Hormonal Cross-Talk, Plant Defense and Development: Plant Biology, Sustainability and Climate Change focuses specifically on plants and their interaction to auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, abscisic acid, jasmonates, brassinosteroids, strigolactones, and the potential those interactions offer for improved plant health and production. Plant hormones (auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, abscisic acid, jasmonates, brassinosteroids, salicylic acid, strigolactones etc.) regulate numerous aspects of plant growth and developmental processes. Each hormone initiates a specific molecular pathway, with each pathway integrated in a complex network of synergistic, antagonistic and additive interactions. This is a valuable reference for those seeking to understand and improve plant health using natural processes. The cross-talks of auxins - abscisic acid, auxins - brassinosteroids, brassinosteroids- abscisic acid, ethylene - abscisic acid, brassinosteroids - ethylene, cytokinins - abscisic acid, brassinosteroids - jasmonates, brassinosteroids - salicylic acid, and gibberellins - jasmonates - strigolactones have been shown to regulate a number of biological processes in plant system. The cross-talk provides robustness to the plant immune system but also drives specificity of induced defense responses against the plethora of biotic and abiotic interactions.

Floriculture is one of the fastest-growing sectors of commercial agriculture world-wide with many highly profitable crops. Cultivation of flowers more pragmatic endeavor than other crops. Every day novel variety, new colour in any ornamental flower crop not only fascinates us but also gives a thrust to know more about their breeding technologies. Creation of diversity of new and domesticated flower crops by public and private sector flower breeders brings a fascination towards its breeding technology. The students while dealing with the breeding and biotechnology of flowers then they must required a base knowledge. Therefore emphasis has been given to present the book in its easiest form so that anyone can understand it without losing interest from it. It has been designed to cover all the aspects of breeding, the basic objectives, different breeding methods, methodology for improvement of specific crops, stress resistance, quality improvement, mutagenesis, genetic engineering and biotechnology.

Flowers are the precious gift which beautify the nature through its different colours and enhance human health. Ornamental plants provide environmental security for immediate living surroundings, thus intensive research in floriculture particularly on the crops were initiated earlier. This book will vividly highlights genetical and breeding application in flower crops covering wide range of aspects. Breeding techniques are largely focused around expediting the production of superior and stable lines in the case of self pollinating crops. Wide hybridization, tissue culture and mutagenesis are employed by breeders to generate new alleles. Broaden available genetic resources; molecular markers are used to assist breeders through marker assisted selection and to identify quantitative trait loci for traits of interest. The book makes the knowhow of breeding in its easiest way to the readers. It has been designed to cover all the aspects of breeding, the basic objectives, different breeding methods, methodology for improvement of specific crops, stress resistance, quality improvement, mutagenesis, molecular breeding and genetic engineering.

Physicochemical Interactions of Engineered Nanoparticles and Plants: A Systemic Approach, Volume Four in the Nanomaterial-Plant Interactions series, presents foundational information on how ENMs interact with the surrounding environment. Key themes include source, fate and transport of ENMs in the environment, biophysicochemical transformations of ENMs, and chemical reactions and mechanisms of ENMs transport in plants. This book is an essential read for any scientist or researcher looking to understand the molecular interactions between ENMs and Plants. Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) reach plant ecosystems through intentional or unintentional pathways. In any case, after release, these materials may be transformed in the environment by physical, chemical and biochemical processes. Once in contact with plant systems, biotransformation may still occur, affecting or stimulating plant metabolism. Since plants are the producers to the food chain, it is of paramount importance to understand these mechanisms at the molecular level.

The book covers information on various types of mutagens and their effects, procedures for using mutagens for crop improvement, types of mutations (micro and macro) with statistical techniques to handle the mutation population. The subject matter presented in the book will be useful for both undergraduate and post graduate students of agriculture.

