SpringerBriefs in Plant Science – serie

Sugarcane, an important source of sugar, plays a substantial role in world economy. As a C4 plant this has very efficient system for carbohydrate metabolism through photosynthesis. Crop improvement efforts have concentrated mainly on improving quality traits, mainly sugar content. This being a complex trait, involves a large number of target genes in the metabolic pathway. The complex polyploid nature of the crop makes it more difficult to pin point the key players in this complex pathway. Despite its importance, little is known about the exact mechanism of sucrose accumulation and its regulation in sugarcane. Many enzymes have been proposed to have a key role in determining the ultimate sucrose content in sugarcane. There are evidences to show that some of these like Sucrose Phosphate Synthase (SPS) and Sucrose Synthase (SuSy) are encoded by multiple genes that show organ specifity in sugarcane. Especially in a crop like sugarcane where the classical techniques are of limited help in elucidating various genetic complexities, molecular techniques can be of help in throwing some light on the grey areas. Molecular marker strategies will be of help in understanding some aspects of sucrose metabolism and its regulation in this crop, thus complementing the ongoing crop improvement programmes.

Ascorbate acid (AsA) is an important antioxidant in plants, playing important roles in various physiological processes. Humans have lost the ability to synthesize AsA because of the lack of L-gulono-1,4-lactone oxidoreductase, and thus have to absorb ascorbate from diet including fresh fruits and vegetables, as they are the major sources of ascorbate. Several pathways for AsA biosynthesis and metabolism have been identified in plants since 1998. More attention has been paid to improving ascorbate content in plants especially in fruits and vegetables. Significant progresses have been made on key enzymes and genes involved in the AsA biosynthesis and metabolism. Recently, more interests have arised in the regulation of AsA biosynthesis, as it is constantly regulated by the plant development and the environmental factors, e.g. light. Ascorbic acid is also frequently reported to affect plant growth and development e.g. flowering time and fruit ripening.The scope of the book is to cover the biological role, biosynthesis and metabolism, regulation, and metabolic modification of ascorbate in plants.

Stalking the Wild Sweetgrass: Domestication and Horticulture of the Grass Used in African-American Coiled Basketry is concerned with the historical domestication of sweetgrass, the main construction/structural grass used in the three century old African-American tradition of coiled basketry in South Carolina. During the plantation era in southern agriculture, sweetgrass baskets were made for post-harvest processing and storage of rice by enslaved Africans from Lower Cape Fear, North Carolina to northern Florida. Enslaved Africans from the Rice Kingdom in Africa were prized for the basketry and rice agronomic skills and were specially sought by slavery traders. Today, this ancient craft still thrives in the community of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Authored by one of the most renowned experts in the field and filled with illuminating color photographs, this volume provides knowledge of the horticulture of an extremely important wild plant and an example of the perils of plant- and people-based research and experimentation. As one of the few authoritative texts on the subject, Stalking the Wild Sweetgrass: Domestication and Horticulture of the Grass Used in African-American Coiled Basketry is a resourceful volume on wild sweetgrass, suitable for researchers and students alike.

At Middle Woodland sites in the eastern United States, excavations have uncovered naturalistic art worked on exotic materials from points as distant Wyoming, Ontario, and the Gulf Coast, revealing a network of ritual exchange referred to as the Hopewell phenomenon. Simultaneously, Middle Woodland societies developed the earliest agricultural system in eastern North American using now-extinct native cultivars. Mound Centers and Seed Security: A Comparative Analysis of Botanical Assemblages from Middle Woodland Sites in the Lower Illinois Valley integrates an interpretation of these two historical trends.Unlike most journal articles on related subjects, the volume includes a lengthy review of literature on both Hopewell studies and Middle Woodland agriculture, making it a useful resource for researchers starting out in either field. Synthesizing both original research and research reported in archaeological “grey literature”, Mound Centers and Seed Security: A Comparative Analysis of Botanical Assemblages from Middle Woodland Sites in the Lower Illinois Valley is a valuable tool for researchers and teachers alike.

This book provides the concepts, techniques, and recent developments with regard to use of mulches in agriculture, utility of mulches for non-chemical pest control, and sustainability of crop production systems. Non-conventional means of improving the sustainability of crop production and pest control are required in the wake of environmental concerns over the use of conventional pesticides as well as the intensive use of land resources. Mulches have been used in agriculture for various purposes; however, there has been an increase in their use more recently, and scientists around the world have conducted more research to explore the benefits of mulching in various agricultural systems. Mulches have been found advantageous in non-chemical pest control, soil and water conservation, improving fertility, and improving microbial activities in the soil. While this is a topic of current importance, the information use of mulches in agricultural fields is rarely compiled in one comprehensive location to provide a full account of various aspects of mulches and their utility. This book will be helpful for researchers, growers, and students.

