Mostafa Abdelrahman – författare

This book focuses on signaling molecules in plant defense, outlining some of the most important cellular and chemical plant defense strategies during periods of stress and growth. Written by leading experts, it covers topics such as the diversity of plant-growth-promoting fungi, the gene-to-metabolite network of plant-microbe interactions, modulation of plant cellular responses to stress, and how plant nutritional deficiency affects crop production.

Together with the companion volume Bioactive Molecules in Plant Defense: Saponins, this book offers an essential source of information for postgraduate students and researchers interested in plant pathology, mycology and sustainable agriculture.

This book presents a broad perspective on saponins as important natural products with a key role in plant defense. The presence of saponins has been reported in several plant species, and many types of saponins have been found to exhibit significant antifungal activities. In addition to their role in plant defense, saponins are of increasing interest for drug research, as they are active ingredients in several traditional medicines and hold potentially valuable pharmacological properties. 

In this book, the authors briefly introduce readers to saponin accumulation in various plant organs, with a specific focus on their structure classification and diversity. Readers will find detailed information on the saponin structure-activity relationship and saponins’ vital role in sustainable agriculture as a chemical barrier to pathogen attack. The latest techniques for isolating, identifying, and quantifying saponins are also discussed. In the closing chapter, the authors outline the recent metabolic engineering strategies applied to improve saponin glycosides production and their potential applications in plant disease resistance.

This book and the companion volume Bioactive Molecules in Plant Defense: Signaling in Growth and Stress offer vital resources for all researchers and students interested in plant pathology, mycology and sustainable agriculture.