In modern days, crop improvement is a multidisciplinary division of agriculture. In this book, entitled, "Breeding, Biotechnology and Seed Production of Field Crops", emphasis has been given on principles, methods and practices in plant breeding, biotechnology in crop improvement and seed production of field crops. The book has been written for all sections of learners, educators and staff-members of seed industries. Particular importance has been underlined for postgraduate students who specialize in plant breeding and seed science. Each of the book has been designed as per the recommended of syllabus of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for the postgraduate students of various Agricultural Universities in our country. This book has been divided into two major parts- i) Principles of crop breeding and ii) Methods and practices of crop improvement and seed production of individual field crop. The book contains total of 18 chapteFirst three s are related to shed light on the basic-principles and remaining s deal with methods and practices of individual crop for improvement and seed production. We hope that the book will be ready to lend a hand to the advanced undergraduate students doing plant breeding in elective, postgraduate students who opted plant breeding, teachers, researchers and staff-members of private seed companies of this field of specialization.

Plant Transcription Factors: Contribution in Development, Metabolism, and Environmental Stress provides comprehensive coverage of plant TFs and their various functions, evaluating their crucial role in growth and development, signaling, stress management and other key plant processes. Sections cover the significance of plant TFs in functional genomics, the influence of phyto-hormones on the modulation of plant TFs, plant development and metabolism, including shoot development, flowering development and alkaloid biosynthesis. The book's final section reviews the role of TFs in various plant stresses, including temperature, water and heavy metal stress. Written by leading experts around the globe, this book is an essential read to researchers interested in plant signaling and plant genomics.

The latest and most commonly used methods of assay of important enzymes associated with carbon, nitrogen, protein and lipid metabolism. Estimation of various plant pigments and micro and macro elements. Quantification of plant hormones like IAA, ABA, GA and Ethylene. Techniques of DNA and RNA estimation, Slab Gel Electrophoresis and Western Blot analysis of plant proteins. Methods to study plant biomass and plant-water relationship. Methods to measure photosynthesis and respiration. Method for preparation of common buffe Working principles and operation techniques of a few analytical equipments like Infra-Red Gas Analyzer IRGA, Gas Liquid Chromatograph GLC, Psychrometer, Pressure bomb/pressure chamber, flame photometer, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, Leaf Area Meter and Oxygen electrode. This book is useful for students in botany, plant physiology, biochemistry, horticulture, agronomy and other cognate disciplines and other research workers."

Zinc in Plants: Current Knowledge and Recent Advances addresses zinc hunger, the transport of zinc in the soil-plant interphase, zinc and abiotic stress in plants, and zinc and plant disease. Written by experts in the field, this title is an essential resource to all scientists and students interested in plant physiology, biochemistry and agriculture. During their life, plants encounter various challenges, including their normal development under changing environmental conditions. Zinc (Zn) is an essential component of thousands of proteins in plants, although it is toxic in excess, and is essential for many processes throughout the plant lifecycle.

The book is exceptional in its organization with three major characteristics of plant system i.e. Plant Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology been provided under one canopy. Physiology, which deals with all the vital activities of a plant and also explains how it reacts to sustain in natural distress similarly within the plant, the types of physiological actions at biochemical level forming innumerable compounds through chains of biochemical reactions at various levels of plant growth and development becomes Biochemistry. However, the curiosity and thirst of knowledge of human being is endless. Man has been providing still inside up to the molecular and genetic levels to understand the nature of biochemical reactions and to control if possible up to the desired level and that is Molecular Biology. Now this is the time to elevate most relevant work of academic and applied importance out of vast research of diverse significance done in the last fifty years.

Hydrogen Sulfide in Plant Biology: Past and Present includes 17 chapters, with topics from cross-talk and lateral root development under stress, to post-translational modifications and disease resistance. With emerging research on the different roles and applications of H2S, this title compiles the latest advances of this key signaling molecule. The development of a plant requires complex signaling of various molecules like H2S in order to achieve regulated and proper development, hence hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has emerged as an important signaling molecule that regulates nearly each and every stage of a plant's lifecycle. Edited by leading experts in the field, this is a must-read for scientists and researchers interested in plant physiology, biochemistry and ecology.

