Signaling and Communication in Plants – serie

This book assembles recent research on memory and learning in plants. Organisms that share a capability to store information about experiences in the past have an actively generated background resource on which they can compare and evaluate coming experiences in order to react faster or even better. This is an essential tool for all adaptation purposes. Such memory/learning skills can be found from bacteria up to fungi, animals and plants, although until recently it had been mentioned only as capabilities of higher animals. With the rise of epigenetics the context dependent marking of experiences on the genetic level is an essential perspective to understand memory and learning in organisms.Plants are highly sensitive organisms that actively compete for environmental resources. They assess their surroundings, estimate how much energy they need for particular goals, and then realize the optimum variant. They take measures to control certain environmental resources. They perceive themselves and can distinguish between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’. They process and evaluate information and then modify their behavior accordingly.The book will guide scientists in further investigations on these skills of plant behavior and on how plants mediate signaling processes between themselves and the environment in memory and learning processes.

This book presents various aspects of salt and drought stress signaling in crops, combining physiological, biochemical, and molecular studies. Salt and drought stress are two major constraints on crop production worldwide. Plants possess several mechanisms to cope with the adverse effects of salt and drought. Among these mechanisms, stress signaling is very important, because it integrates and regulates nuclear gene expression and other cellular activities, which can help to restore cellular homeostasis. Accordingly, understanding the signaling cascades will help plant biologists to grasp the tolerance mechanisms that allow breeders to develop tolerant crop varieties. This book is an essential resource for researchers and graduate students working on salt and drought stress physiology and plant breeding.

This book presents various aspects of salt and drought stress signaling in crops, combining physiological, biochemical, and molecular studies. Salt and drought stress are two major constraints on crop production worldwide. Plants possess several mechanisms to cope with the adverse effects of salt and drought. Among these mechanisms, stress signaling is very important, because it integrates and regulates nuclear gene expression and other cellular activities, which can help to restore cellular homeostasis. Accordingly, understanding the signaling cascades will help plant biologists to grasp the tolerance mechanisms that allow breeders to develop tolerant crop varieties. This book is an essential resource for researchers and graduate students working on salt and drought stress physiology and plant breeding.

This book provides a comprehensive update on the recent developments concerning the role of plant neurotransmitters in signaling and communication. Physiological investigations over the past few decades have demonstrated that plants employ neurotransmitters in various signaling pathways. Plant-based neurotransmitters (serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, and GABA) share biochemical similarities with those in animal systems in terms of their chemical nature and biochemical pathways. Plant–environment interaction associated with abiotic stress management, growth modulation, flowering, circadian rhythm, fruit ripening, and allelopathic interactions are a major focus of research in the field, and recent advances in genomic, trascriptomic, and metabolomic approaches have resulted in the deciphering of the molecular mechanisms associated with various neurotransmitters in plants. Other current and potential areas of investigation include the putative phytohormone phytomelatonin,and receptor-mediated signaling in plant neurotransmitters. Providing an up-to-date overview of molecular crosstalk mechanisms between various neurotransmitters, the book offers essential insights to help readers gain a better understanding of the physiology of plant signaling and communication with the environment.

This book provides a comprehensive update on the recent developments concerning the role of plant neurotransmitters in signaling and communication. Physiological investigations over the past few decades have demonstrated that plants employ neurotransmitters in various signaling pathways. Plant-based neurotransmitters (serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, and GABA) share biochemical similarities with those in animal systems in terms of their chemical nature and biochemical pathways. Plant–environment interaction associated with abiotic stress management, growth modulation, flowering, circadian rhythm, fruit ripening, and allelopathic interactions are a major focus of research in the field, and recent advances in genomic, trascriptomic, and metabolomic approaches have resulted in the deciphering of the molecular mechanisms associated with various neurotransmitters in plants. Other current and potential areas of investigation include the putative phytohormone phytomelatonin,and receptor-mediated signaling in plant neurotransmitters. Providing an up-to-date overview of molecular crosstalk mechanisms between various neurotransmitters, the book offers essential insights to help readers gain a better understanding of the physiology of plant signaling and communication with the environment.

