This book presents recent developments involving the role of nanoparticles on plant physiology and growth. Nanotechnology applications include improvement of agricultural production using bio-conjugated NPs (encapsulation), transfer of DNA in plants for development of insect pest-resistant varieties, nanoformulations of agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers for crop improvement, and nanosensors/nanobiosensors in crop protection for identification of diseases and residues of agrochemicals. Recent findings on the increased use of nanotechnology in agriculture by densely populated countries such as China and India indicate that this technology may impart a substantial impact on reducing hunger, malnutrition, and child mortality.

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.

The entire range of the developmental process in plants is regulated by a shift in the hormonal concentration, tissue sensitivity and their interaction with the factors operating around the plants. Phytohormones play a crucial role in regulating the direction of plant in a coordinated fashion in association with metabolism that provides energy and the building blocks to generate the form that we recognize as a plant. Out of the recognized hormones, attention has largely been focused on Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Abscisic acid, Ethylene and more recently on Brassinosteroids. In this book we are providing the information about a brassinosteroids that again confirm its status as phytohormones because it has significant impact on various aspects of the plant life and its ubiquitous distribution throughout the plant kingdom. Brassinosteroids are generating a significant impact on plant growth and development, photosynthesis, transpiration, ion uptake and transport, induces specific changes in leaf anatomy and chloroplast structure. This book is not an encyclopedia of reviews but includes a selected collection of newly written, integrated, illustrated reviews describing our knowledge of brassinosteroids. The aim of this book is to tell all about brassinosteroids, by the present time. The various chapters incorporate both theoretical and practical aspects and may serve as baseline information for future researches through which significant development is possible. It is intended that this book will be useful to the students, teachers and researchers, both in universities and research institutes, especially in relation to biological and agricultural sciences.

The entire range of the developmental processes in plants is regulated by a shift in the hormonal concentration, tissue sensitivity and their interaction with the factors operating around them. Out of the recognized hormones, attention has largely been focused on five - Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinin, Abscisic acid and Ethylene. However, the information about the most recent group of phytohormone (Brassinosteroids) has been incorporated in this book. This volume includes a selection of newly written, integrated, illustrated reviews describing our knowledge of Brassinosteroids and aims to describe them at the present time. Various chapters incorporate both theoretical and practical aspects and may serve as baseline information for future researches through which significant developments are possible. This book will be useful to the students, teachers and researchers, both in universities and research institutes, especially in relation to biological and agricultural sciences.

Salicylic acid (SA) was first discovered as a major component in the extracts from Salix (willow) whose bark from ancient time, was used as an anti-inflammatory drug. This acid (SA) is a phenol, ubiquitous in plants generating a significant impact on plant growth and development, photosynthesis, transpiration, ion uptake and transport and also induces specific changes in leaf anatomy and chloroplast structure. SA is recognized as an endogenous signal, mediating in plant defence, against pathogens.This book includes contributions made by various experts, spread over the world. Since the work on Salicylic Acid is currently rather scattered it was thought prudent to draw this all together in one volume. This will naturally facilitate a ready reference of the material to students and researchers, alike.

The book "Salicylic acid: A Plant Hormone" was first published in 1997 and was praised for its excellent balance of traditional and modern topics. This time, we're building on the success of the prior edition to provide an even more effective second edition. The present book is comprised of 16 chapters highlighting the updated mechanisms of its biosynthesis, physiological role, its action in response to water deficit, relationship of SA with signal transduction, transport of SA and related compounds. Further, the interplay between environmental signals and SA, its impact on transport and distribution of sugars, salicylic acid mediated stress-induced flowering and some aspects of interplay of SA with JA during the establishment of plant resistance to pathogens with different types of nutrition and participation of peroxidases have also been discussed at length. Potential use of SA in food production and its efficiency on post-harvest of perishable crops as well as practical use of SA are also covered. "

The entire range of the developmental processes in plants is regulated by the shift in the hormonal concentration, tissue sensitivity and their interaction with the factors operating around the plants. Out of the recognized hormones, attention has largely been focused on five (Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinin, Abscisic acid and Ethylene). However, in this book, the information about the most recent group of phytohormones (Brassinosteroids) has been compiled by us. It is a class of over 40 polyhydroxylated sterol derivatives, ubiquitously distributed throughout the plant kingdom. A large portion of these steroids is restricted to the reproductive organs (pollens and immature seeds). Moreover, their strong growth-inducing capacity, recognized as early as prior to their identification in 1979, tempted the scientists to visualize the practical importance of this group of phytohormones. The brassin solution, from rape pollen, was used in a collaborative project by the scientists of Brazil and U. S. A. in a p- sowing seed treatment to augment the yield. This was followed by large-scale scientific programmes in U. S. , Japan, China, Germany and erstwhile U. S. S. R. , after the isolation of the brassinosteroids. This approach suits best in today's context where plants are targeted only as producers and hormones are employed to get desired results. Chapter 1 of this book (which embodies a total of 10 chapters), gives a comprehensive survey of the hitherto known brassinosteroids, isolated from lower and higher plants.

This book presents recent developments involving the role of nanoparticles on plant physiology and growth. Nanotechnology applications include improvement of agricultural production using bio-conjugated NPs (encapsulation), transfer of DNA in plants for development of insect pest-resistant varieties, nanoformulations of agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers for crop improvement, and nanosensors/nanobiosensors in crop protection for identification of diseases and residues of agrochemicals. Recent findings on the increased use of nanotechnology in agriculture by densely populated countries such as China and India indicate that this technology may impart a substantial impact on reducing hunger, malnutrition, and child mortality.

