Annual Plant Reviews – serie

This latest volume in Wiley Blackwell’s prestigious Annual Plant Reviews brings together articles that describe the biochemical, genetic, and ecological aspects of plant interactions with insect herbivores.. The biochemistry section of this outstanding volume includes reviews highlighting significant findings in the area of plant signalling cascades, recognition of herbivore-associated molecular patterns, sequestration of plant defensive metabolites and perception of plant semiochemicals by insects. Chapters in the genetics section are focused on genetic mapping of herbivore resistance traits and the analysis of transcriptional responses in both plants and insects. The ecology section includes chapters that describe plant-insect interactions at a higher level, including multitrophic interactions, investigations of the cost-benefit paradigm and the altitudinal niche-breadth hypothesis, and a re-evaluation of co-evolution in the light of recent molecular research.Written by many of the world’s leading researchers in these subjects, and edited by Claudia Voelckel and Georg Jander, this volume is designed for students and researchers with some background in plant molecular biology or ecology, who would like to learn more about recent advances or obtain a more in-depth understanding of this field.  This volume will also be of great use and interest to a wide range of plant scientists and entomologists and is an essential purchase for universities and research establishments where biological sciences are studied and taught.To view details of volumes in Annual Plant Reviews, visit: www.wiley.com/go/aprAlso available from Wiley:Plant DefenseDale Walters9781405175890Herbicides and Plant Physiology, 2nd EdnAndrew Cobb & John Reade9781405129350

The development of phosphorus (P)-efficient crop varieties is urgently needed to reduce agriculture's current over-reliance on expensive, environmentally destructive, non-renewable and inefficient P-containing fertilizers. The sustainable management of P in agriculture necessitates an exploitation of P-adaptive traits that will enhance the P-acquisition and P-use efficiency of crop plants. Action in this area is crucial to ensure sufficient food production for the world’s ever-expanding population, and the overall economic success of agriculture in the 21st century. This informative and up-to-date volume presents pivotal research directions that will facilitate the development of effective strategies for bioengineering P-efficient crop species. The 14 chapters reflect the expertise of an international team of leading authorities in the field, who review information from current literature, develop novel hypotheses, and outline key areas for future research. By evaluating aspects of vascular plant and green algal P uptake and metabolism, this book provides insights as to how plants sense, acquire, recycle, scavenge and use P, particularly under the naturally occurring condition of soluble inorganic phosphate deficiency that characterises the vast majority of unfertilised soils, worldwide. The reader is provided with a full appreciation of the diverse information concerning plant P-starvation responses, as well as the crucial role that plant–microbe interactions play in plant P acquisition.Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 48: Phosphorus Metabolism in Plants is an important resource for plant geneticists, biochemists and physiologists, as well as horticultural and environmental research workers, advanced students of plant science and university lecturers in related disciplines. It is an essential addition to the shelves of university and research institute libraries and agricultural and ecological institutions teaching and researching plant science.

