Alison M. Smith – författare

Plant Biology is a new textbook written for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. It is an account of modern plant science, reflecting recent advances in genetics and genomics and the excitement they have created. The book begins with a review of what is known about the origins of modern-day plants. Next, the special features of plant genomes and genetics are explored. Subsequent chapters provide information on our current understanding of plant cell biology, plant metabolism, and plant developmental biology, with the remaining three chapters outlining the interactions of plants with their environments. The final chapter discusses the relationship of plants with humans: domestication, agriculture and crop breeding. Plant Biology contains over 1,000 full color illustrations, and each chapter begins with Learning Objectives and concludes with a Summary.

This exciting new textbook presents current knowledge of plant biology, highlighting important topics for future development and research. Starting with the evolutionary history of plants, the book addresses the dynamic nature and regulation of plant genomes, the conversion of products of photosynthesis into the vast diversity of molecules that comprise the plant body, and the nature and coordination of growth, development, and reproduction of the plant. The book next describes how these fundamental properties of plants are impacted by their surroundings – by the physical environment including light, day length, and temperature, and by interactions with other organisms such as pests and pathogens, pollinators, and microbes that supply nutrients. Finally, the book outlines the history, importance, and future of human interactions with plants.Key features:Each chapter is prefaced with Learning Objectives directly related to the text that follows as a convenient scene-setter for both students and instructorsThroughout the book, text descriptions are accompanied by informative, high-quality illustrations aiding understanding of complex concepts and mechanismsExtensive online material expands and enhances understanding of many of the topics covered, allowing students to test their knowledge of chapter content and prepare for formal examinationsCarefully designed for, and written at, a level accessible to all undergraduate biologists who have a grounding in the fundamentals of molecular biology and biochemistry, Essential Plant Biology is also a valuable resource for postgraduates in plant research. For lecturers, the breadth of coverage and clear organization facilitate the teaching of both complete courses in plant science and more focused topics in plant biology.