From the reviews: "This is the first book in the Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration series (of Govindjee) that comprehensively describes the complete story of plastids that includes their diversity, origin, evolution, interconversion, different physiological functions, communicating systems with other cellular organelles and their responses to various environmental factors. The chapters covering these areas provide the most recent and relevant information." (B. Biswal and U.C.Biswal, India, Current Science, Vol.92(10) May 2007) "The major aim of the editors ... is to go beyond the familiar photosynthetic processes of the plastid to the other extensive, critical processes of this once autonomous organelle. ... would serve as an excellent reference book for advanced graduate classes, and it would serve as a text for advanced graduate classes. Most certainly, it would be an excellent addition to the library of a researcher ... . I strongly recommend that this volume be in all major biology libraries in the world." (A. Scott Holaday, Photosynthesis Research, 2007)

• Plastid Origin and Development.- The Diversity of Plastid Form and Function.- Chloroplast Development: Whence and Whither.- Protein Import Into Chloroplasts: Who, When, and How?.- Origin and Evolution of Plastids: Genomic View on the Unification and Diversity of Plastids.- The Mechanism of Plastid Division: The Structure and Origin of The Plastid Division Apparatus.- The Plastid Genome and its Interaction with the Nuclear Genome.- Expression, Prediction and Function of the Thylakoid Proteome in Higher Plants and Green Algae.- The Role of Nucleus- and Chloroplast-Encoded Factors in the Synthesis of the Photosynthetic Apparatus.- Plastid Transcription: Competition, Regulation and Promotion by Plastid- and Nuclear-Encoded Polymerases.- Plastid-to-Nucleus Signaling.- Trace Metal Utilization in Chloroplasts.- Photosynthetic Metabolism in Plastids.- Light/Dark Regulation of Chloroplast Metabolism.- Chlororespiratory Pathways and Their Physiological Significance.- CO2 Concentrating Mechanisms.- Synthesis, Export and Partitioning of the End Products of Photosynthesis.- Non-Photosynthetic Metabolism in Plastids.- Chlorophyll Synthesis.- Carotenoids.- Lipid Synthesis, Metabolism and Transport.- Amino Acid Synthesis in Plastids.- Sulfur Metabolism in Plastids.- Regulation and Role of Calcium Fluxes in the Chloroplast.- Plastid Differentiation and Response to Environmental Factors.- The Role of Plastids in Ripening Fruits.- Fate and Activities of Plastids During Leaf Senescence.- The Kleptoplast.- The Apicoplast.- The Role of Plastids in Gravitropism.- Chloroplast Movements in Response to Environmental Signals.- Oxygen Metabolism and Stress Physiology.

From the reviews: "This is the first book in the Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration series (of Govindjee) that comprehensively describes the complete story of plastids that includes their diversity, origin, evolution, interconversion, different physiological functions, communicating systems with other cellular organelles and their responses to various environmental factors. The chapters covering these areas provide the most recent and relevant information." (B. Biswal and U.C.Biswal, India, Current Science, Vol.92(10) May 2007) "The major aim of the editors ... is to go beyond the familiar photosynthetic processes of the plastid to the other extensive, critical processes of this once autonomous organelle. ... would serve as an excellent reference book for advanced graduate classes, and it would serve as a text for advanced graduate classes. Most certainly, it would be an excellent addition to the library of a researcher ... . I strongly recommend that this volume be in all major biology libraries in the world." (A. Scott Holaday, Photosynthesis Research, 2007)