Potassium (K+) is an essential mineral macronutrient abundantly present in the cytosol which, unlike other macronutrients, is not metabolized and does not integrate into macromolecules. Compared to animal cells, K+  is more abundantly present in plant cells. Overall performance of the plant, and operation of metabolic machinery depends upon intracellular K+ homeostasis (K+ uptake and efflux) via K+ channels and transporters acting as mediators of cellular responses during plant development. Unlike animals, plants lack sodium/K+ exchangers; plant cells have developed unique transport systems for K+ accumulation and release. In Arabidopsis thaliana, 71 K+ channels and transporters have been identified and categorized into six families. Plant adaptive responses to several abiotic and biotic stresses are mediated by regulation of intracellular K+ homeostasis. In this report, we highlight the role of K+ in abiotic and biotic stresses, features of channels and transporters responsible for its homeostasis along with its evolutionary relationship, perception and sensing mechanisms, and K+ deficiency triggering different signaling cascades. Overall, this book covers the role of K+ in plants would be significantly helpful to research, academic community as well as students to understand the one of the major attributes of plant biology.

Natural remedies play an important role in curing ailments that happen by chance or adoptively. Adhatoda vasica is a natural Asian remedy that has the potential to treat respiratory disorders, among others. While existing literature does exist on this medicinal plant, it can be cumbersome to sort through for information relevant to academics, research, and practice. This work reframes and consolidates information on Adhatoda vasica so that it is easier to approach through academic, research, and practitioner perspectives.

This book focuses on the significance and implications of Calcium (Ca2+) transport machinery in the plant cell in generating alternating Ca2+ levels and impacting the cell’s physiological, biochemical and developmental processes. In the following sections, the concept of Ca2+ homeostasis, Ca2+ signature, various Ca2+ transport protein families and conductance systems would be discussed in detail- elucidation of their functional characterization, structure, mechanism, sub-cellular localization and specific physiological roles in ensuring Ca2+ homeostasis. Also, the aspect of Ca2+ as a “signaling hub” –transducing distinct plant responses to diverse environmental stimuli, Ca2+ binding proteins, and the tools used in studying these proteins are explained in brief to paint a holistic picture of Ca2+ transport in plant systems. This has resulted in an elaborative literature account to serve as a staple by providing recent insights and advance knowledge surrounding genetic and molecular dissection of Ca2+homeostasis maintenance mechanisms and extant Ca2+ transport systems in plants.

Molecular farming is a biotechnological approach that includes the genetic adjustment of agricultural products to create proteins and chemicals for profitable and pharmaceutical purposes. Plant molecular farming describes the manufacture of recombinant proteins and other biologically active product in plants. This approach depends on a genetic transformation of plants that can be accomplished by the methods of stable gene transfer, such as gene transfer to nuclei and chloroplasts, and unstable transfer methods like viral vectors. The requirement for recombinant proteins in terms of quality, quantity, and diversity is increasing exponentially This demand is traditionally met by recombinant protein construction technologies and the engineering of orthodox expression systems based on bacteria or mammalian cell cultures. However, majority of developing countries cannot afford the high costs of medicine derived from such existing methods. Hence, we need to produce not only the new drugsbut also the cheaper versions of those already present in the market. Plant molecular farming is considered as a cost-effective technology that has grown and advanced tremendously over the past two decades.This book summarizes the advances and challenges of plant molecular farming for all those who are working on or have an interest in this rapidly emerging area of research.

Lantana camara, commonly known as lantana, is a flowering plant native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. It has been introduced to many parts of the world, often as an ornamental plant, but has become invasive in many regions, leading to significant ecological impacts. However, it also has potential benefits that can be harnessed through bioprospecting.This book aims to provide a comprehensive examination of L. camara, the plant known for its dual identity as both an invasive species and a source of valuable bioprospecting opportunities. The book delves into the ecological impact of L. camara, exploring its role as an invasive species, the challenges it poses to native ecosystems, and the strategies for managing its spread. Simultaneously, it highlights the plant's potential benefits, particularly in the fields of medicine, agriculture, and environmental remediation. This dual focus will offer readers a balanced perspective on L. camara, underscoring the need for nuanced approaches to both its control and utilization.

