The second edition of this volume focuses on applied bioinformatics with specific applications to crops and model plants. Plant Bioinformatics: Methods and Protocols is aimed at plant biologists who have an interest in, or requirement for, accessing and manipulating huge amounts of data being generated by high throughput technologies. This book would also be of interest to bioinformaticians and computer scientists who would benefit from an introduction to the different tools and systems available for plant research. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and software, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and thorough, Plant Bioinformatics: Methods and Protocols helps researchers with the increasing volume and diversity of data from different plants and also the integration of multiple diverse forms of data.

This collection reviews current advances in the breeding and cultivation of key tropical and subtropical fruits. Chapters summarise key advances across the value chain for citrus fruit cultivation, including citrus genetics, nutrition and other aspects of cultivation, the use of precision agriculture and developments in integrated pest management (IPM). Two case studies on limes and mandarins highlight the range of improvements in cultivation. The book also summarises recent developments in breeding and cultivation techniques for a range of soft tropical fruits, including banana, kiwifruit, lychee, papaya, pineapple and pomegranate. The final part of the book covers developments in breeding and cultivation techniques for a range of stone and other tropical fruit, including avocado, coconut, guava, jackfruit, mangos and olives.

Ornamental plants include herbaceous plants produced as bedding plants, greenhouse pot plants and cut flowers, as well as bulbs, trees, shrubs and vines. Ornamental plant production is of major and increasing importance worldwide. Basic scientific research in recent years has provided a better understanding of plant regeneration, genetics, growth and development. This has led to the development of technologies which can significantly improve ornamental species. This book reviews recent advances in the biotechnology of ornamentals. For example, genes have recently been identified for flower characteristics and pest resistance and these have been engineered into ornamental species. The book is divided into four main parts and is written by authors from the USA, UK, Canada, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand. It is aimed primarily at workers in horticulture and plant biotechnology, but will also be of interest to plant physiologists, geneticists and molecular biologists.

Clear and concise, this easy-to-use book offers an introductory course on the language of gene cloning, covering microbial, plant, and mammalian systems. It presents the nuts and bolts of gene cloning in a well-organized and accessible manner. Part I of this book outlines the essentials of biology and genetics relevant to the concept of gene cloning. Part II describes common techniques and approaches of gene cloning, ranging from the basic mechanics of DNA manipulation, vector systems, process transformation, to gene analysis. Part III & IV present application technologies of major impact in agriculture, biomedicine, and related areas. The ABCs of Gene Cloning, Third Edition contains updates including a tutorial chapter on gene-vector construction, methodologies on exome sequencing in finding disease genes, revised topics on gene therapy and whole genome sequencing, new developments for gene targeting and genome editing, as well as the current state of next generation sequencing. With more than 140 illustrations, this new edition provides an invaluable text for students and anyone who have interest in gaining proficiency in reading and speaking the language of gene cloning.

"Ecological Aspects of Nitrogen Acquisition explores not only how plants compete for nitrogen in complex ecological communities The book also looks in greater detail at the associations plants recruit with other organisms, ranging from soil microbes to arthropods, as nitrogen acquisition strategies, and how these contribute to individual and evolutionary fitness. The book is divided into four sections, each addressing an important set of relationships of plants with the environment and how this impacts the plant's ability to compete successfully for nitrogen, often the most growth-limiting nutrient. Ecological Aspects of Nitrogen Acquisition provides thorough coverage of this important topic, and will be a vitally important resource for plant scientists, agronomists, and ecologists"--

Improvements in adaptation and maturity leading to greater yield are the most important criteria for the acceptance of a new crop cultivar, since it is the yield which dictates the economic value of the crop. Therefore, yield improvement is one goal of virtually every crop breeding program. Many such programs have tended to concentrate on identifying the genetic traits responsible for higher yield and selecting each of them in the later stages of the breeding cycle. However, selection for yield per se is still the most effective method, since it is a combination of traits, operating within the limits of the system, which finally determines yield. This book presents a whole-system, or holistic viewpoint for the improvement of adaptation, maturity and yield. Central to its thesis is recognition that system-established changes in levels of the components of the plant system, within a constant capacity, i.e. within the limitations of the system, determines yield and other cultivar characteristics. It goes on to describe how this can improve our understanding of plant systems and enable breeders to maximize performance under prevailing field conditions. Based principally on 25 years of research by the authors, the ideas presented in this book are essential reading for crop physiologists and plant breeders.

