Phytohormones are known to affect the growth and development of plant directly as well as indirectly. Salicylic acid (SA) is a phenolic phytohormone which induces systemic resistance in plants and also regulates defence responses. The derivatives of SA also play an important role in the regulation of various physiological and developmental processes in plants under normal and stressful environmental conditions. SA regulates seed germination, photosynthesis, ethylene biosynthesis, enzyme activities, nutrition, flowering, legume nodulation and overall growth and development of plant. Recently, advancement in elucidating the specific pathways of SA signal transduction has been noticed which helps in understanding the expression of specific genes associated with different developmental programs. The horizon of SA-mediated regulation of various physiological processes has also expanded, and various studies enumerating the efficacy of exogenously applied SA in practical agriculture have also been documented. Therefore, information regarding such recent developments needs to be compiled in the form of a book. This book aims to provide a collective information regarding SA which makes it a versatile plant growth regulator. The chapters included both theoretical and practical aspects that could be of immense use for researches and possible significant developments in future. It is intended that this book will be a help for students, teachers, and researchers, in understanding the relation between the phytohormone and agricultural sciences.

Since the publication of "The coconut palm - A monograph" in 1960, considerable information has been accrued on the crop through work at research institutes, international organisations and development agencies. Although coconut cultivation is spread over 93 countries, providing employment and creating livelihood opportunities to 64 million families around the globe, smallholder coconut farmers are now facing numerous challenges. The wide gap between the potential and actual yield is a major concern, and as such it is necessary to disseminate knowledge in order to implement research findings. Coconut research in India, one of the leading coconut producing countries, is celebrating its centenary, making this an opportune time to review the research and development advances and the relevant technologies. This detailed, comprehensive book covers all aspects of coconut, from the origins to cultivation, breeding, physiology and value addition, as well as subjects of topical interest like nutrition and health, biotechnology, and climate change and carbon sequestration. Written by leading experts in the fields it emphasises that the livelihood of the small coconut landholders is the ultimate aim of scientists and developmental agencies, and outlines various important strategies to make coconut farming more remunerative globally. It discusses work in all the major coconut growing countries and outlines suggestions for international cooperation. Research work on the crop is comparatively difficult because of its perennial nature, longevity, height, long juvenile phase, large sized nuts, cross pollination and seed propagation. As these special features necessitate greater investment of resources, time and land, it is all the more imperative that research is not duplicated and the information and experience becoming available around the world is shared so that it can be fully utilised. In this context periodic publications, compiling all the available information on coconut assume greater significance. This book is therefore of great value to researchers, students, extension workers, developmental agencies and progressive farmers.

Plants are endowed with innate immune system, which acts as a surveillance system against possible attack by pathogens. Plant innate immune systems have high potential to fight against viral, bacterial, oomycete and fungal pathogens and protect the crop plants against wide range of diseases. However, the innate immune system is a sleeping system in unstressed healthy plants. Fast and strong activation of the plant immune responses aids the host plants to win the war against the pathogens. Plant hormone signaling systems including salicylate (SA), jasmonate (JA), ethylene (ET), abscisic acid (ABA), auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins and brassinosteroids signaling systems play a key role in activation of the sleeping immune systems. Suppression or induction of specific hormone signaling systems may result in disease development or disease resistance. Specific signaling pathway has to be activated to confer resistance against specific pathogen in a particular host. Two forms of induced resistance, systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR), have been recognized based on the induction of specific hormone signaling systems. Specific hormone signaling system determines the outcome of plant-pathogen interactions, culminating in disease development or disease resistance. Susceptibility or resistance against a particular pathogen is determined by the action of the signaling network. The disease outcome is often determined by complex network of interactions among multiple hormone signaling pathways. Manipulation of the complex hormone signaling systems and fine tuning the hormone signaling events would help in management of various crop diseases. The purpose of the book is to critically examine the potential methods to manipulate the multiple plant hormone signaling systems to aid the host plants to win the battle against pathogens.

This book will shed light on the effect of salt stress on plants development, proteomics, genomics, genetic engineering, and plant adaptations, among other topics. Understanding the molecular basis will be helpful in developing selection strategies for improving salinity tolerance. The book will cover around 25 chapters with contributors from all over the world.

