Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 14 It is difficult to over-state the importance of plant pigments in biology. Chlorophylls are arguably the most important organic compounds on earth, as they are required for photosynthesis. Carotenoids are also necessary for the survival of both plants and mammals, through their roles in photosynthesis and nutrition, respectively. The other plant pigment groups, such as flavonoids and betalains, have important roles in both the biology of plants and the organisms with which plants interact. This book provides an overview of pigment chemistry and biology, together with an up-to-date account of the biosynthesis of pigments and the modification of their production using biotechnology. The chapters cover a wide scope of pigmentation research - from the importance of structural diversity in generating the range of colours seen in plants, through to improving human health properties of crops by increasing pigment levels in transgenic plants. The volume is directed at researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics.

The flowering plants now dominate the terrestrial ecosystems of theplanet, and there are good reasons for supposing that the floweritself has been a major contributing factor to the spread of theAngiosperms. The flowers of higher plants not only contain theorgans of plant reproduction but are of fundamental importance ingiving rise to fruits and seeds which constitute a major componentof the human diet. This volume opens with a chapter describing a model for theevolution of the Angiosperm flower. Chapters 2 to 5 describe thecore development of the flower and include floral induction, floralpattering and organ initiation, floral shape and size, andinflorescence architecture. Chapters 6 to 8 focus on morespecialised aspects of floral development: monoecy, cytoplasmicmale sterility and flowering in perennials. Chapters 9 and 10address more functional aspects: flower colour and scent. The bookconcludes, appropriately, with a chapter on flowersenescence. Applied aspects are stressed wherever appropriate, and the book isdirected at researchers and professionals in plant genetics,developmental and molecular biology. The volume has been designed to complement an earlier volume in ourAnnual Plant Reviews series, O'Neill, S. D. and Roberts, J. A.(2002) Plant Reproduction.

Plant Polysaccharides, an exceptional new volume in Wiley-Blackwell’s successful Annual Plant Reviews series, covers the polysaccharides and proteins that form the fundamental architecture of the plant cell wall, and the genes that encode the cellular machinery that synthesizes them. The volume focuses on the evolution of the many families of genes whose products are required to make a particular kind of polysaccharide, bringing attention to the specific biochemical properties of the proteins to the level of kinds of sugar linkages they make. Beautifully illustrated in full colour throughout, this exceptional new volume provides cutting edge up-to-date information on such important topics as cell wall biology, composition and biosynthesis, glycosyltransferases, hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins, enzymatic modification of plant cell wall polysaccharides, glycan engineering in transgenic plants, and polysaccharide nanobiotechnology. Drawing together some of the world’s leading experts in these areas, the editor, Peter Ulvskov, has provided a landmark volume that is essential reading for plant and crop scientists, biochemists, molecular biologists and geneticists. All libraries in universities and research establishments where plant sciences, agriculture, biological, biochemical and molecular sciences are studied and taught should have copies of this important volume.

Plant growth is regulated by developmental programmes that can be modified by environmental cues acting through endogenous signaling molecules including plant hormones. This volume provides an overview of the biosynthesis, catabolism, perception and signal transduction of the individual hormone classes, followed by chapters on hormone distribution and transport, and the roles of hormone signaling in specific developmental processes. Particular attention is paid to the regulation of hormone signaling by environmental and developmental cues, sites of hormone metabolism and action, and interactions between hormone signaling pathways. The book is directed at researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry and molecular biology.

Plant Systems Biology is an excellent new addition to theincreasingly well-known and respected Annual Plant Reviews.Split into two parts, this title offers the reader: A fundamental conceptual framework for Systems Biologyincluding Network Theory The progress achieved for diverse model organisms: Prokaryotes, C. elegans and Arabidopsis The diverse sources of “omic” information necessaryfor a systems understanding of plants Insights into the software tools developed for systemsbiology Interesting case studies regarding applications includingnitrogen-use, flowering-time and root development Ecological and evolutionary considerations regarding livingsystems This volume captures the cutting edge of systems biologyresearch and aims to be an introductory material for undergraduateand graduate students as well as plant and agricultural scientists,molecular biologists, geneticists and microbiologists. It alsoserves as a foundation in the biological aspects of the field forinterested computer scientists. Libraries in all universities andresearch establishments where biological and agricultural sciencesare studied and taught and integrated with Computer Sciences shouldhave copies of this important volume on their shelves.

This long-awaited second edition covers the major changes that have occurred in the field over the last decade Completely revised with the most up-to-date research and including brand new chapters, Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 50: Plant Mitochondria, 2nd Edition presents the multifaceted roles of mitochondria in plants. The book starts with a short history of plant mitochondrial research; discusses how coevolution shaped plant mitochondrial gene expression; explains control of number, shape, size, and motility of mitochondria; delves into stress responses and roles in stress alleviation in mitochondrial biochemistry; covers the damage repair pathway of the Calvin-Benson cycle; and more. Containing sections written by many of the world’s leading researchers in this area, this book brings together and reviews for the first time many recent advances. It offers chapters on: Bioblasts, Cytomikrosomen & Chondriosomes; The Crosstalk Between Genomes; The Dynamic Chondriome; Metal Homeostasis in Plant Mitochondria; RNA Metabolism and Transcript Regulation; Mitochondrial Regulation and Signalling in the Photosynthetic Cell; Mitochondrial Biochemistry; Ecophysiology of Plant Respiration; Photorespiration; and Mitochondria and Cell Death. Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 50: Plant Mitochondria, 2nd Edition is an extremely important and timely book that will be of great use and interest to plant scientists, cell and molecular biologists, and biochemists.

The scientific and economic significance of plant senescence means that much effort has been made to understand the processes involved and to devise means of manipulating them agriculturally. During the past few years there has been considerable progress in this regard, especially in the molecular, genetic and genomic aspects. Senescence has a tremendous impact on agriculture. For example, leaf senescence limits crop yield and biomass production, and contributes substantially to postharvest loss in vegetable and ornamental crops during transportation, storage and on shelves. In addition, proteins, antioxidants and other nutritional compounds are degraded during senescence. Senescing tissues also become more susceptible to pathogen infection, and some of the pathogens may produce toxins, rendering food unsafe. Mitotic senescence may also determine sizes of leaves, fruits and whole plants. This volume summarizes recent progresses in the physiology, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, and biotechnology of plant senescence. Beginning with a chapter on senescence-related terminology and our current knowledge of mitotic senescence in plants (a less well-studied area), the book focuses on post-mitotic senescence, and includes chapters addressing the senescence of leaves, flowers and fruits. Later chapters examine the development of various new biotechnologies for manipulating the senescence processes of fruit and leaves, some of which are approaching commercialization. The book is directed at researchers and professionals in plant molecular genetics, physiology and biochemistry.