First discovered as fungal metabolites, the gibberellins were recognised as plant hormones over 50 years ago. They regulate reproductive development in all vascular plants, while their role in flowering plants has broadened to include also the regulation of growth and other developmental processes.This timely book covers the substantial and impressive recent advances in our understanding of the gibberellins and their roles in plant development, including the biosynthesis, inactivation, transport, perception and signal transduction of these important hormones. An introductory chapter traces the history of gibberellin research, describing the many discoveries that form the basis for the recent progress. The exciting emerging evidence for the interaction of gibberellin signalling with that of the other hormones is critically evaluated. The occurrence of gibberellins in fungal, bacterial and lower plant species is also discussed, with emphasis on evolution. Manipulation of gibberellin metabolism and signal transduction through chemical or genetic intervention has been an important aspect of crop husbandry for many years. The reader is presented with important information on the advances in applying gibberellin research in agriculture and horticulture.Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 49: The Gibberellins is an important resource for plant geneticists and biochemists, as well as agricultural and horticultural research workers, advanced students of plant science and university lecturers in related disciplines. It is an essential addition to the shelves of university and research institute libraries and agricultural and horticultural institutions teaching and researching plant science.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 12A fundamental feature of developmental biology is that of the establishment of polarity. It can be described at different levels - polarity of the organism, polarity in tissue patterning and organ development, and polarity of the cell.This volume provides an account of current research into the mechanisms by which polarity is generated at the level of the cell, organ and organism in plants, drawing especially on recent work with model organisms. The emphasis is on the use of the techniques of molecular genetics to dissect molecular mechanisms.This is the first volume to bring together the diverse aspects of polarity in plant development. It is directed at researchers and professionals in plant developmental biology, cell biology and molecular biology.Visit www.blackwellplantsci.com the plant science site from Blackwell Publishing.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 14It is difficult to over-state the importance of plant pigments in biology. Chlorophylls are arguably the most important organic compounds on earth, as they are required for photosynthesis. Carotenoids are also necessary for the survival of both plants and mammals, through their roles in photosynthesis and nutrition, respectively. The other plant pigment groups, such as flavonoids and betalains, have important roles in both the biology of plants and the organisms with which plants interact. This book provides an overview of pigment chemistry and biology, together with an up-to-date account of the biosynthesis of pigments and the modification of their production using biotechnology. The chapters cover a wide scope of pigmentation research - from the importance of structural diversity in generating the range of colours seen in plants, through to improving human health properties of crops by increasing pigment levels in transgenic plants. The volume is directed at researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 15This volume addresses some of the most important and hotly-pursued topics in the field of plant membrane transport. The first two chapters consider membrane transport analysis, emphasizing concepts, techniques and tools for electrophysiology. Chapters 3-8 divide along boundaries of pumps, coupled transporters and channels; the addition of a chapter on water channels highlights this rapidly expanding and, until recently, highly controversial topic. Chapters 9 and 10 deal with issues of Ca2+ and H+ signalling, and of membrane traffic that increasingly attracts the attention of researchers in plant development. Finally, chapters 11 and 12 take a post-genomic look at the problems of understanding the integration of transport mechanisms and its relevance to inorganic nutrition and phytoremediation. An overriding theme throughout is the extent to which the research on membrane transport now informs the fields of plant cell biology and physiology, and is itself enriched in return. This is a volume for researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry, physiology and molecular biology.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 13Plastids are essential plant organelles, vital for life on earth. They are important not just as photosynthetic organelles (chloroplasts) but also as sites involved in many fundamental intermediary metabolic pathways. Over the last decade, plastid research has seen tremendous advances and an exciting new picture is emerging of how plastids develop and function inside plant cells. The recent and rapid progress in the field has been due largely to reverse genetic approaches and forward genetic screening programs, which have resulted in the dissection of numerous chloroplast protein-function relationships. This book provides an overview of the current state of the art. It is directed at researchers and professionals in plant physiology, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 16 Intercellular communication in plants plays a vital role in the co-ordination of processes leading to the formation of a functional organism. The signalling systems must function at a local level to co-ordinate events of cellular differentiation, over long distances to co-ordinate developmental and physiological responses in different parts of the plant, and they must even operate between separate individuals - for example, to control fertilization as part of the evolutionary strategy of a particular species. To cope with the diverse requirements for intercellular signalling, plants have evolved a spectrum of molecular mechanisms, and significant progress has been made over the last few years in our understanding of these processes. This volume provides an overview of our current understanding of intercellular communication in plants, with an emphasis on those research areas showing significant recent progress and promise. It is directed at researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry, physiology, cell biology and molecular biology.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 17Conventionally, architecture relates to buildings, embracing both art and science, and specifying both form and function. In scope, this closely matches the study of plant architecture. From an artistic perspective, we might marvel at the astonishing diversity of aesthetically pleasing plant structures, yet as scientists we know that, through natural selection, very little of form is dissociated from function. The origins of studies of plant architecture and their influences on human existence are steeped in history, but, from a twenty-first century perspective, the field has been transformed from a discipline of observation and description into one in which complex networks of genetic, chemical and environmental factors can be directly manipulated and modelled. Arguably, manipulation of plant architecture has been one of the greatest mainstays of plant improvement - perhaps second only to the discoveries of the nutritional requirements of plants. With the advent of the ‘gene revolution’, there are countless new opportunities for selective modification of plant architecture. This book provides a broad coverage of our current understanding of plant architecture and its manipulation, ranging from the architecture of the individual cell to that of the whole plant. It is directed at researchers and professionals in plant physiology, developmental biology, molecular biology, genetics and biotechnology.