Deals with the historical perspectives and the current status of doubled haploid production along with its practical implications in basic and applied research. It highlights various haploid production methods with a comprehensive discussion on their pros and cons, bottlenecks, and embryogenic pathways. The review also describes in detail the results of molecular and genomic studies conducted to investigate the underlying principles of this spectacular technique that has changed the status of many species from recalcitrant to responsive over the last ninety years.​

Calcium plays pivotal role in regulating the physiological as well as developmental processes in plants. Till now, several calcium sensors have been discovered, which regulate the diverse signaling pathways involved in plant growth and development. One of the major calcium sensors CBL (calcineurin B-like) is decoding the calcium signal during various environmental stresses in plants. Calcium mediated signal is transduced downstream by CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs), which generally phosphorylate the target proteins such as transcription factors or transporters/channel leading to a response. Mutant based approach has provided valuable information in the functional analysis of individual members of CBL and CIPK gene family in Arabidopsis. Both CBL and CIPK gene families have previously been identified and characterized in Arabidopsis and rice. Identification and characterization of CBLs and CIPKs in other plant species such as Oryza sativa, Pisum sativum, Cicer arietinum, Zea mays, Populus euphratica, Vitis vinifera, Malus domestica, Gossypium hirsutum, Sorghum bicolor, Brassica napus, Vicia faba, Phaseolus vulgaris, Ammopiptanthus mongolicus and Triticum aestivum are still in juvenile stage.Overall, Global Comparative Analysis of CBL-CIPK Gene Families in Plants is a comprehensive study focused on the diverse role of CBL-CIPK module in different stress signaling and also to identify a newly emerging role of this calcium-signaling module in plant growth and development across different plant species. In addition, beside Arabidopsis, it will provide backbone of knowledge to perform a detail molecular investigation in crop plant species and could possibly enable in designing strategies to tame abiotic stress tolerance and development in important agronomical crop plants. This book will act as handy andinformative source in this field for students as well as advanced researchers.

This book provides a description of cognitive impairment in the elderly population through the lens of Thai Traditional Medicine as it is practiced in northern Thailand. It provides an overview of Thai Traditional Medicine and the memory loss presented in elderly dementia. Some medicinal plants used by traditional Thai healers to treat cognitive decline and memory issues in the elderly are reviewed.Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly provides readers with the detailed description of the in vitro screening of ten plants and those results. The bioactivity of these single plants exemplifies the success of using an ethnobotanical filter to identify plants with cognitive enhancing activity.

This book highlights the common ground between biomedicine and traditional healing. Because of the destruction of forests, the degradation of old palm leaf manuscripts, and decreasing interest in traditional medicine by younger generations, it is becoming more and more important to record medicinal plant knowledge before it is lost. This research provides written and photographic documentation of some of the medicinal plant knowledge held by the people of Laos. Translating and validating some of the power of traditional medicine used in Laos into biomedical terms through laboratory analyses may serve to demonstrate its importance in a global language. In this text, the translational research was performed through in vitro laboratory analyses of select plant species with a history to treat symptoms of TB. The processes of plant collection, extraction, biological assays, and isolation/elucidation are also described and detailed in the Biochemical Validation section.The biomedical discoveries explored in, Ethnobotany of Tuberculosis in Laos, stresses the importance of conserving and sustaining our natural ecosystems for medicinal preservation and  utilization.

​The Q’eqchi’ Maya of Belize have an extensive pharmacopoeia of medicinal plants used traditionally for reproductive health and fertility, utilizing more than 60 plant species for these health treatments. Ten species were selected for investigation of their estrogenic activity using a reporter gene assay. Nine of the species were estrogenic, four of the species were also antiestrogenic, and two of the extracts were cytotoxic to the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Women’s healing traditions are being lost in the Q’eqchi’ communities of Belize at an accelerated rate, due to a combination of factors including: migration from Guatemala disrupting traditional lines of knowledge transmission; perceived disapproval by biomedical authorities; women’s limited mobility due to domestic obligations; and lack of confidence stemming from the devaluation of women’s knowledge. Q’eqchi’ medicinal plant knowledge is highly gendered with women and men using different species in traditional health treatments. Revitalizing women’s healing practices is vital for maintaining the traditional knowledge needed to provide comprehensive healthcare for Belize’s indigenous communities.