Demand for agricultural crops and nutritional requirement continues to escalate in response to increasing population. Also, climate change exerts adverse effects on agriculture crop productivity. Plant researchers have, therefore, focused to identify the scientific approaches that minimize the negative impacts of climate change on agricultural crops. Thus, it is the need of the hour to expedite the process for improving stress tolerance mechanisms in agricultural crops against various environmental factors, in order to fulfil the world’s food demand. Among the various applied approaches, the application of phytohormones has gained significant attention in inducing stress tolerance mechanisms.Jasmonates are phytohormones with ubiquitous distribution among plants and generally considered to modulate many physiological events in higher plants such as defence responses, flowering and senescence. Also, jasmonates mediate plant responses to many biotic and abiotic stresses by triggering a transcriptional reprogramming that allows cells to cope with pathogens and stresses. Likewise, salicylates are important signal molecules for modulating plant responses to environmental stresses. Salicylic acid influences a range of diverse processes in plants, including seed germination, stomatal closure, ion uptake and transport, membrane permeability and photosynthetic and growth rate.Understanding the significant roles of these phytohormones in plant biology and from agriculture point of view, the current subject has recently attracted the attention of scientists from across the globe. Therefore, we bring forth a comprehensive book “Jasmonates and Salicylates Signalling in Plants” highlighting the various prospects involved in the current scenario. The book comprises chapters from diverse areas dealing with biotechnology, molecular biology, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, etc. We are hopeful that this comprehensive book furnishes the requisite of all those who are working or have interest in this topic.

Demand for agricultural crops and nutritional requirement continues to escalate in response to increasing population. Also, climate change exerts adverse effects on agriculture crop productivity. Plant researchers have, therefore, focused to identify the scientific approaches that minimize the negative impacts of climate change on agricultural crops. Thus, it is the need of the hour to expedite the process for improving stress tolerance mechanisms in agricultural crops against various environmental factors, in order to fulfil the world’s food demand. Among the various applied approaches, the application of phytohormones has gained significant attention in inducing stress tolerance mechanisms.Jasmonates are phytohormones with ubiquitous distribution among plants and generally considered to modulate many physiological events in higher plants such as defence responses, flowering and senescence. Also, jasmonates mediate plant responses to many biotic and abiotic stresses by triggering a transcriptional reprogramming that allows cells to cope with pathogens and stresses. Likewise, salicylates are important signal molecules for modulating plant responses to environmental stresses. Salicylic acid influences a range of diverse processes in plants, including seed germination, stomatal closure, ion uptake and transport, membrane permeability and photosynthetic and growth rate.Understanding the significant roles of these phytohormones in plant biology and from agriculture point of view, the current subject has recently attracted the attention of scientists from across the globe. Therefore, we bring forth a comprehensive book “Jasmonates and Salicylates Signalling in Plants” highlighting the various prospects involved in the current scenario. The book comprises chapters from diverse areas dealing with biotechnology, molecular biology, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, etc. We are hopeful that this comprehensive book furnishes the requisite of all those who are working or have interest in this topic.