Refinement in sequencing technologies and potential of genomic research resulted in meteoric growth of biological information such as sequences of DNA, RNA and protein requiring databases for efficient storage, management and retrieval of the biological information. Also, computational algorithms for analysis of these colossal data became a vital aspect of biological sciences. The work aims to show the process of turning bioscience innovation into companies and products, covering the basic science, the translation of science into technology. Due to rapid developments, there seems to be no basic difference between the pharmaceutical industry and the biotechnological industry. However, approved products in the pipeline and renewed public confidence make it one of the most promising areas of economic growth in the near future. India offers a huge market for the products as well as cheap manufacturing base for export. The book is a sincere work of compilation of new and recent advances in the topic of concern through various innovative researches and scientific opinion therefrom. The book is dedicated to the readers who will definitely find it interesting and knowledgeable in carrying out their respective researches in different aspects of applied microbiology and biotechnology.

Transcription Factors for Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants highlights advances in the understanding of the regulatory network that impacts plant health and production, providing important insights for improving plant resistance. Plant production worldwide is suffering serious losses due to widespread abiotic stresses increasing as a result of global climate change. Frequently more than one abiotic stress can occur at once, for example extreme temperature and osmotic stress, which increases the complexity of these environmental stresses. Modern genetic engineering technologies are one of the promising tools for development of plants with efficient yields and resilience to abiotic stresses. Hence deciphering the molecular mechanisms and identifying the abiotic stress associated genes that control plant response to abiotic stresses is a vital requirement in developing plants with increased abiotic stress resilience. Addressing the various complexities of transcriptional regulation, this book includes chapters on cross talk and central regulation, regulatory networks, the role of DOF, WRKY and NAC transcription factors, zinc finger proteins, CRISPR/CAS9-based genome editing, C-Repeat (CRT) binding factors (CBFs)/Dehydration responsive element binding factors (DREBs) and factors impacting salt, cold and phosphorous stress levels, as well as transcriptional modulation of genes involved in nanomaterial-plant interactions. Transcription Factors for Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants provides a useful reference by unravelling the transcriptional regulatory networks in plants. Researchers and advanced students will find this book a valuable reference for understanding this vital area.

Ecology of the Shortgrass Steppe: A Long-Term Perspective summarizes and synthesizes more than 60 years of research that has been conducted throughout the shortgrass region. The shortgrass steppe was an important focus of the International Biological Programme's Grassland Biome project that ran from the late 1960s until the mid 1970s. The work conducted by the Grassland Biome project was preceded by almost 40 years of research by U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers - primarily from the Agricultural Research Service - and followed to the present by the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research project. Ecology of the Shortgrass Steppe is an enormously rich source of data and insight into the structure and function of a semiarid grassland.

Ecometabolomics: Metabolic Fluxes versus Environmental Stoichiometry focuses on the interaction between plants-particularly plants that have vigorous secondary metabolites-and the environment. The book offers a comprehensive overview of the responses of the metabolome of organisms to biotic and abiotic environmental changes. It includes an introduction to metabolomics, summaries of metabolomic techniques and applications, studies of stress in plants, and insights into challenges. This is a must-have reference for plant biologists, plant biochemists, plant ecologists and phytochemists researching the interface between plants and the environment using metabolomics.

This book presents a compilation of case studies from different countries on achieving agricultural sustainability. The book stresses that, in order to meet the needs of our rapidly growing population, it is imperative to increase agricultural productivity. If global food production is to keep pace with an increasing population, while formulating new food production strategies for developing countries, the great challenge for modern societies is to boost agricultural productivity. Today, the application of chemicals to enhance plant growth or induced resistance in plants is limited due to the negative effects of chemical treatment and the difficulty of determining the optimal concentrations to benefit the plant. In the search for alternative means to solve these problems, biological applications have been extensively studied. Naturally occurring plant-microbe-environment interactions are utilized in many ways to enhance plant productivity. As such, a greater understanding of how plants and microbes coexist and benefit one another can yield new strategies to improve plant productivity in the most sustainable way. Developing sustainable agricultural practices requires understanding both the basic and applied aspects of agriculturally important microorganisms, with a focus on transforming agricultural systems from being nutrient-deficient to nutrient-rich. This work is divided into two volumes, the aim being to provide a comprehensive description and to highlight a holistic approach, respectively. Taken together, the two volumes address the fundamentals, applications, research trends and new prospects of agricultural sustainability.  Volume one consists of two sections, with the first addressing the role of microbes in sustainability, and the second exploring beneficial soil microbe interaction in several economically important crops. Section I elucidates various mechanisms and beneficial natural processes that enhance soil fertility and create rhizospheric conditions favourable for high fertility and sustainable soil flora. It examines the mechanism of action and importance of rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal associations in soil. In turn, section II presents selected case studies involving economically important crops. This section explains how agriculturally beneficial microbes have been utilized in sustainable cultivation with high productivity. Sustainable food production without degrading the soil and environmental quality is a major priority throughout the world, making this book a timely addition. It offers a comprehensive collection of information that will benefit students and researchers working in the field of rhizospheric mechanisms, agricultural microbiology, biotechnology, agronomy and sustainable agriculture, as well as policymakers in the area of food security and sustainable agriculture.