Lupins have until recently remained wild or semi-domesticated species of minor interest to agriculture, although their value as a rotation crop was noted 2,000 years ago. However, with the advent of the science of genetics in the early twentieth century, full domestication of Lupinus species for use as crops was begun, by the combination of favourable genes such as those for low alkaloid content, non-shattering pods and soft seeds. As a result several lupin species have become an important part of temperate farming systems as a high protein crop for both animal and human consumption. This book gives an authoritative account of the history, distribution and taxonomy of Lupinus species and the current knowledge of all aspects of their agronomy and impact on agriculture, including breeding, genetics and biotechnology, nutrition, nitrogen fixation, transport physiology, toxins, stress responses, pests and diseases, agronomy and farming systems, composition and food uses, economic value and trade. Contributions are made by researchers in Australia and Europe who have had key roles in lupin research. The book is essential reading for botanists, agronomists, plant breeders and geneticists involved with lupins and other grain legumes or with an interest in crop domestication and evolution. It also provides important information for lecturers and students of agriculture and for professionals in the livestock and food industries.

Genetics has transformed plant pathology on two occasions: first when Mendelian genetics enabled the discovery that disease resistance was a heritable trait in plants, and secondly when Flor proposed the "gene-for-gene" hypothesis to explain his observations of plant-parasite interactions, based on his work on flax rust in North Dakota starting in the 1930s. Our knowledge of the genetics of disease resistance and host-pathogen coevolution is now entering a new phase as a result of the cloning of the first resistance genes. This book provides a broad review of recent developments in this important and expanding subject. Both agricultural and natural host-pathogen situations are addressed. While most of the book focuses on plant pathology, in the usual sense of the term embracing fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens, there is also consideration of parasitic plants and a chapter demonstrating lessons to be learnt from the mammalian immune system. Three overall themes are addressed: genetic analyses and utilization of resistance; population genetics; and cell biology and molecular genetics. Chapters are based on papers presented at the British Society for Plant Pathology Presidential meeting held in December 1995, but all have been revised and updated to mid-1996. Written by leading authorities from North America, Europe and Australia, the book represents an essential update for workers in plant genetics, breeding, biotechnology and pathology.

Biological management of nutrient supply to plants is intrinsically more complex than the provision of nutrients as inorganic fertilizers. We need to know whether the nutrients released are retained or lost from the system, whether rates of decomposition can be manipulated to improve nutrient use efficiency, and how the various fractions of plant residues translate into pools of organic matter in soil. Only then can predictive models for nutrient release, plant uptake and soil organic matter dynamics be truly tested and validated. This book brings together contemporary ideas on the characterization and manipulation of plant quality and especially its role in soil organic matter formation and nutrient cycling. It contains work from the leading workers in both temperate and tropical systems. There are also contributions describing work outside decomposition in soil ecosystems, such as the work of plant biochemists and animal nutritionists, as research in these areas has provided many ideas and concepts used in plant quality analysis. A wide range of topics is covered from investigations at the molecular level through to management options for farmers in relation to optimising biological management of crop residues. The work presented in this volume is valuable to all those researching and managing the supply of nutrients to plants. It is important reading for soil scientists, plant physiologists and crop scientists.

This comprehensive book highlights the importance of Cyanidioschyzon merolae (C. merolae), an ultrasmall unicellular red alga, as a model eukaryote organism. The chapters introduce recent studies on C. merolae, from culture, synchronization and isolation methods of nucleic acids, proteins and organelles for molecular biological and cytological analyses, as well as its application in genetic engineering of environmental-stress-tolerant crops and oil production. In addition to discussing recent advances based on the complete genome information and molecular biological techniques such as genetic modifications and bioinformatics, the book includes visualization aids demonstrating that both classical and recent imaging techniques of fluorescent and electron microscopy can be applied to analyses of C. merolae. This publication offers a definitive resource for both beginners and professionals studying C. merolae, particularly in the field of molecular biology, evolutionary biology, morphology, biochemistry and cell biology, as well as those interested in its applications in medical sciences and agriculture.