The book "Salicylic acid: A Plant Hormone" was first published in 1997 and was praised for its excellent balance of traditional and modern topics. This time, we're building on the success of the prior edition to provide an even more effective second edition. The present book is comprised of 16 chapters highlighting the updated mechanisms of its biosynthesis, physiological role, its action in response to water deficit, relationship of SA with signal transduction, transport of SA and related compounds. Further, the interplay between environmental signals and SA, its impact on transport and distribution of sugars, salicylic acid mediated stress-induced flowering and some aspects of interplay of SA with JA during the establishment of plant resistance to pathogens with different types of nutrition and participation of peroxidases have also been discussed at length. Potential use of SA in food production and its efficiency on post-harvest of perishable crops as well as practical use of SA are also covered.

The entire range of the developmental processes in plants is regulated by a shift in the hormonal concentration, tissue sensitivity and their interaction with the factors operating around them. Out of the recognized hormones, attention has largely been focused on five - Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinin, Abscisic acid and Ethylene. However, the information about the most recent group of phytohormone (Brassinosteroids) has been incorporated in this book. This volume includes a selection of newly written, integrated, illustrated reviews describing our knowledge of Brassinosteroids and aims to describe them at the present time. Various chapters incorporate both theoretical and practical aspects and may serve as baseline information for future researches through which significant developments are possible. This book will be useful to the students, teachers and researchers, both in universities and research institutes, especially in relation to biological and agricultural sciences.

Phytohormones are very much involved in directing the plant growth, in a coordinated fashion in association with metabolism that provides energy and the building blocks to develop the form that we recognize as plant. Out of the recognized hormones, attention has largely been focused on Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Abscisic acid, Ethylene and more recently to Brassinosteroids. However, in this book we are providing the information about a natural chemical, Salicylic Acid, that could be raised to the status of the above phytohormones because it has significant impact on various aspects of the plant life.

Salicylic acid (SA) was first discovered as a major component in the extracts from Salix (willow) whose bark from ancient time, was used as an anti-inflammatory drug. This acid (SA) is a phenol, ubiquitous in plants generating a significant impact on plant growth and development, photosynthesis, transpiration, ion uptake and transport and also induces specific changes in leaf anatomy and chloroplast structure. SA is recognized as an endogenous signal, mediating in plant defence, against pathogens.

This book includes contributions made by various experts, spread over the world. Since the work on Salicylic Acid is currently rather scattered it was thought prudent to draw this all together in one volume. This will naturally facilitate a ready reference of the material to students and researchers, alike.

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.

Strigolactones: Synthesis, Application and Role in Plants presents the current state of the science for this recently discovered class of plant hormones, offering foundational insights through latest developments. Strigolactones (SLs) are derived from carotenoid metabolism and act as signaling molecules in plants and are found to be involved in many developmental processes such as seed germination, root formation, leaf senescence, nutrient uptake, reproductive maturity, and interactions of host plants with symbiotic or parasitic organisms. They also regulate developmental processes that adapt shoot and root architecture. SLs control these processes in plants by interacting with other plant hormones and signaling molecules. In addition, SLs also act as essential regulators of a plant’s response to various environmental perturbations. Due to this, SLs are used in agriculture to enhance the tolerance of plants under biotic and abiotic stresses. The first part of Strigolactones covers the structure of natural and synthetic SLs, synthesis, transport, signaling, and their application, role in the growth and development of plants like seed germination, root growth, and stem branching plant architecture. Further, the crosstalk of SLs with other plant hormones and signaling molecules are discussed. Later, the role of SLs in plant defense systems, particularly in biotic and abiotic stresses viz. heavy metals, salt, temperature, radiation, pesticide drought, and flood stress on plants and their responses are reviewed. Concluding with the latest discoveries, future perspectives, and challenges in plant biology, this book will be a valuable reference for those in plant and agricultural sciences.

Cadmium is a major industrial pollutant, and is easily taken up by plants and accumulated to high levels in the aerial organs thereby causing potential damage. When exposed to stressful conditions, plants accumulate an array of metabolites, particularly amino acids. Proline, an amino acid, plays a highly beneficial role in plants exposed to various stress conditions. Proline, when supplied exogenously at lower concentrations to plants exposed to various biotic and abiotic stresses, results in stress mitigation thereby enhancing growth and other physiological characteristics of plants. Salicylic acid is ubiquitously distributed in the entire plant kingdom. It was recognized as a plant hormone. The exogenous application of SA at suitable concentration has been found to enhance the activity of the antioxidative defense system thereby providing tolerance to the plants against oxidative burst.The work reported here focus on synergistic interaction between hormone, amino acid and metal. This book is useful research documents for students and researchers working in the area of environment

Brassinosteroids (BRs) comprise a specific class of low-abundance plant steroids of ubiquitous occurrence in plants. Several practical applications for BRs, especially in agriculture under natural as well as under various stresses, have been reported, though, the high production cost of these natural plant steroids has hampered initiatives for their wide commercial use. This monograph provide elaborated introduction of the methods of application of BRs under natural as well as under cadmium stress conditions. This work will facilitate a ready reference of current subject matter to students and researchers alike.