This book discusses the recent advancements in the role of various biomolecules in regulating root growth and development. Rhizobiology is a dynamic sub discipline of plant science which collates investigations from various aspects like physiology, biochemistry, genetic analysis and plant–microbe interactions. The physiology and molecular mechanisms of root development have undergone significant advancements in the last couple of decades. Apart from the already known conventional phytohormones (IAA, GA, cytokinin, ethylene and ABA), certain novel biomolecules have been considered as potential growth regulators or hormones regulating plant growth and development. Root phenotyping and plasticity analysis with respect to the specific functional mutants of each biomolecule shall provide substantial information on the molecular pathways of root signaling.Special emphasis provides insights on the tolerance and modulatory mechanisms of root physiology in response to light burst, ROS generation, agravitrophic response, abiotic stress and biotic interactions.Root Apex Cognition: From Neuronal Molecules to Root-Fungal Networks and Suberin in Monocotyledonous Crop Plants: Structure and Function in Response to Abiotic Stresses” are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.Chapters “Root Apex Cognition: From Neuronal Molecules to Root-Fungal Networks and Suberin in Monocotyledonous Crop Plants: Structure and Function in Response to Abiotic Stresses” are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This book discusses the recent advancements in the role of various biomolecules in regulating root growth and development. Rhizobiology is a dynamic sub discipline of plant science which collates investigations from various aspects like physiology, biochemistry, genetic analysis and plant–microbe interactions. The physiology and molecular mechanisms of root development have undergone significant advancements in the last couple of decades. Apart from the already known conventional phytohormones (IAA, GA, cytokinin, ethylene and ABA), certain novel biomolecules have been considered as potential growth regulators or hormones regulating plant growth and development. Root phenotyping and plasticity analysis with respect to the specific functional mutants of each biomolecule shall provide substantial information on the molecular pathways of root signaling.Special emphasis provides insights on the tolerance and modulatory mechanisms of root physiology in response to light burst, ROS generation, agravitrophic response, abiotic stress and biotic interactions.Root Apex Cognition: From Neuronal Molecules to Root-Fungal Networks and Suberin in Monocotyledonous Crop Plants: Structure and Function in Response to Abiotic Stresses” are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.Chapters “Root Apex Cognition: From Neuronal Molecules to Root-Fungal Networks and Suberin in Monocotyledonous Crop Plants: Structure and Function in Response to Abiotic Stresses” are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Plant hormones have pivotal roles in the regulation of plant growth, development, and reproduction. Their signaling pathways are interconnected in a complex network, which provides plants with an enormous regulatory potential to rapidly adapt to their environment and to utilize their limited resources for growth and survival in a cost-efficient manner. Auxin is a hormone molecule whose activity levels are most important for its regulatory roles during plant cell, organ, and tissue development. Therefore, the precise regulation of auxin levels is an essential mechanism to fine-tune the activity of this powerful hormone during plant growth and development. Likewise, cytokinins exhibit a wide range of physiological functions, including regulation of shoot and root apical meristems, stimulation of branching, vascular development, chloroplast differentiation, stabilization of the structure and function of the photosynthetic machinery, delay of senescence, stomata opening, and elevation of the sink strength and nutritional signaling. Moreover, gibberellins also regulate many aspects of plant growth and development including seed germination, stem elongation, leaf expansion, and flower and fruit development. The broad implication of gibberellins in plant development is strictly associated with tight regulation of their metabolism by multiple environmental and endogenous factors, ranging from light and temperature to other hormones including feedback control. Understanding the significant roles of these phytohormones in plant biology, the current subject has attracted the attention of scientists from across the globe. This comprehensive volume “Auxins, Cytokinins and Gibberellins Signaling in Plants” highlights the various prospects involved in the current scenario. The book comprises the chapters from diverse areas dealing with biotechnology, molecular biology, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, etc.

Plant hormones have pivotal roles in the regulation of plant growth, development, and reproduction. Their signaling pathways are interconnected in a complex network, which provides plants with an enormous regulatory potential to rapidly adapt to their environment and to utilize their limited resources for growth and survival in a cost-efficient manner. Auxin is a hormone molecule whose activity levels are most important for its regulatory roles during plant cell, organ, and tissue development. Therefore, the precise regulation of auxin levels is an essential mechanism to fine-tune the activity of this powerful hormone during plant growth and development. Likewise, cytokinins exhibit a wide range of physiological functions, including regulation of shoot and root apical meristems, stimulation of branching, vascular development, chloroplast differentiation, stabilization of the structure and function of the photosynthetic machinery, delay of senescence, stomata opening, and elevation of the sink strength and nutritional signaling. Moreover, gibberellins also regulate many aspects of plant growth and development including seed germination, stem elongation, leaf expansion, and flower and fruit development. The broad implication of gibberellins in plant development is strictly associated with tight regulation of their metabolism by multiple environmental and endogenous factors, ranging from light and temperature to other hormones including feedback control. Understanding the significant roles of these phytohormones in plant biology, the current subject has attracted the attention of scientists from across the globe. This comprehensive volume “Auxins, Cytokinins and Gibberellins Signaling in Plants” highlights the various prospects involved in the current scenario. The book comprises the chapters from diverse areas dealing with biotechnology, molecular biology, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, etc.