This book provides a comprehensive review of advances in breeding techniques for cereals such as wheat, barley maize and rye. Part 1 discusses ways of better exploiting genetic diversity through techniques such as trait introgression. Parts 2-3 then summarise developments in the use of doubled haploids and hybrid breeding methods. Parts 4-5 review advances in high throughput phenotyping and its use in identifying markers for breeding using techniques such as genome-wide association studies and nested association mapping.

This book is a comprehensive account of recent advances in the endophytic research. It covers recent perspective of endophytic research, molecular diversity, bioprospecting of novel genes using high throughput molecular techniques, and most importantly application of endophytes in practicing sustainable agriculture. Endophytic micro-organisms are mysterious living component associated mutually with plant roots and soil microbes. Various endophytic bacteria have attracted considerable attention for their ability to promote plant growth through direct mechanisms or by acting as biocontrol agents. Endophytes also find use in biocontrol, medicine, agriculture and food industry. This is a useful reading for the student of agriculture, environmental microbiology and biotechnology.

Understanding the physiology of plants is fundamental to horticultural studies and practice. Aimed at undergraduates, this major textbook covers applied aspects of physiology related to horticultural crops. The author discusses specific physiological processes in relation to horticultural management, maintaining a focus throughout on how horticultural practices influence plant productivity and quality. Principles of Horticultural Physiology begins by guiding students through the basics of plant physiology; plant anatomy and plant classification, before covering plant hormones, growth and development, and factors related to the external environment including water, light, temperature and soil. Greenhouse culture is also discussed, as well as practical management techniques including seeding, pruning and grafting. The book concludes with real-world horticultural considerations of harvesting crops, packaging and transportation, postharvest physiology and marketing plant products, as well as a fascinating chapter on plants and human nutrition. One of the text's chief virtues is the accessible way the author conveys sometimes complex information in an easy to follow style. An ideal resource for undergraduate students of horticulture, this book will act as a guide throughout the entire course.

Genetically uniform cultivars in many self-pollinated cereal crops dominate commercial production in high-input environments especially due to their high grain yields and wide geographical adaptation. These cultivars generally perform well under favorable and high-input farming systems but their optimal performance cannot be achieved on marginal/organic lands or without the use of external chemical inputs (fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides). Cereal breeding programs aim at evaluating candidate lines/cultivars for agronomic, disease and quality traits in a weed free environment that makes it impossible to identify traits conferring competitive ability against weeds. Moreover, quantification of competitive ability is a complex phenomenon which is affected by range of growth traits. Above (e.g. light) and below (e.g. water and nutrients) ground resources also influence competitiveness to a greater extent. Competitiveness is quantitatively inherited trait which is heavily influenced by many factors including genotype, management, environment and their interaction. Sound plant breeding techniques and good experimental designs are prerequisites for maximizing genetic gains to breed cultivars for organically managed lands. The brief is focused on breeding wheat for enhanced competitive ability along with other agronomic, genetic and molecular studies that have been undertaken to improve weed suppression, disease resistance and quality in organically managed lands. The examples from other cereals have also been highlighted to compare wheat with other cereal crops.

Originally published in 1954, this collection of the posthumous papers of the eminent plant physiologist Frederick Frost Blackman includes six papers that were unpublished at the time of his death, all of which address the topic of plant respiration. The data was collected over the course of one year from experiments performed on the effect of oxygen on the respiration of apples, and the text begins with an introduction by the noted botanist George Edward Briggs. This book will be of value to anyone interested in Blackman's work or in the history of botany and plant physiology.

In contrast to books on specific bioactive compounds, this book deals with the role of mevalonic acid metabolites (isoprenoids and their derived structures) in metabolism, development, and functions of organisms, which, though diverse, show various levels of communication. Different disciplines are brought together in a discussion of the messenger functions of terpenoids within and between organisms belonging to five biological kingdoms: bacteria, fungi, plants, insects, and vertebrates (including humans). The present volume covers evolutionary aspects of terpenoids in plant physiology, plant-insect relationships, semiochemicals, and in life sciences, with special emphasis on cancer research and treatment. The book provides proposals for multidisciplinary model systems for the study of interrelationships of organisms utilizing terpenoid messengers, and discusses novel strategies for insect control and multifactor treatments of cancer utilizing terpenoids. This book is of interest to scientists, and students at an advanced level: biologists, plant breeders, pharmacologists, specialists in medical fields, especially oncologists, physicians in general, and anyone with a basic biochemical and physiological knowledge.

