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