This book deals with the gasotransmitters signaling in redox reactions and homeostasis for the adaptation of plants to unfavorable abiotic stress environments. There are lots of interesting chapters in this book that cover both research and educational objectives. This book serves as a reference illustrated book for all who are interested in the regulation of gasotransmitters and redox homeostasis in agriculture. Maintenance of redox homeostasis strengthens the potentiality of plants to resist abiotic stress conditions through the enhanced antioxidant system and the subsequent impact on other signaling molecules. The book presents novel outcomes and implications in plant biology concerning the study of different types of gasotransmitters signaling such as nitric oxide (NO), ethylene, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), etc. under diverse abiotic stresses in one place. The chapters of the book discuss the recent progress and current perspectives on the role of gasotransmitters relevance to plant functions and adaptations to abiotic stresses, the influence of gasotransmitters on the physiology of plants with respect to abiotic stress tolerance, gasotransmitters and omics for abiotic stress tolerance, advancement in the biology of gasotransmitters in regulating salinity and drought stress response in plants, new insights of gasotransmitters and cellular redox homeostasis in plants and the chapter also deliberate the emerging role of gasotransmitters in regulating redox homeostasis for plant stress management. This book is the first comprehensive book covering all aspects and advancements in the biology of gasotransmitters in redox homeostasis conferring different abiotic stress tolerance, from which readers from all backgrounds can get benefitted. This book will appeal to researchers, students, scientific societies, agriculturists, etc.

This book deals with the gasotransmitters signaling in redox reactions and homeostasis for the adaptation of plants to unfavorable abiotic stress environments. There are lots of interesting chapters in this book that cover both research and educational objectives. This book serves as a reference illustrated book for all who are interested in the regulation of gasotransmitters and redox homeostasis in agriculture. Maintenance of redox homeostasis strengthens the potentiality of plants to resist abiotic stress conditions through the enhanced antioxidant system and the subsequent impact on other signaling molecules. The book presents novel outcomes and implications in plant biology concerning the study of different types of gasotransmitters signaling such as nitric oxide (NO), ethylene, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), etc. under diverse abiotic stresses in one place. The chapters of the book discuss the recent progress and current perspectives on the role of gasotransmitters relevance to plant functions and adaptations to abiotic stresses, the influence of gasotransmitters on the physiology of plants with respect to abiotic stress tolerance, gasotransmitters and omics for abiotic stress tolerance, advancement in the biology of gasotransmitters in regulating salinity and drought stress response in plants, new insights of gasotransmitters and cellular redox homeostasis in plants and the chapter also deliberate the emerging role of gasotransmitters in regulating redox homeostasis for plant stress management. This book is the first comprehensive book covering all aspects and advancements in the biology of gasotransmitters in redox homeostasis conferring different abiotic stress tolerance, from which readers from all backgrounds can get benefitted. This book will appeal to researchers, students, scientific societies, agriculturists, etc.

This book covers correlation and combined disciplinary aspects implying the use of secondary metabolites (SMs) of different plant species for control and monitoring of environment states. Phytochemical management of ecological systems represents an integrative field aiming for determination/evaluation of environment conditions from qualitative and quantitative analysis of plant metabolites. Plants respond to environmental conditions through productions of secondary metabolites. SMs represent highly variable and sensitive phytocompounds because of their small produced amounts, high structural variability and diversified activities. These characteristics make variations of SMs in plants to be highly informative on environmental conditions, physiological states and biological interactions. Qualitative and quantitative variations of SMs in plants are subject to correlation analyses to highlight links between biotic/abiotic conditions and plant chemical patterns.

This book covers correlation and combined disciplinary aspects implying the use of secondary metabolites (SMs) of different plant species for control and monitoring of environment states. Phytochemical management of ecological systems represents an integrative field aiming for determination/evaluation of environment conditions from qualitative and quantitative analysis of plant metabolites. Plants respond to environmental conditions through productions of secondary metabolites. SMs represent highly variable and sensitive phytocompounds because of their small produced amounts, high structural variability and diversified activities. These characteristics make variations of SMs in plants to be highly informative on environmental conditions, physiological states and biological interactions. Qualitative and quantitative variations of SMs in plants are subject to correlation analyses to highlight links between biotic/abiotic conditions and plant chemical patterns.