This volume summarizes current research on the influence of plant polyphenols on human health, promoting collaboration between chemists and biologists to improve our understanding of their biological significance, and expanding the possibilities for their use.

In recent years, the study of the plant cell cycle has become of major interest, not only to scientists working on cell division sensu strictu , but also to scientists dealing with plant hormones, development and environmental effects on growth. The book The Plant Cell Cycle is a very timely contribution to this exploding field. Outstanding contributors reviewed, not only knowledge on the most important classes of cell cycle regulators, but also summarized the various processes in which cell cycle control plays a pivotal role. The central role of the cell cycle makes this book an absolute must for plant molecular biologists.

Arabinogalactan-proteins are distributed throughout the plant kingdom and are present in leaves, stems, roots, floral parts, and seeds. At the subcellular level, AGPs are localized on the plasma membrane, in the cell wall, in secretory and endocytotic pathway organelles, in stylar and root secretions and in the medium of cultured cells. The widespread distribution of AGPs indicates that they perform important functions. An expansion of knowledge regarding AGPs has been initiated and sustained through new experimental approaches, including the development of monoclonal antibody probes and cloning of cDNAs corresponding to core polypeptides. Regulated expression and other evidence points to the involvement of AGPs in plant reproductive development, pattern formation, and somatic embryogenesis, as well as in the processes of cell division, cell expansion, and cell death. AGPs also have an importance to industry. One example is gum arabic, an exudate from Acacia senegal, a mixture of AGPs and polysaccharides which has unique viscosity and emulsifying properties that have led to many uses in the food as well as other industries.

1. 1 THE NEEDFOR THIS BOOK- ANACTIVE EXTRACT, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? All over the world at present there is greatactivity as scientists investi- gate plants, micro-organisms, marine creatures and many other forms of life for biological activity. There is a desire to find out more about the interactionsbetweenone organismand another which can be attributed to the chemical substances present in at least one of the species con- cerned. The area where activity has been greatest is the effect ofextracts from the flowering plantsonhuman physiology and human pathogens, since this is very relevant to the discovery ofnew drugs for treating dis- eases ofhumanbeings and other mammals. However, it should be noted thatother groups ofliving organisms are now being investigated for the same purposes and regular reports appear in the scientific literature which describe the activity of extracts and compounds isolated from marine organisms, amphibians, fungi and insects. Other types ofchemicallybased biological interactions are being stud- ied which have implications for otherways in which conditions canbe manipulated to serve thehuman race. Thus, interactionsbetweenplants and insects may produce new pesticides or repellents, interactions between two species offlowering plantresultin herbicidalcompounds and the chemical interactionsbetween species have environmental impli- cations. This interdisciplinary science is sometimes called ecological chemistry and offers many fascinating insights into the complexity oflife onour planet. Many methods have beendevised whereby the activity ofa compound or extract can be tested scientifically.

The Boron '97 meeting was a great success in summarising all recent developments in basic and applied research on boron's function, especially in plants. New techniques have since been developed and new insight has been gained into the role of boron in plant and animal metabolism. Nevertheless, there were still lots of open questions. The aim of the present workshop held in Bonn as a satellite meeting to the International Plant Nutrition Colloquium was thus to gather all actual information which has been gained since the Boron '97 meeting and to compile knowledge, both from animal and plant sciences. Furthermore, applied aspects had to be addressed too, as there is an increasing awareness of boron deficiencies even in crops such as wheat, which have formerly not been considered as responsive to boron application. Genetic differences in boron demand and efficiency within one species are a further important topic which has gained importance since the 1997 meeting. More in-depth knowledge on the mechanisms of boron efficiency are required as an increased efficiency will be one major possibility to maintain and improve crop yields for resource-poor farmers. Nevertheless, it has also clearly been shown that an adequate supply of boron is needed to obtain high yields of crops with a high quality, and that a sustainable agriculture has to provide an adequate boron supply to compensate for inevitable losses through leaching (especially in the humid tropics and temperate regions) and for the boron removal by the crop.

