Dr Nicholas Smirnoff is at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Exeter, UK

Antioxidants and Reactive Oxygen Species in Plants summarizes much recent research in to the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant metabolism, underling the important role of ROS as signalling molecules in plant growth and development and in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress. It provides a solid background for research workers involved in this field of investigation and comprises eleven chapters written by twenty authors, all of whom are recognized scientists with notable achievements in research into antioxidants and oxygen stress.The great value of the book is that it reflects recent marked changes in our view of ROS. The book will be very useful not only for researchers directly involved in ROS and antioxidants investigations, but also to those who are entering the field, since each chapter has a brief introduction with definitions and an explanation of the problem. I can certainly recommend Antioxidants and Reactive Oxygen Species in Plants to graduate students with a background in plant molecular biology, biochemistry and environmental biology and who have an interest in the growing significance of ROS in so many aspects of plant life. Anna M. Rychter

• 1. Glutathione. Christine H. Foyer, Leonardo Gomez and Philippus D. R. van Heerden, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK.2. Plant thiol enzymes and thiol homeostasis in relation to thiol-dependent redox regulation and oxidative stress.Karl-Josef Dietz, Lehrstuhl für Biochemie und Physiologie der Pflanzen, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Bielefeld, Germany.3. Ascorbate, tocopherol and carotenoids: metabolism, pathway engineering and functions.Nicholas Smirnoff, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Exeter, UK.4. Ascorbate peroxidase.Ron Mittler, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, USA and Thomas L. Poulos, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, USA.5. Catalases in plants: molecular and functional properties and role in stress defence.Jürgen Feierabend, Institute of Botany, J. W. Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, Germany.6. Phenolics as antioxidants.Stepehen C. Grace, Biology Department, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.7. Reactive oxygen species as signalling molecules.Radhika Desikan, John Hancock and Steven Neill, Centre for Research in Plant Science, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.8. Reactive oxygen species in plant development and pathogen defence.Mark A. Jones and Nicholas Smirnoff, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Exeter, UK.9. Reactive oxygen species in cell walls.Robert A. M. Vreeburg and Stephen C. Fry, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK.10. Reactive oxygen species and photosynthesis.Barry Logan, Biology Department, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, USA.11. Plant responses to ozone.Pinja Jaspers, Hannes Kollist, Christian Langebartels, and Jaakko Kangasjärvi, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.References.Index