil health and fertility as agronomic principles Environmental sustainability, biocontrol and integrated pest management Vegetable brassicas as nutrient-rich foods for optimal health benefits An invaluable resource for all those involved in Brassica production, this is essential reading for researchers and students in horticulture and plant science, growers, producers, consultants and industry advisors.

This is the first of two books published together in one volume entitled '... And So the Snake Spoke'. It is a thrilling adventure story that also gives us exciting insights into some well-known puzzles. Chad, a research geologist and amateur Egyptologist from Boston University, is on his way via Egypt to visit his astrophysicist brother Tom, in Sydney, for his 50th birthday celebration. Within hours of arriving in Cairo, Chad is confronted with evidence, which may challenge everything we ever knew about the ancient Egyptians, and the claim that they built the pyramids. From Chad's perspective as a geologist, and his brother's as an astrophysicist, it becomes uncomfortably clear that the official narrative on Earth's history must be wrong. The author is an astrophysicist, who has lived and worked internationally. The Wolf Cataclysm is a highly original fictional story, which weaves a colourful tapestry, linking some of the World's greatest unexplained mysteries to lead to a most obvious conclusion. Extremely controversial in its suggestion, the reader is left with a shocking insight into an alternative Earth history, a revelation from which it may be difficult to escape. From the author's preface: "We all want to know what happens in the end. Why were the pyramids built? What do they represent? Why is the World covered in dolmens, stone circles, and other complex megalithic structures and hundreds of similar friezes of ancient geometrical cave art? If you have been trying to build a time machine to find out, you can stop. This book saves you the trouble. - I only hope you are brave enough to face the harsh reality and consequences of your desire to know the truth." The author is an astrophysicist, who has lived and worked internationally. And So the Snake Spoke, is a highly original fictional story, which weaves a colourful tapestry, linking some of the World's greatest unexplained mysteries to lead to a most obvious conclusion. Extremely controversial in its suggestion, the reader is left with a shocking insight into an alternative Earth history, a revelation from which it may be difficult to escape. The book includes several illustrations by the author.