This book - the first published on this topic in plants - presents the reader with an overview of recent research on nitric oxide (NO) in plants, which, in view of its empirical interest and its growth regulatory potential, is in the forefront of scientific endeavor in plant science. Subject matter is divided into two parts: Part 1 deals with NO and peroxynitrite biochemistry and regulative mechanisms as presently known in the Plant Kingdom and outlines some of the problems still awaiting clarification. Emphasis is placed on ethylene emission regulation, postharvest control, plant phytopathology and environmental stress tolerance. A further topic is plant NO, like Viagra, related to cyclic nucleotide turnover. Part 2 deals with environmental aspects of NO as an atmospheric pollutant and discusses endogenous means which plants at times employ to cope with this particular type of stress, and how their coping mechanisms may be harnessed for purposes of depollution and augmentation of nitrogen fertilization. The text, accompanied by a wealth of illustrations and annotated references, is intended for lecturers, advanced students and research scientists at universities and research institutes dealing with plant sciences and agriculture, as well as for environmental researchers.

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a seemingly ubiquitous enzyme of profound physiological importance, which plays essential roles in respiration, acid-base homeostasis, bone resorption, calcification, photosynthesis, several biosynthetic pathways and a variety of processes involving ion, gas and fluid transfer. This enzyme, which is present in at least three gene families (a, ss, ?), has found favour as a model for the study of evolution of gene families and for site-directed mutagenesis in structure/function relationships, for protein folding and for transgenic and gene target studies. Since the early use of CA inhibitors as diuretics and in treating congestive heart failure, the enzyme has been target of considerable clinical attention. Much of this is now focused on endeavours to produce a new generation of such drugs for the effective treatment of glaucoma and other potential applications. Recent data, suggesting links between CA and various disease processes, including cancer, have stimulated further...

An understanding of the mechanisms by which plants perceive environmental cues, both physical and chemical, and transduce the signals that influence specific expression of genes, is an area of intensive scientific research. With the completion of the genome sequence of Arabidopsis it is understood now that a larger number of genes encode for proteins involved in signalling cascades and transcription factors. In this volume, different chapters deal with plant receptors, second messengers like calcium ions, phosphoinositides, salicylic acid and nitrous oxide, calcium binding proteins and kinases. In addition to dealing with the response of plants to light, hormones, pathogens, heat, etc. on cellular activity, work currently going on in apoptosis, cell division, and plastid gene expression is also covered in this book.

which successfully passed the QA-process (i.e., met the Data Quality Objectices) were included into the TFS-central data bank. The following summary of major results obtained in TFS would not have been possible without the contribution of many experimentalists and modellers participating in this project. I would like to thank these colleagues for their support. All participants are grateful for the financial support by the BMBF and for the assistance by the Projekttragerschaft (UKF-GSF-Miinchen). Garmisch-Partenkirchen, WOLFGANG SEILER February 2002 DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF A MESOSCALE MODEL HIERARCHY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND FORECAST OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF POLLUTANTS OVER GERMANY AND EUROPE Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 42: 5-22, 2002. 5 (c) 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers. An Empirical, Receptor-Based Procedure for Assessing the Effect of Different Ozone Mitigation Strategies WOLFGANG FRICKE, WINFRIED VANDERSEE and STEFAN GILGE Deutscher Wetterdienst, Meteorologisches Observatorium, Albin-Schwaiger-Weg 10, D-82383 Hohenpeissenberg, Germany, e-mail: [email protected] (Received: 6 November 2000; in final form: 29 May 2(01) Abstract. The paper presents a new receptor-based approach for investigating the effect of differ- ent mitigation strategies on surface ozone concentrations. The empirical approach relates measured ozone concentrations to 3-D back trajectories and European precursor emission data (NOx, VOC, isoprene). These are the only parameters used as input. Following a description of the method, results for two German stations, an urban and a rural mountain site, are described, and discussed in detail.