"Advances in Botanical Research" publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 68th volume, the series features varied reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This thematic volume features reviews on a new light on alkaloid biosynthesis and future prospects.
In-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciencesFeatures varied reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecologyFeatures reviews on biosynthesis of alkaloids in plants

This book focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the signal transduction pathway of ethylene, its interaction with other hormones and its roles in biological processes. It discusses at which point plants could have acquired ethylene signaling from an evolutionary perspective. Ethylene was the first gaseous hormone to be identified and triggers various responses in higher plants. Our grasp of ethylene signaling has rapidly expanded over the past two decades, due in part to the isolation of the components involved in the signal transduction pathway. The book offers a helpful guide for plant scientists and graduate students in related areas.

"Advances in Botanical Research" publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 67th volume, the series features several reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This thematic volume features reviews on metabolomics coming of age with its technological diversity.
Publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciencesFeatures a wide range of reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecologyVolume features reviews on metabolomics coming of age with its technological diversity

This book contains the proceedings of the International Symposium on the Mechanisms of Sexual Reproduction in Animals and Plants, where many plant and animal reproductive biologists gathered to discuss their recent progress in investigating the shared mechanisms and factors involved in sexual reproduction. This now is the first book that reviews recent progress in almost all fields of plant and animal fertilization. It was recently reported that the self-sterile mechanism of a hermaphroditic marine invertebrate (ascidian) is very similar to the self-incompatibility system in flowering plants. It was also found that a male factor expressed in the sperm cells of flowering plants is involved in gamete fusion not only of plants but also of animals and parasites. These discoveries have led to the consideration that the core mechanisms or factors involved in sexual reproduction may be shared by animals, plants and unicellular organisms. This valuable book is highly useful for reproductive biologists as well as for biological scientists outside this field in understanding the current progress of reproductive biology.

This book highlights current Cannabis research: its botany, authentication, biotechnology, in vitro propagation, chemistry, cannabinoids biosynthesis, metabolomics, genomics, biomass production, quality control, and pharmacology. Cannabis sativa L. (Family: Cannabaceae) is one of the oldest sources of fiber, food and medicine. This plant has been of interest to researchers, general public and media not only due to its medicinal properties but also the controversy surrounding its illicit use. Cannabis has a long history of medicinal use in the Middle East and Asia, being first introduced as a medicine in Western Europe in the early 19th century. Due to its numerous natural constituents, Cannabis is considered a chemically complex species. It contains a unique class of terpeno-phenolic compounds (cannabinoids or phytocannabinoids), which have been extensively studied since the discovery of the chemical structure of tetrah ydrocannabinol ( 9-THC), commonly known as THC, the main constituent responsible for the plant's psychoactive effects. An additionally important cannabinoid of current interest is Cannabidiol (CBD). There has been a significant interest in CBD and CBD oil (extract of CBD rich Cannabis) over the last few years because of its reported activity as an antiepileptic agent, particularly its potential use in the treatment of intractable epilepsy in children.

This detailed book provides general protocols and technologies that plant biologists worldwide often utilize for the purpose of accelerating research progress in the field of plant transcription factors. Beginning with a brief introduction, the volume continues by exploring methods in the preparation of plant materials, detection of expression levels, interaction tests, and chromatin analyses. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Plant Transcription Factors: Methods and Protocols aims to answer a wide range of questions related to transcription factors commonly raised by plant biologists.

This book describes the basic botanical features of kiwifruit and its wild relatives, reports on the steps that led to its genome sequencing, and discusses the results obtained with the assembly and annotation. The core chapters provide essential insights into the main gene families that characterize this species as a crop, including the genes controlling sugar and starch metabolism, pigment biosynthesis and degradation, the ascorbic-acid pathway, fruit softening and postharvest metabolism, allergens, and resistance to pests and diseases. The book offers a valuable reference guide for taxonomists, geneticists and horticulturists. Further, since information gained from the genome sequence is extraordinarily useful in assessing the breeding value of individuals based on whole-genome scans, it will especially benefit plant breeders. Accordingly, chapters are included that focus on gene introgression from wild relatives and genome-based breeding.