Our knowledge of the circadian clock in plants has advanced considerably in recent years and we now have a clearer view of the biochemical processes making up its mechanism. Recent work provides insight into the central role played by the circadian system in the regulation of many aspects of metabolism. The multiple systems involved in photoreception have been determined, leading to an understanding of how light entrains the internal biological clock to the natural cycle of day and night, and how this impacts on key events in the plant lifecycle, such as the photoperiodic regulation of flowering. This book provides a contemporary overview of endogenous plant rhythms for researchers and professionals in the plant sciences. It will also serve as a valuable source of reference for the wider circadian community.

Since their discovery over 100 years ago, plasmodesmata have been the focus of intense investigation. Plasmodesmata are unique to plants and form an intercellular continuum for the transport of solutes, signals and ribonucleoprotein complexes. It is now clear that plasmodesmata formation and regulation are central to a diverse range of plant functions that include developmental programming, host-pathogen interactions and systemic RNA signaling. This book provides a state-of-the-art overview of the diverse forms and functions of plasmodesmata. It covers the structure and evolution of plasmodesmata, their role in plant development and solute transport, and their central function in systemic signaling via the phloem. It includes critical evaluations of current methods used to study intercellular transport via plasmodesmata. The volume is directed at researchers and professionals in plant cell biology, plant molecular biology, plant physiology and plant pathology.

The flowering plants now dominate the terrestrial ecosystems of the planet, and there are good reasons for supposing that the flower itself has been a major contributing factor to the spread of the Angiosperms. The flowers of higher plants not only contain the organs of plant reproduction but are of fundamental importance in giving rise to fruits and seeds which constitute a major component of the human diet.This volume opens with a chapter describing a model for the evolution of the Angiosperm flower. Chapters 2 to 5 describe the core development of the flower and include floral induction, floral pattering and organ initiation, floral shape and size, and inflorescence architecture. Chapters 6 to 8 focus on more specialised aspects of floral development: monoecy, cytoplasmic male sterility and flowering in perennials. Chapters 9 and 10 address more functional aspects: flower colour and scent. The book concludes, appropriately, with a chapter on flower senescence. Applied aspects are stressed wherever appropriate, and the book is directed at researchers and professionals in plant genetics, developmental and molecular biology. The volume has been designed to complement an earlier volume in our Annual Plant Reviews series, O’Neill, S. D. and Roberts, J. A. (2002) Plant Reproduction.

With the discovery of RNAi pathways and the histone code, epigenetics has become a popular and fast evolving research topic. Plant science has made a number of elementary contributions to this field, and the common elements of epigenetic systems have linked research groups interested in plant, fungal and animal systems. This volume provides a comprehensive overview epigenetic mechanisms and biological processes in plants, illustrating the wider relevance of this research to work in other plant science areas and on non-plant systems. It discusses recent advances in our knowledge of basic mechanisms and molecular components that control transcriptional and post-transcriptional silencing, an understanding of which is essential for plant researchers who use transgenic lines for stable expression of a recombinant construct or for targeted inactivation of an endogenous gene. These aspects should be of special interest to the agricultural industry. The volume illustrates the relevance of epigenetic control systems to gene regulation and plant development, examining paramutation, genomic imprinting and microRNA-based gene regulation mechanisms. Finally, it demonstrates the significance of epigenetic systems to viral defence and genome organisation. The volume is directed at researchers and professionals in plant molecular genetics, plant biochemistry and plant developmental biology.

