A global perspective: Viticulture expert to publish grapevine science textbook
PROSSER - WSU viticulturist Markus Keller's book is a bestseller
- and it hasn't even been published yet.
The textbook, "The Science of Grapevines: Anatomy and Physiology,"
has a Feb. 12 publication date. But based on pre-orders, it is
already an Amazon.com bestseller in the plants/physiology
category.
" 'The Science of Grapevines: Anatomy and Physiology' is the only
book to comprehensively explore the physiology of the grapevine as
it occurs around the world," Keller's publisher writes.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Distinguished Professor of Viticulture,
Keller has worked in the vineyards of his native Switzerland, where
he also earned master's and doctoral degrees. In addition to
teaching in Switzerland, Washington, Australia and Argentina, he
has conducted research in Australia and New York.
Keller is based in Washington wine country at WSU's Irrigated
Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser.
"I took a global perspective in discussing how grapevines are built
and how they work," Keller said.
The approach of Keller's book is a scientifically grounded
exploration, often applying discoveries in other plant species, of
the main physiological processes underlying grapevine form and
function, their interactions, developmental and environmental
control, and their implications for practical vineyard
management.
"The book addresses a gap not filled by other, currently available
texts, which focus on the vines of particular regions," Keller
said. "Today's student, grower and winemaker needs to know about
the scientific background in a global context while being able to
apply management practices tailored to specific varieties and
vineyard sites, because today's wine industry is global and there
has been a net increase in lands around the world being used for
grapevine cultivation.
"We see our viticulture and enology students graduating and going
to work crush in the wine regions of South America, Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa - and then following the seasons to come back
north and work in Europe and North America," he said.
Published by Elsevier's Academic Press of Burlington, Mass., the
textbook also includes important emerging topics such as global
climate change, water availability and salinity.
For more information about "The Science of Grapevines," visit the
publisher's website at
http://textbooks.elsevier.com/web/product_details.aspx?isbn=9780123748812.
The book may be ordered from Amazon.com by visiting
http://www.amazon.com/Science-Grapevines-Anatomy-Physiology/dp/012374881X