This volume provides the reader with step-by-step methods to study plant ARGONAUTE (AGO) functions. Chapters in Plant Argonaute Poteins: Methods and Protocols summarize the main biochemical, molecular and cytological methods to study AGO-small RNA complexes and their interactions with target RNAs, AGO subcellular localization, AGO association with polysomes, AGO role in meiosis and DNA repair, methods for the identification, cloning and characterization of AGO genes in different plant species, and non-radioactive protocols for small RNA detection. Finally, a series of chapters describing computational methods to study plant AGO function and evolution are provided. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Plant Argonaute Proteins: Methods and Protocols aims to deliver the most complete and updated list of protocols to study plant AGO function.

Advan ces in production technology.- System analysis of yield trials can raise efficiency of breeding for yield.- Research needs in the production of high quality seeds.- Breeding for quality and resistance to fusarial wilt in gladiolus.- Reproductive biology of potato: Basis for true seed production.- Resistance breeding under coordinated programme.- Quality improvement of Punjab grapes.- Exploitation of allien genes for yellow vein mosaic resistance in okra.- Use of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) as biofertilizer for horticultural plants in developing countries.- Foliar feeding of zinc and iron in peach.- Conservation of wild plants of horticultural importance from Tumkur district, Karnataka.- Potential of seed storage at ambient temperature using organic liquids to avoid refrigeration.- Chemical weeding as a labour saving device in management of fruit nurseries.- Role of germplasm in Citrus rootstock improvement.- Comparative efficacy of single and split applied nitrogen on yield and quality of 'Perlette' grapes.- Induced mutations recovered in M2 and subsequent generations in three varieties of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench).- Plant genetic manipulation.- Role of viruses in plant biotechnology.- Microbial populations, host-specific virulence & plant resistance genes.- Genetically engineered resistance in plants against viral infection.- Genetic engineering and transformation of monocots for crop improvement.- Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer in Citrus reticulata Blanco.- Regeneration and genetic transformation studies in watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris L. cv. Melitopolski).- Molecular aspects of cytokinin's stymied action on auxin-mediated new root formation in the hypocotyls of Phaseolus vulgaris L..- Plant cell and tissue culture.- Commercial aspects of micropropagation.- Large scale micropropagation: it's strategic use in horticulture.- Micropropagation of bulb crops.- Current status of forest biotechnology.- Large scale secondary metabolite production: the sanguinarine story.- Current research on micropropagation of Sulcorebutia alba Rausch, Syringa vulgaris L., Hip-peastrum hybrids and Tulipa hybrids.- Plant cell culture and food biotechnology: current trends and future prospects.- Tissue culture propagation: problems and potentials.- Micropropagation and plant conformity in Anthurium andreanum.- Rapid in vitro propagation of virus-indexed Freesia.- Effect of culture media and growth regulators on in vitro propagation of rose.- Shoot tip culture method for rapid clonal propagation of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.).- Tissue culture strategies for banana.- Gynogenic plants from ovary cultures of Mulberry (Morus indica).- Induction of high frequency somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in mandarins.- Tissue culture of medicinal plants: morphogenesis, direct regeneration and somatic embryogenesis.- Production of important phytochemicals through plant cell cultures and scale-up operations: limitations and prospects.- Establishment of somatic cell culture and plant regeneration in grapes (Vitis vinifera L.).- In-ovulo embryo culture in seedless grapes (Vitis vinifera L.).- Micropropagation of Davana (Artemisia pallens Wall.) by tissue culture.- Clonal propagation of bamboo, coffee and mimosa.- Greenhouse technology.- Greenhouse environmental control for Indian conditions.- New seed-grown cut flowers for floriculture industry.- Cut flowers in the Western Hemisphere.- Decision support for integrated greenhouse production systems.- Greenhouse pot plant production in the United States.- Robotics applications to transplanting of plug seedlings.- Plant health and crop protection.- Immunological and molecular approaches to the diagnosis of viruses infecting horticultural crops.- Viruses of ornamentals - identification and diagnosis.- Protein-A supplemented immune electron microscopy for diagnosis of potato viruses X, S, Y and leafroll.- Production of virus-tested seed potatoes.- Pesticide deconta

This book provides in-depth information on all key aspects of geminivirus biology, e.g. the genetics and evolution, global diversity and spread of these plant pathogens, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying their virulence. Geminiviridae is one of the largest viral families, comprising numerous plant-infecting viruses that cause diseases in crops and weeds. These diseases have been reported from nearly all continents, in particular Asia, Europe, Africa and America. The book summarizes the current state of knowledge on the interactions between plant host and virus. In addition, it discusses advances regarding the trans-replication of satellite molecules and its effect on geminiviral pathogenesis, as well as pest management strategies to combat these diseases in the field. Given its scope, the book is a must-read reference guide for all researchers and advanced students working in virology, agriculture and plant biotechnology..