The ability to control the rates of metabolic processes in response to changes in the internal or external environment is an indispensable attribute of living cells that must have arisen with life’s origin. This adaptability is necessary for conserving the stability of the intracellular environment which is, in turn, essential for maintaining an efficient functional state. The advent of genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics has revolutionised the study of plant development and is now having a significant impact on the study of plant metabolism and its control. In the last few years, significant advances have been made, with the elucidation of enzyme gene families and the identification of new proteinaceous and allosteric regulators. The first part of this volume is devoted to generic aspects of metabolic control, with chapters on the key control points in pathways. Part Two considers the control of specific pathways, with detailed descriptions (including structures) and discussions of the regulation of these pathways, particularly in terms of the enzymology. The book is directed at researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology and cell biology.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 23A much clearer picture is now emerging of the fine structure of the plant cuticle and its surface, the composition of cuticular waxes and the biosynthetic pathways leading to them. Studies assessing the impact of UV radiation on plant life have emphasized the role of the cuticle and underlying epidermis as optical filters for solar radiation. The field concerned with the diffusive transport of lipophilic organic non-electrolytes across the plant cuticle has reached a state of maturity. A new paradigm has recently been proposed for the diffusion of polar compounds and water across the cuticle. In the context of plant ecophysiology, cuticular transpiration can now be placed in the perspective of whole-leaf water relations. New and unexpected roles have been assigned to the cuticle in plant development and pollen-stigma interactions. Finally, much progress has been made in understanding the cuticle as a specific and extraordinary substrate for the interactions of the plant with microorganisms, fungi and insects. This volume details the major developments of recent years in this important interdisciplinary area. It is directed at researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry, plant physiology, plant ecology, phytopathology and environmental microbiology, in both the academic and industrial sectors.

Plant growth is regulated by developmental programmes that can be modified by environmental cues acting through endogenous signaling molecules including plant hormones. This volume provides an overview of the biosynthesis, catabolism, perception and signal transduction of the individual hormone classes, followed by chapters on hormone distribution and transport, and the roles of hormone signaling in specific developmental processes. Particular attention is paid to the regulation of hormone signaling by environmental and developmental cues, sites of hormone metabolism and action, and interactions between hormone signaling pathways. The book is directed at researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry and molecular biology.

The formation, dispersal and germination of seeds are crucial stages in the life cycles of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants. The unique properties of seeds, particularly their tolerance to desiccation, their mobility, and their ability to schedule their germination to coincide with times when environmental conditions are favorable to their survival as seedlings, have no doubt contributed significantly to the success of seed-bearing plants. Humans are also dependent upon seeds, which constitute the majority of the world’s staple foods (e.g., cereals and legumes). Seeds are an excellent system for studying fundamental developmental processes in plant biology, as they develop from a single fertilized zygote into an embryo and endosperm, in association with the surrounding maternal tissues. As genetic and molecular approaches have become increasingly powerful tools for biological research, seeds have become an attractive system in which to study a wide array of metabolic processes and regulatory systems. Seed Development, Dormancy and Germination provides a comprehensive overview of seed biology from the point of view of the developmental and regulatory processes that are involved in the transition from a developing seed through dormancy and into germination and seedling growth. It examines the complexity of the environmental, physiological, molecular and genetic interactions that occur through the life cycle of seeds, along with the concepts and approaches used to analyze seed dormancy and germination behavior. It also identifies the current challenges and remaining questions for future research. The book is directed at plant developmental biologists, geneticists, plant breeders, seed biologists and graduate students.