In many parts of the world, soil and water are slightly to moderately contaminated with metals and metalloids such as Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Pb, Si, B and As. This could be due to long-term use of phosphatic fertilizers, sewage sludge application, dust from smelters, industrial waste and bad watering practices in agricultural lands. Beside natural factors, human activities have contributed to the enormous increase in heavy metal and/or metalloid pollution in the environment. Metal and metalloid stress are major abiotic stress factors that limit crop production and reduce agricultural yield. The primary response of plants is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon exposure to high levels of metals/metalloids. They either generate ROS directly through Haber-Weiss reactions or overproduction of ROS and occurrence of oxidative stress in plants could be the indirect consequence of metals/metalloids toxicity. The indirect mechanisms include their interaction with the antioxidant system, disrupting the electron transport chain or disturbing the metabolism of essential elements. One of the most deleterious effects induced by heavy metals exposure in plants is lipid peroxidation, which can directly cause biomembrane deterioration.The impact of metals/metalloids on plant water relations has to be distinguished from their effects on water availability in soils, on root growth, limiting water uptake, as well as other phytotoxic effects. If soils are high in soluble salts (including heavy metal salts), the osmotic potential in the soil solution might be lower than the potential of the cell sap in root. Under these circumstances, the soil solution would severely restrict the rate of water uptake by plants and lead to osmotic stress. Further, the negative influence metals/metalloids have on the growth and activities of soil microorganisms, may also indirectly affect the growth of plants.In the book “Metals and Metalloids in Plant Signaling”, we elucidated the effects of metals/metalloids on signaling and communication cascades in plants. The general aim of the present book is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current situation and development in the field and to develop a science-based theoretical foundation for the conceptualization, and practical application. The various chapters are based on the consideration of metals/metalloids in terms of their action on different regulatory and functional systems of plants (signaling, metabolism, uptake, and transport mechanisms, etc.).

In many parts of the world, soil and water are slightly to moderately contaminated with metals and metalloids such as Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Pb, Si, B and As. This could be due to long-term use of phosphatic fertilizers, sewage sludge application, dust from smelters, industrial waste and bad watering practices in agricultural lands. Beside natural factors, human activities have contributed to the enormous increase in heavy metal and/or metalloid pollution in the environment. Metal and metalloid stress are major abiotic stress factors that limit crop production and reduce agricultural yield. The primary response of plants is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon exposure to high levels of metals/metalloids. They either generate ROS directly through Haber-Weiss reactions or overproduction of ROS and occurrence of oxidative stress in plants could be the indirect consequence of metals/metalloids toxicity. The indirect mechanisms include their interaction with the antioxidant system, disrupting the electron transport chain or disturbing the metabolism of essential elements. One of the most deleterious effects induced by heavy metals exposure in plants is lipid peroxidation, which can directly cause biomembrane deterioration.The impact of metals/metalloids on plant water relations has to be distinguished from their effects on water availability in soils, on root growth, limiting water uptake, as well as other phytotoxic effects. If soils are high in soluble salts (including heavy metal salts), the osmotic potential in the soil solution might be lower than the potential of the cell sap in root. Under these circumstances, the soil solution would severely restrict the rate of water uptake by plants and lead to osmotic stress. Further, the negative influence metals/metalloids have on the growth and activities of soil microorganisms, may also indirectly affect the growth of plants.In the book “Metals and Metalloids in Plant Signaling”, we elucidated the effects of metals/metalloids on signaling and communication cascades in plants. The general aim of the present book is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current situation and development in the field and to develop a science-based theoretical foundation for the conceptualization, and practical application. The various chapters are based on the consideration of metals/metalloids in terms of their action on different regulatory and functional systems of plants (signaling, metabolism, uptake, and transport mechanisms, etc.).