The book centres around an analysis of the options for the agronomic development of semiarid regions with winter rains (i.e. Mediterranean regions). Data obtained in the northern Negev desert in Israel served as a starting point. On the basis of these data crop and sheep husbandry systems were designed and integrated into agro-pastoral systems in which small-grain crops act as a buffer for feed production. These systems serves as a basis for rational planning of regional agricultural development under alternative development objectives. In analyzing the possibilities a three-step approach was developed: first the feasibility and robustness of selected innovative techniques at the farm level were investigated in relation to variability in weather and prices, then a matrix of production techniques for a region was formulated in terms of their physical imputs and outputs, and finally this matrix was embedded into a dynamic multiple-goal linear programming model. In comparing results for different goals, the consequencess for goal achievement and desired production techniques can be made explicit, and in this way the book can be a guide for actual development planning in semiarid regions.

Abiotic stresses such as high temperature, low-temperature, drought, and salinity limit crop productivity worldwide. Understanding plant responses to these stresses is essential for rational engineering of crop plants. In Arabidopsis, the signal transduction pathways for abiotic stresses, light, several phytohormones and pathogenesis have been elucidated. A significant portion of plant genomes (most studies are Arabidopsis and rice genome) encodes for proteins involves in signaling such as receptor, sensors, kinases, phosphatases, transcription factors and transporters/channels. Despite decades of physiological and molecular effort, knowledge pertaining to how plants sense and transduce low and high temperature, low-water availability (drought), water-submergence and salinity signals is still a major question before plant biologists. One major constraint hampering our understanding of these signal transduction processes in plants has been the lack or slow pace of application of molecular genomic and genetics knowledge in the form of gene function. In the post-genomic era, one of the major challenges is investigation and understanding of multiple genes and gene families regulating a particular physiological and developmental aspect of plant life cycle. One of the important physiological processes is regulation of stress response, which leads to adaptation or adjustment in response to adverse stimuli. With the holistic understanding of the signaling pathways involving not only one gene family but multiple genes or gene families, plant biologists can lay a foundation for designing and generating future crops that can withstand the higher degree of environmental stresses (especially abiotic stresses, which are the major cause of crop loss throughout the world) without losing crop yield and productivity. Therefore, in this proposed book, we intend to incorporate the contribution from leading plant biologists to elucidate several aspects of stress signaling by functional genomic approaches.

This book mainly presents the current state of knowledge on the use of of Silicon (Si) in agriculture, including plants, soils and fertilizers. At the same time, it discusses the future interdisciplinary research that will be needed to further our knowledge and potential applications of Si in agriculture and in the environmental sciences in general. As the second most abundant element both on the surface of the Earth's crust and in soils, Si is an agronomically essential or quasi-essential element for improving the yield and quality of crops. Addressing the use of Si in agriculture in both theory and practice, the book is primarily intended for graduate students and researchers in various fields of the agricultural, biological, and environmental sciences, as well as for agronomic and fertilizer industry experts and advisors. Dr. Yongchao Liang is a full professor at the College of Environmental and Resource Sciences of the Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Dr. Miroslav Nikolic is a research professor at the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research of the University of Belgrade, Serbia. Dr. Richard Belanger is a full professor at the Department of Plant Pathology of the Laval University, Canada and holder of a Canada Research Chair in plant protection. Dr. Haijun Gong is a full professor at College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, China. Dr. Alin Song is an associate professor at Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.

This book describes the unique characean experimental system, which provides a simplified model for many aspects of the physiology, transport and electrophysiology of higher plants. The first chapter offers a thorough grounding in the morphology, taxonomy and ecology of Characeae plants. Research on characean detached cells in steady state is summarised in Chapter 2, and Chapter 3 covers characean detached cells subjected to calibrated and mostly abiotic types of stress: touch, wounding, voltage clamp to depolarised and hyperpolarised potential difference levels, osmotic and saline stress. Chapter 4 highlights cytoplasmic streaming, cell-to-cell transport, gravitropism, cell walls and the role of Characeae in phytoremediation. The book is intended for researchers and students using the characean system and will also serve as an invaluable reference resource for electrophysiologists working on higher plants.