The scientific and economic significance of plant senescence means that much effort has been made to understand the processes involved and to devise means of manipulating them agriculturally. During the past few years there has been considerable progress in this regard, especially in the molecular, genetic and genomic aspects. Senescence has a tremendous impact on agriculture. For example, leaf senescence limits crop yield and biomass production, and contributes substantially to postharvest loss in vegetable and ornamental crops during transportation, storage and on shelves. In addition, proteins, antioxidants and other nutritional compounds are degraded during senescence. Senescing tissues also become more susceptible to pathogen infection, and some of the pathogens may produce toxins, rendering food unsafe. Mitotic senescence may also determine sizes of leaves, fruits and whole plants. This volume summarizes recent progresses in the physiology, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, and biotechnology of plant senescence. Beginning with a chapter on senescence-related terminology and our current knowledge of mitotic senescence in plants (a less well-studied area), the book focuses on post-mitotic senescence, and includes chapters addressing the senescence of leaves, flowers and fruits. Later chapters examine the development of various new biotechnologies for manipulating the senescence processes of fruit and leaves, some of which are approaching commercialization. The book is directed at researchers and professionals in plant molecular genetics, physiology and biochemistry.

The proteome comprises all protein species resulting from gene expression in a cell, organelle, tissue or organism. By definition, proteomics aims to identify and characterise the expression pattern, cellular location, activity, regulation, post-translational modifications, molecular interactions, three dimensional structures and functions of each protein in a biological system. In plant science, the number of proteome studies is rapidly expanding after the completion of the Arabidopsis thaliana genome sequence, and proteome analyses of other important or emerging model systems and crop plants are in progress or are being initiated. Proteome analysis in plants is subject to the same obstacles and limitations as in other organisms, but the nature of plant tissues, with their rigid cell walls and complex variety of secondary metabolites, means that extra challenges are involved that may not be faced when analysing other organisms. This volume aims to highlight the ways in which proteome analysis has been used to probe the complexities of plant biochemistry and physiology. It is aimed at researchers in plant biochemistry, genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics who wish to gain an up-to-date insight into plant proteomes, the information plant proteomics can yield and the directions plant proteome research is taking.

Regulation of transcription represents a major, controlling step in plant gene expression, as it determines the tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific activity of many genes. Changes in gene expression have been shown to underlie the responses to environmental cues and stresses, the response against pathogens, the regulation of metabolic pathways, and the regulation of photosynthesis, for example. Regulation by transcription factors is an integral part of a highly complex network. In recent years, research on the regulation of transcription has made impressive progress. This volume provides a broad overview of the regulation of transcription in plants, introducing the key elements, the way in which it works in practice, and the potential within plant biotechnology. It is directed at researchers and professionals in plant molecular biology, biochemistry and biotechnology.

Living organisms are subject to fluctuating environmental conditions. Whereas most animals are able to move away from unfavourable conditions, plants are sessile and so must cope with whatever comes their way. Of all the environmental cues that challenge the developing plant, light can probably be considered to be the most important. In addition to its key role in plant metabolism, and hence almost all life on Earth, where it drives the process of photosynthesis, light energy also acts to regulate plant growth and development. Light quantity, quality, direction and diurnal and seasonal duration regulate processes from germination, through seedling establishment to the architecture of the mature plant and the transition to reproductive development. These developmental responses of plants to light constitute photomorphogenesis. This volume is designed to provide the reader with state-of-the-art accounts of our current knowledge of the major classes of higher plant regulatory photoreceptors and the signal transduction networks that comprise plant developmental photobiology. Consideration is also given to the ways in which knowledge of plant photoreceptors and their signalling networks can be exploited, for instance to improve the quality and productivity of commercially-grown plants. The book is directed at researchers and professionals working in plant molecular biology, plant physiology and plant biochemistry.