This book is devoted to the fascinating superfamily of plant ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and their variety of transported substrates. It highlights their exciting biological functions, covering aspects ranging from cellular detoxification, through development, to symbiosis and defense. Moreover, it also includes a number of chapters that center on ABC transporters from non-Arabidopsis species.ABC proteins are ubiquitous, membrane-intrinsic transporters that catalyze the primary (ATP-dependent) movement of their substrates through biological membranes. Initially identified as an essential aspect of a vacuolar detoxification process, genetic work in the last decade has revealed an unexpectedly diverse variety of ABC transporter substrates, which include not only xenobiotic conjugates, but also heavy metals, lipids, terpenoids, lignols, alkaloids and organic acids.The discovery that members of the ABCB and ABCG family are involved in the movement of phytohormones has further sparked their exploration and provided a new understanding of the whole family. Accordingly, the trafficking, regulation and structure-function of ABCB-type auxin transporters are especially emphasized in this book.

This book reviews the current state of information on reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and their role in cell communication during plant growth, development and adaptation to stress conditions.It addresses current research advances made in the area of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) signaling. These free radical molecules are important in plant-microbe interactions, responses to abiotic stress, stomatal regulation and a range of developmental processes. Due to their short half-life, high diffusion capability and ability to react with different components in the cell, ROS and RNS participate in various processes connected with signaling and communication in plants.The book’s respective chapters address the latest advances made in the niche area of ROS and RNS in plants. It offers a valuable guide for researchers and students alike, providing insights into cutting-edge free radical research. The information on specialized topics presented is also highly relevant for applied fields such as food security, agricultural practices and medicinal use of plants.

This book is an overview of our current understanding of aluminium toxicity and tolerance in plants. It covers all relevant aspects from molecular and cellular biology, to genetic approaches, root biology and plant physiology. The contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to alleviating aluminium toxicity is also discussed. Over 40% of total agricultural land resources are acidic in nature, with aluminium being the major toxicant. Plant roots are particularly susceptible to aluminium stress, but much of the complex mechanism underlying its toxicity and tolerance is unknown and aluminium stress perception in plants remains poorly understood. The diverse facets of aluminium stress adaptation covered in this book are relevant to plant biology students at all levels, as well researchers and it provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of plant adaptation to the changing environment.

This book presents the ways and means to switch on plant immune signaling systems using PAMP-PIMP-PRR signaling complex for crop disease management. It also describes bioengineering approaches to develop transgenic plants expressing enhanced disease resistance using genes encoding PAMPs, PRRs and transcription factors and genes involved in generation of PIMPs/HAMPs. It also discusses recent commercial development of PAMP products to switch on plant innate immunity for crop disease management. These unique approaches have been described with more than 100 figures and illustrations and these would make this book attractive for researchers and students to buy this book.

This book provides an overviewof the intricacies of plant communication via volatile chemicals. Plantsproduce an extraordinarily vast array of chemicals, which provide communitymembers with detailed information about the producer’s identity, physiology andphenology. Volatile organic chemicals, either as individual compounds or complexchemical blends, are a communication medium operating between plants and anyorganism able to detect the compounds and respond.  The ecological andevolutionary origins of particular interactions between plants and the greatercommunity have been, and will continue to be, strenuously debated. However, itis clear that chemicals, and particularly volatile chemicals, constitute amedium akin to a linguistic tool.  As well as possessing a rich chemicalvocabulary, plants are known to detect and respond to chemical cues. These cues can originate from neighbouring plants, or other associatedcommunity members. This book beginswith chapters on the complexity of chemicalmessages, provides a broad perspective on a range of ecological interactionsmediated by volatile chemicals, and extends to cutting edge developments on thedetection of chemicals by plants.

This book is an overview of our current understanding of aluminium toxicity and tolerance in plants. It covers all relevant aspects from molecular and cellular biology, to genetic approaches, root biology and plant physiology. The contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to alleviating aluminium toxicity is also discussed. Over 40% of total agricultural land resources are acidic in nature, with aluminium being the major toxicant. Plant roots are particularly susceptible to aluminium stress, but much of the complex mechanism underlying its toxicity and tolerance is unknown and aluminium stress perception in plants remains poorly understood. The diverse facets of aluminium stress adaptation covered in this book are relevant to plant biology students at all levels, as well researchers and it provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of plant adaptation to the changing environment.