Water Relations of Plants and Soils, successor to the seminal 1983 book by Paul Kramer, covers the entire field of water relations using current concepts and consistent terminology. Emphasis is on the interdependence of processes, including rate of water absorption, rate of transpiration, resistance to water flow into roots, soil factors affecting water availability. New trends in the field, such as the consideration of roots (rather than leaves) as the primary sensors of water stress, are examined in detail.
Key Features
* Addresses the role of water in the whole range of plant activities
* Describes molecular mechanisms of water action in the context of whole plants
* Synthesizes recent scientific findings
* Relates current concepts to agriculture and ecology
* Provides a summary of methods

Phytoremediation, Volume 83, the latest release in the Advances in Botanical Research series, covers a variety of new topics, including Metallophytes from calamine and serpentine soils (incl. tolerance mechanisms), The (endophytic) microbiome of plants from metal contaminated environments: small organisms (inhabitants), large influence, the Potential role of plant-associated bacteria in plant metal uptake and implications in phytotechnologies, Plant associated fungi from trace element rich soils and their possible role in metal uptake by their host plants, Phytoextraction: Status and Promise, Molecular and cellular aspects of contaminant toxicity in plants, and a section on Bio- and phytoremediation of pesticide-contaminated environments: a Review. This series publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in the plant sciences, featuring reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology.

Glutathione ( -glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine) is a ubiquitously distributed sulfurcontaining antioxidant molecule that plays key roles in the regulation of plant growth, development, and abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. It is one of the most powerful low-molecular-weight thiols, which rapidly accumulates in plant cells under stress. Recent in-depth studies on glutathione homeostasis (biosynthesis, degradation, compartmentalization, transport, and redox turnover) and the roles of glutathione in cell proliferation and environmental stress tolerance have provided new insights for plant biologists to conduct research aimed at deciphering the mechanisms associated with glutathione-mediated plant growth and stress responses, as well as to develop stress-tolerant crop plants. Glutathione has also been suggested to be a potential regulator of epigenetic modifications, playing important roles in the regulation of genes involved in the responses of plants to changing environments. The dynamic relationship between reduced glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been well documented, and glutathione has been shown to participate in several cell signaling and metabolic processes, involving the synthesis of protein, the transport of amino acids, DNA repair, the control of cell division, and programmed cell death. Two genes, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH1) and glutathione synthetase (GSH2), are involved in GSH synthesis, and genetic manipulation of these genes can modulate cellular glutathione levels. Any fluctuations in cellular GSH and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels have profound effects on plant growth and development, as glutathione is associated with the regulation of the cell cycle, redox signaling, enzymatic activities, defense gene expression, systemic acquired resistance, xenobiotic detoxification, and biological nitrogen fixation. Being a major constituent of the glyoxalase system and ascorbate-glutathione cycle, GSH helps to control multiple abiotic and biotic stress signaling pathways through the regulation of ROS and methylglyoxal (MG) levels. In addition, glutathione metabolism has the potential to be genetically or biochemically manipulated to develop stress-tolerant and nutritionally improved crop plants. Although significant progress has been made in investigating the multiple roles of glutathione in abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, many aspects of glutathione-mediated stress responses require additional research. The main objective of this volume is to explore the diverse roles of glutathione in plants by providing basic, comprehensive, and in-depth molecular information for advanced students, scholars, teachers, and scientists interested in or already engaged in research that involves glutathione. Finally, this book will be a valuable resource for future glutathione-related research and can be considered as a textbook for graduate students and as a reference book for frontline researchers working on glutathione metabolism in relation to plant growth, development, stress responses, and stress tolerance.