The cell cycle in plants consists of an ordered set of events, including DNA replication and mitosis, that culminates in cell division. As cell division is a fundamental part of a plant’s existence and the basis for tissue repair, development and growth, a full understanding of all aspects of this process is of pivotal importance.Cell Cycle Control and Plant Development commences with an introductory chapter and is broadly divided into two parts. Part 1 details the basic cell machinery, with chapters covering cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), cyclins, CDK inhibitors, proteolysis, CDK phosphorylation, and E2F/DP transcription factors. Part 2, which describes the cell cycle and plant development, covers cell cycle activation, cell cycle control during leaf development, endoreduplication, the cell cycle and trichome, fruit and endosperm development, the hormonal control of cell division and environmental stress, and cell cycle exit. The editor of this important book, Professor Dirk Inzé, well known and respected internationally, has brought together an impressive team of contributing authors, providing an excellent new volume in Blackwell Publishing’s Annual Plant Reviews Series. The book is an essential purchase for research teams working in the areas of plant sciences and molecular, cell and developmental biology. All libraries in universities and research establishments where biological sciences are studied and taught should have copies of this essential and timely volume.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 33Intracellular Signaling in Plants An intriguing and important question in our understanding of plant developmental programming and responses to the environment is what kinds of strategies and mechanisms plant cells use for the transmission and the integration of various developmental and environmental signals. This book provides insight into this fundamental question in plant biology. Intracellular Signaling in Plants is an excellent new addition to the increasingly well-known and respected Annual Plant Reviews and offers the reader: • Chapters prepared by an esteemed team of international authors• A consistent and well-illustrated approach to the subject matter• An invaluable resource for all researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry and biology This important volume also deals with major known signaling mechanisms and several representative intracellular signaling networks in plants, integrating comprehensive reviews and insights from leading experts in the field. Libraries in all universities and research establishments where biological sciences are studied and taught should have copies of this essential work on their shelves. Also Available from Wiley-BlackwellAnnual Plant Reviews, Volume 32Cell Cycle Control and Plant DevelopmentEdited by Dirk InzéPrint: 9781405150439Online: 9780470988923DOI: 10.1002/9780470988923 Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 31Plant MitochondriaEdited by David LoganPrint: 9781405149396Online: 9780470986592DOI: 10.1002/9780470986592

Root Development is an extremely exciting new title in Blackwell Publishing's Annual Plant Reviews Series (Series Editor Profesor Jeremy Roberts). The book consists of contributions from author groups based at many of the World's formeost laboratories working in the root development area. The book's editor Tom Beeckman, himself very well known and respected for his work in this area, has drawn together an exceptional set of core cutting edge reviews of the subject, providing a state of the art reference tool for all those researching in this area.

The field of plant nitrogen metabolism continues to be a compelling focus for basic research activities because there is a strong demand for immediate solutions, particularly in key areas, such as improving plant nitrogen use efficiency, which are crucial to future agricultural sustainability and the future economic success of agriculture.The 13 reviews which comprise this excellent and carefully edited new volume bring together the expertise and enthusiasm of an international team of leading researchers. Topics covered include nitrogen sensing and signalling, uptake and membrane systems, nitric oxide, primary nitrogen assimilation and C/N balance and interactions, and regulation of root and plant architecture. Together, these reviews provide an insight into how plants sense, uptake and assimilate nitrogen into the organic compounds required for growth, co-ordinate nitrogen and carbon metabolism and regulate growth and development according to nitrogen availability. The transcription factors that act to integrate environmental nutrient (nitrogen) signals to co-ordinate primary and secondary metabolism are discussed, together with new concepts of cross-talk, transport and signalling, and how such molecular networks influence nitrogen and carbon cycling processes in the environment.Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 42: Nitrogen Metabolism in Plants in the Post-genomic Era is an essential purchase for advanced students, researchers and professionals in plant sciences, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, genetics and agricultural sciences, working in the academic and industrial sectors. Libraries in all universities and research establishments where these subjects are studied and taught will need copies of this excellent volume on their shelves.