• Plastid Origin and Development.- The Diversity of Plastid Form and Function.- Chloroplast Development: Whence and Whither.- Protein Import Into Chloroplasts: Who, When, and How?.- Origin and Evolution of Plastids: Genomic View on the Unification and Diversity of Plastids.- The Mechanism of Plastid Division: The Structure and Origin of The Plastid Division Apparatus.- The Plastid Genome and its Interaction with the Nuclear Genome.- Expression, Prediction and Function of the Thylakoid Proteome in Higher Plants and Green Algae.- The Role of Nucleus- and Chloroplast-Encoded Factors in the Synthesis of the Photosynthetic Apparatus.- Plastid Transcription: Competition, Regulation and Promotion by Plastid- and Nuclear-Encoded Polymerases.- Plastid-to-Nucleus Signaling.- Trace Metal Utilization in Chloroplasts.- Photosynthetic Metabolism in Plastids.- Light/Dark Regulation of Chloroplast Metabolism.- Chlororespiratory Pathways and Their Physiological Significance.- CO2 Concentrating Mechanisms.- Synthesis, Export and Partitioning of the End Products of Photosynthesis.- Non-Photosynthetic Metabolism in Plastids.- Chlorophyll Synthesis.- Carotenoids.- Lipid Synthesis, Metabolism and Transport.- Amino Acid Synthesis in Plastids.- Sulfur Metabolism in Plastids.- Regulation and Role of Calcium Fluxes in the Chloroplast.- Plastid Differentiation and Response to Environmental Factors.- The Role of Plastids in Ripening Fruits.- Fate and Activities of Plastids During Leaf Senescence.- The Kleptoplast.- The Apicoplast.- The Role of Plastids in Gravitropism.- Chloroplast Movements in Response to Environmental Signals.- Oxygen Metabolism and Stress Physiology.

From the reviews: "This is the first book in the Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration series (of Govindjee) that comprehensively describes the complete story of plastids that includes their diversity, origin, evolution, interconversion, different physiological functions, communicating systems with other cellular organelles and their responses to various environmental factors. The chapters covering these areas provide the most recent and relevant information." (B. Biswal and U.C.Biswal, India, Current Science, Vol.92(10) May 2007) "The major aim of the editors ... is to go beyond the familiar photosynthetic processes of the plastid to the other extensive, critical processes of this once autonomous organelle. ... would serve as an excellent reference book for advanced graduate classes, and it would serve as a text for advanced graduate classes. Most certainly, it would be an excellent addition to the library of a researcher ... . I strongly recommend that this volume be in all major biology libraries in the world." (A. Scott Holaday, Photosynthesis Research, 2007)

• Plastid Origin and Development.- The Diversity of Plastid Form and Function.- Chloroplast Development: Whence and Whither.- Protein Import Into Chloroplasts: Who, When, and How?.- Origin and Evolution of Plastids: Genomic View on the Unification and Diversity of Plastids.- The Mechanism of Plastid Division: The Structure and Origin of The Plastid Division Apparatus.- The Plastid Genome and its Interaction with the Nuclear Genome.- Expression, Prediction and Function of the Thylakoid Proteome in Higher Plants and Green Algae.- The Role of Nucleus- and Chloroplast-Encoded Factors in the Synthesis of the Photosynthetic Apparatus.- Plastid Transcription: Competition, Regulation and Promotion by Plastid- and Nuclear-Encoded Polymerases.- Plastid-to-Nucleus Signaling.- Trace Metal Utilization in Chloroplasts.- Photosynthetic Metabolism in Plastids.- Light/Dark Regulation of Chloroplast Metabolism.- Chlororespiratory Pathways and Their Physiological Significance.- CO2 Concentrating Mechanisms.- Synthesis, Export and Partitioning of the End Products of Photosynthesis.- Non-Photosynthetic Metabolism in Plastids.- Chlorophyll Synthesis.- Carotenoids.- Lipid Synthesis, Metabolism and Transport.- Amino Acid Synthesis in Plastids.- Sulfur Metabolism in Plastids.- Regulation and Role of Calcium Fluxes in the Chloroplast.- Plastid Differentiation and Response to Environmental Factors.- The Role of Plastids in Ripening Fruits.- Fate and Activities of Plastids During Leaf Senescence.- The Kleptoplast.- The Apicoplast.- The Role of Plastids in Gravitropism.- Chloroplast Movements in Response to Environmental Signals.- Oxygen Metabolism and Stress Physiology.