G proteins are the key regulators for a wide range of cellular processes in animals and plants. In comparison to animals and yeast, plants have a single Rho-GTPase subfamily called Rho-like GTPases (ROPs). The ROP family of monomeric GTPases has emerged as a versatile and key regulator in plant signal transduction processes. During the past few years’ studies on plant RHO-type (ROP) GTPase have generated new insights into their role in diverse processes ranging from cytoskeletal organization, polar growth, development to stress and hormonal responses.  Studies have shown that plants have evolved specific regulators and effector molecules. ROP GTPases possess the ability to interact with these multiple regulator and effector molecules that ultimately determines their signaling specificity. Recently, genome wide studies in plants have shown that the Arabidopsis genome encodes 93, and rice has nearly 85 small GTPase homologs. And we have been able to identify four new homologs in the rice genome. Here, we focus on the complete phylogenetic, domain, structural and expression analysis during stress and various developmental processes of small GTPases in plants. The comparison of gene expression patterns of the individual members of the GTPase family may help to reveal potential plant specific signaling mechanisms and their relevance. Also, we are summarizing the role of currently known ROP GTPases and their interacting proteins with brief description, simultaneously, comparing their expression pattern based on microarray data. Overall, we will be discussing the functional genomic perspective of plant Rho like GTPases and their role in regulating several physiological processes such as stress, hormonal, pollen tube, root hair-growth and other developmental responses.​

​Global climate change is expected to produce increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, higher temperatures, aberrant precipitation patterns and a host of other climatic changes that would affect all life on this planet. This review article addresses the impact of climate change on fruit trees and the response of the trees to a changing environment. The response of fruit trees to increasing carbon dioxide levels, phenological changes occurring in the trees themselves due to increased temperature and the lower chilling hours especially in the temperate regions, ecophysiological adaptations of the trees to the changing climate, impact of aberrant precipitation, etc. are reviewed. There is very little data on the impact of rising CO2 levels on fruit tree performance or productivity including the temperate region. Based on a large number of observations on the phenology, there is reason to believe that the flowering and fruiting of most species have advanced by quite a few days, but with variations in different crops and on different continents. The chilling hours have also grown shorter in many regions, causing considerable reductions in yield for several species. In the tropics, there is very little work on fruit trees; however, the available data show that precipitation is a major factor regulating their phenology and yield. The ecophysiological adaptations vary from species to species, and there is a need to develop phenological models in order to estimate the impact of climate change on plant development in different regions of the world. More research is also called for to develop adaptation strategies to circumvent the negative impacts of climate change.

​The study of origin and domestication of legumes described in this book emerged when it became apparent that while this kind of information is adequate for cereals, the pulses lagged behind. At the end of the 1960s the senior author initiated a study on the chickpea's wild relatives followed by similar attempts for broad bean, fenugreek, common vetch, bitter vetch, and lentil. The junior author joined the project in the late 1980s with a study of the genetics of interspecific hybrid embryo abortion in lentil and later has extensively investigated chickpea domestication and wild peas. While this book mainly describes our research findings, pertinent results obtained by others are also discussed and evaluated. Studying the wild relatives of legumes included evaluation of their taxonomic status, their morphological variation, ecological requirements, exploration of their distribution, and seed collection in their natural habitats. Seeds were examined for their protein profile as preliminary hints of their affinity to the cultigens and plants grown from these seeds were used for establishing their karyotype, producing intra- and interspecific hybrids and analyses of their chromosome pairing at meiosis and fertility. The aim of these investigations was the identification of the potential wild gene pool of the domesticated forms. Assessment of genetic variation among accessions, particularly in the genus Lens, was made by isozymes and chloroplast DNA studies. The main findings include the discovery of the chickpea wild progenitor; studies of lentil in three crossability groups; wild peas proceeded in two lines of study; faba bean and fenugreek and their wild progenitors have not yet been identified; common vetch and its related form were treated here as an aggregate (A. sativa); we found gene flow between members of different karyotypes is possible; bitter vetch and its relation to the domesticated form were established by breedingexperiments.

This book is a systematized overview of wild edible plants eaten in the territory of present Estonia, with a focus on the systematic changes within the field. Starting in the end of 18th century, when the first data was published, the text is an extended version and compilation of articles on the subject published by Drs. Kalle and Sõukand and includes unpublished fieldwork results. This work covers changes and tendencies not covered previously due to the limits of article length. Included in this data is a general overview table containing all used plant taxa, parts used and purposes of use. More details on specific food-uses are provided in separate chapters analysing dynamics of changes of the importance of wild plants within the specific food category.

