This book summarizes the design of drought-tolerant crops through CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing, focusing on reprogramming gene expression patterns that regulate the balance of plant hormones. The organic farming system is presented to highlight the potential role of alleviating changing climate-related abiotic stress. The current knowledge of artificial photosynthesis systems and cellular processes related to photosynthetic biochemistry was illustrated. Additionally, it explores intriguing subtopics of plant physiology, including an alternative natural rubber source and plant reproductive strategies, contributing to advancements in agricultural biotechnology. Recommended for students, teachers, and researchers interested in applied plant physiology, plant biochemistry, and crop breeding.

Since photosynthetic performance is a fundamental determinant of yield in the vast majority of crops, an understanding of the factors limiting photosynthetic productivity has a crucial role to play in crop improvement programmes. Photosynthesis, unlike the majority of physiological processes in plants, has been the subject of extensive studies at the molecular level for many years. This reductionist approach has resulted in the development of an impressive and detailed understanding of the mechanisms of light capture, energy transduction and carbohydrate biosynthesis, processes that are clearly central to the success of the plant and the productivity of crops. This volume examines in the widest context the factors determining the photosynthetic performance of crops. The emphasis throughout the book is on the setting for photosynthesis rather than the fundamental process itself. The book will prove useful to a wide range of plant scientists, and will encourage a more rapid integration of disciplines in the quest to understand and improve the productivity of crops by the procedures of classical breeding and genetic manipulation.

This textbook is second edition of popular textbook of plant physiology and metabolism. The first edition of this book gained noteworthy acceptance (more than 4.9 Million downloads) among graduate and masters level students and faculty world over, with many Universities recommending it as a preferred reading in their syllabi. The second edition provides up to date and latest information on all the topics covered while also including the basic concepts. The text is supported with clear, easy to understand Figures, Tables, Box items, summaries, perspectives, thought-provoking multiple-choice questions, latest references for further reading, glossary and a detailed subject index. Authors have also added a number of key concepts, discoveries in the form of boxed- items in each chapter. Plant physiology deals with understanding the various processes, functioning, growth, development and survival of plants in normal and stressful conditions. The study involves analysis of the above-stated processes at molecular, sub-cellular, cellular, tissue and plant level in relation with its surrounding environment. Plant physiology is an experimental science, and its concepts are very rapidly changing through applications from chemical biology, cytochemical, fluorometric, biochemical and molecular techniques, and metabolomic and proteomic analysis. Consequently, this branch of modern plant biology has experienced significant generation of new information in most areas. The newer concepts so derived are being also rapidly put into applications in crop physiology. Novel molecules, such nanourea, nitric oxide, gaseous signalling molecules like hydrogen sulphide, are rapidly finding significant applications among crop plants. This textbook, therefore, brings forth an inclusive coverage of the field contained in 35 chapters, divided into five major units. It serves as essential reading material for post-graduate and undergraduate students of botany, plant sciences, plant physiology, agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences. This textbook is also of interest to teachers, researchers, scientists, and policymakers.

Functional genomics is a young discipline whose origin can be traced back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when molecular tools became available to determine the cellular functions of genes. Today, functional genomics is p- ceived as the analysis, often large-scale, that bridges the structure and organi- tion of genomes and the assessment of gene function. The completion in 2000 of the genome sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana has created a number of new and exciting challenges in plant functional genomics. The immediate task for the plant biology community is to establish the functions of the approximately 25,000 genes present in this model plant. One major issue that will remain even after this formidable task is c- pleted is establishing to what degree our understanding of the genome of one model organism, such as the dicot Arabidopsis, provides insight into the or- nization and function of genes in other plants. The genome sequence of rice, completed in 2002 as a result of the synergistic interaction of the private and public sectors, promises to significantly enrich our knowledge of the general organization of plant genomes. However, the tools available to investigate gene function in rice are lagging behind those offered by other model plant systems. Approaches available to investigate gene function become even more limited for plants other than the model systems of Arabidopsis, rice, and maize.

Plant Growth and Regulation - Alterations to Sustain Unfavorable Conditions consists of five chapters written by scientists from different parts of the world, who are experts in their respective focuses of research. The topics cover the physical growth and physiological and genetic alterations in plants, particularly under environmental stress conditions. The storyline of this book starts from the plant community, followed by cellular and ultrastructural phenomenes occurring within the plant in its interaction with the environment, and ends with elucidation of chloroplast's DNAs, their transfer to the nucleus, and the genetic engineering technology applicable for plant adaptation to changing environmental conditions. This book is aimed at attracting the attention of students, teachers, as well as scientists who have a similar focus of study or interest. It contains advanced studies in the respective chapters.

Environmental insults such as extremes of temperature, extremes of water status, and deteriorating soil conditions pose major threats to agriculture and food security. Employing contemporary tools and techniques from all branches of science, attempts are being made worldwide to understand how plants respond to abiotic stresses with the aim to manipulate plant performance that is better suited to withstand these stresses. This book searches for possible answers to several basic questions related to plant responses towards abiotic stresses. Synthesizing developments in plant stress biology, the book offers strategies that can be used in breeding, including genomic, molecular, physiological, and biotechnological approaches that have the potential to develop resilient plants and improve crop productivity worldwide.