Plant Systems Biology is an excellent new addition to the increasingly well-known and respected Annual Plant Reviews. Split into two parts, this title offers the reader: A fundamental conceptual framework for Systems Biology including Network TheoryThe progress achieved for diverse model organisms: Prokaryotes, C. elegans and ArabidopsisThe diverse sources of "omic" information necessary for a systems understanding of plantsInsights into the software tools developed for systems biologyInteresting case studies regarding applications including nitrogen-use, flowering-time and root developmentEcological and evolutionary considerations regarding living systemsThis volume captures the cutting edge of systems biology research and aims to be an introductory material for undergraduate and graduate students as well as plant and agricultural scientists, molecular biologists, geneticists and microbiologists. It also serves as a foundation in the biological aspects of the field for interested computer scientists. Libraries in all universities and research establishments where biological and agricultural sciences are studied and taught and integrated with Computer Sciences should have copies of this important volume on their shelves.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 34 Molecular Aspects of Plant Disease ResistanceEdited by Jane ParkerIn recent years, our understanding of the mechanisms involved in plant resistance to disease has seen major advances. This important new volume in Wiley-Blackwell’s Annual Plant Reviews provides cutting edge reviews on major aspects of plant immunity from many of the world's leading researchers in the area. Coverage includes: • Establishment of disease by microbial pathogens• Genomic approaches to understanding host-pathogen interactions• Local and systemic resistance signalling• Activities of small bioactive molecules• Plant-insect ecology This exciting volume is essential reading for all those studying plant-pathogen interactions including plant and agricultural scientists, molecular biologists, geneticists and microbiologists. Libraries in all universities and research establishments where biological and agricultural sciences are studied and taught should have copies of this important volume on their shelves. About the EditorDr Jane Parker is a Group Leader in the Department of Plant-Microbe Interactions at The Max-Planck Institute of Plant Breeding Research, Cologne and Associate Professor at The Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne, Germany. Also Available Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 33Intracellular Signaling in PlantsEdited by Zhenbiao YangPrint: 9781405160025 Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 32Cell Cycle Control and Plant DevelopmentEdited by Dirk InzéPrint: 9781405150439Online: 9780470988923 Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 31Plant MitochondriaEdited by David LoganPrint: 9781405149396Online: 9780470986592 Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 30Light and Plant DevelopmentEdited by Garry C. Whitelam and Karen J. HallidayPrint: 9781405145381Online: 9780470988893

Plant Polysaccharides, an exceptional new volume in Wiley-Blackwell’s successful Annual Plant Reviews series, covers the polysaccharides and proteins that form the fundamental architecture of the plant cell wall, and the genes that encode the cellular machinery that synthesizes them. The volume focuses on the evolution of the many families of genes whose products are required to make a particular kind of polysaccharide, bringing attention to the specific biochemical properties of the proteins to the level of kinds of sugar linkages they make.Beautifully illustrated in full colour throughout, this exceptional new volume provides cutting edge up-to-date information on such important topics as cell wall biology, composition and biosynthesis, glycosyltransferases, hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins, enzymatic modification of plant cell wall polysaccharides, glycan engineering in transgenic plants, and polysaccharide nanobiotechnology.Drawing together some of the world’s leading experts in these areas, the editor, Peter Ulvskov, has provided a landmark volume that is essential reading for plant and crop scientists, biochemists, molecular biologists and geneticists. All libraries in universities and research establishmentswhere plant sciences, agriculture, biological, biochemical and molecular sciences are studied and taught should have copies of this important volume.

The Moss Physcomitrella patens has rapidly become an experimental model of choice for many aspects of molecular, cell and developmental biology in plant sciences. With a recently sequenced genome, which has further fuelled interest and research, Physcomitrella is accruing various new labels, from ‘a green yeast’ to the Drosophila, Caenorhabditis or Zebra fish of plant sciences. A truly international collaboration, this timely volume brings together a selection of chapters each composed by experts in their field. The chapters included cover a broad range: From those using P. patens as a marker against other species for evolutionary or ecological studiesTo those investigating the unique features of P. patens, e.g. gene targetingTo those using moss, either as a comparator for other organisms or because of the ease of study in moss, to investigate standard biological processesThis landmark publication is essential reading for anyone studying plant evolutionary biology, genomics, molecular and cell biology and genetics. Libraries in all universities and research establishments, where biological and agricultural sciences are studied and taught, should have copies of this important book on their shelves.