This book is devoted to the fascinating superfamily of plant ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and their variety of transported substrates. It highlights their exciting biological functions, covering aspects ranging from cellular detoxification, through development, to symbiosis and defense. Moreover, it also includes a number of chapters that center on ABC transporters from non-Arabidopsis species.ABC proteins are ubiquitous, membrane-intrinsic transporters that catalyze the primary (ATP-dependent) movement of their substrates through biological membranes. Initially identified as an essential aspect of a vacuolar detoxification process, genetic work in the last decade has revealed an unexpectedly diverse variety of ABC transporter substrates, which include not only xenobiotic conjugates, but also heavy metals, lipids, terpenoids, lignols, alkaloids and organic acids.The discovery that members of the ABCB and ABCG family are involved in the movement of phytohormones has further sparked their exploration and provided a new understanding of the whole family. Accordingly, the trafficking, regulation and structure-function of ABCB-type auxin transporters are especially emphasized in this book.

This book reviews the current state of information on reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and their role in cell communication during plant growth, development and adaptation to stress conditions.It addresses current research advances made in the area of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) signaling. These free radical molecules are important in plant-microbe interactions, responses to abiotic stress, stomatal regulation and a range of developmental processes. Due to their short half-life, high diffusion capability and ability to react with different components in the cell, ROS and RNS participate in various processes connected with signaling and communication in plants.The book’s respective chapters address the latest advances made in the niche area of ROS and RNS in plants. It offers a valuable guide for researchers and students alike, providing insights into cutting-edge free radical research. The information on specialized topics presented is also highly relevant for applied fields such as food security, agricultural practices and medicinal use of plants.

This book describes the three gasotransmitters nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and carbon monoxide (CO) and their function as intracellular signalling molecules in plants. Common properties are shared by NO, H2S and CO: they are beneficial at low concentrations but hazardous in higher amounts; they are small molecules of gas; they can freely cross cell membranes; their effects do not rely on receptors; they are generated enzymatically and their production is regulated; their functions can be mimicked by exogenous application; and their cellular effects may or may not be mediated by second messengers, but have specific cellular and molecular targets.In plants, many aspects of the biology of gasotransmitters remain completely unknown and generate intriguing questions, which will be discussed in this book.

This book summarizes our current knowledge on belowground defence strategies in plants by world-class scientists actively working in the area. The volume includes chapters covering belowground defence to main soil pathogens such as Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Verticillium, Phytophthora, Pythium and Plasmodiophora, as well as to migratory and sedentary plant parasitic nematodes. In addition, the role of root exudates in belowground plant defence will be highlighted, as well as the crucial roles of pathogen effectors in overcoming root defences. Finally, accumulating evidence on how plants can differentiate beneficial soil microbes from the pathogenic ones will be covered as well. Better understanding of belowground defences can lead to the development of environmentally friendly plant protection strategies effective against soil-borne pathogens which cause substantial damage on many crop plants all over the world. The book will be a useful reference for plant pathologists, agronomists, plantmolecular biologists as well as students working on these and related areas.

Aquaporins are channel proteins that facilitate the diffusion of water and small uncharged solutes across cellular membranes. Plant aquaporins form a large family of highly divergent proteins that are involved in many different physiological processes. This book will summarize the recent advances regarding plant aquaporins, their phylogeny, structure, substrate specificity, mechanisms of regulation and roles in various important physiological processes related to the control of water flow and small solute distribution at the cell, tissue and plant level in an ever-changing environment.

This book assembles recent research on memory and learning in plants. Organisms that share a capability to store information about experiences in the past have an actively generated background resource on which they can compare and evaluate coming experiences in order to react faster or even better. This is an essential tool for all adaptation purposes. Such memory/learning skills can be found from bacteria up to fungi, animals and plants, although until recently it had been mentioned only as capabilities of higher animals. With the rise of epigenetics the context dependent marking of experiences on the genetic level is an essential perspective to understand memory and learning in organisms.Plants are highly sensitive organisms that actively compete for environmental resources. They assess their surroundings, estimate how much energy they need for particular goals, and then realize the optimum variant. They take measures to control certain environmental resources. They perceive themselves and can distinguish between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’. They process and evaluate information and then modify their behavior accordingly.The book will guide scientists in further investigations on these skills of plant behavior and on how plants mediate signaling processes between themselves and the environment in memory and learning processes.