This book reveals the benefits of describing and modeling trees as the combined surface areas of their stems, and provides a concise overview of the fundamental grounds for adopting such an approach. Anatomically speaking, trees are largely thin sheaths of living cells and it is this understanding that has sparked growing interest in the study of stem surface areas in trees and stands. An overview of publications on analytical methods for the dynamics and structure of forest stands based on stem surface area is also provided.The approach described here gives readers a chance to rethink some models that were popular for decades, while also offering a glance into future research. The application of a simple geometrical model of a forest stand has made it possible to reexamine a highly promising model, the self-thinning rule, which has been a subject of a protracted discussion for the past few decades. Further, the analysis presented here can serve as the basis for predicting forest stand increments, a topic that calls for further development.

Designed for new scholars, this book features a quick and easy-to-read discussion of ethnobotany along with its major developments. The language is clear and concise, objective and straightforward, and structured to lead the reader from the beginning of this science to the most recent developments. While there are some books on ethnobotany, mainly dealing with methods, this book covers the topic in an introductory and comprehensive text that prepares the reader for more advanced study of ethnobotany.

This book clearly defines ways to maximize the allelopathic potential of important field crops for controlling weeds, either in the same crop or others. Compared to the use of herbicides, allelopathy is an attractive option to control weeds naturally under field conditions. The book highlights the allelopathic potential of several important cereals (wheat, maize, rice, barley, sorghum, rye) and two oilseed crops [sunflower and canola (as well as some other member of Brassicaceae family)]. Further, the book explains how the allelopathic potential of these crops can be manipulated under field conditions to suppress weeds. This is possible by growing allelopathic crop cultivars, using mulches from allelopathic crops, intercropping an allelopathic crop with a non-allelopathic crop, including allelopathic crops in crop rotation, or using allelopathic crops as cover crops. Equipped with several basic concepts of allelopathy, this book will be highly useful for the farming community as well as students and researchers.

Face to the current global energy crisis, there is an urgent necessity of searching for alternatives to fossil fuels, and this book shows how timber is a promising resource for sustainable energy production. Northeast Mexico represents an important forest resource to satisfy the needs of the population in these areas. In order to harness these forest resources, technology for exploring these valuable resources must be developed. These technologies (with special reference to biology and wood technologies) are available in scattered form in a few books  but there is no central, comprehensive source for practical forest scientists for adopting efficient forest management, practice, and exploration. This book deals with the characterization of the vegetation, morphology, phenological development, biomass production (leaf, litter, wood), and bioenergy of some timber-yielding species of Northeast Mexico, which will serve as a guide to study timber-yielding plants in the native vegetation of Tamaulipan thornscrub and experimental plantations. This includes morphology, vegetation cover, biomass production in terms of volume leaf biomass, litter, and volume of fire wood and timber. Special emphasis is given to the estimation of bioenergy products and chemical composition (Ph, extractable lignin, and inorganic elements). Large variations exist in vegetation cover, morphology, phenological development, biomass production of leaf and litter, volume of wood and various variable of bioenergy products among the selected species.  The maximum production was found in summer and the volume of the harvestable timber was obtained in experimental plantations. This book, therefore, will serve as a practical handbook to characterize timber-yielding plants, which will help to efficiently manage forestry resources.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) is one of the most widely used in foods, herbal medicine and one of the extensively researched medicinal plants of the world. In traditional medicine licorice roots have been used against treating many ailments including lung diseases, arthritis, kidney diseases, eczema, heart diseases, gastric ulcer, low blood pressure, allergies, liver toxicity, and certain microbial infections. Licorice extract contains sugars, starch, bitters, resins, essential oils, tannins, inorganic salts and low levels of nitrogenous constituents such as proteins, individual amino acids, and nucleic acids. A large number of biologically active compounds have been isolated from Glycyrrhiza species, where triterpene, saponins and flavonoids are the main constitutes which show broad biological activities.The present book will discuss the botany, the commercial interests as well as the recent studies on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of licorice. It will also describe the side effects and toxicity of licorice and its bioactive components, an underrepresented subjects of importance.It will be the first book to present global perspectives of licorice in detail. It will serve as a carefully researched introduction for students, healthcare practitioners, botanists and plant biochemists; full of historical background and bridges the gap between botany, ecology, pharmacology, as well as treatment of diseases.

This book provides discussion on the importance of hydroponics with particular focus on the nutrient film technique for the production of premium, fresh vegetables in a highly economically feasible method. It highlights this culture of growing as one of the most efficient agricultural practices for a sustainable market and also addresses the numerous challenges faced in the production of crops grown in soil.Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponics describes detailed instructions on the set up of an efficient system, including applications for lower budgets, new business ventures, and gives a detailed outline for the construction of an ideal hydroponic system. It also reveals the secrets to turning a hydroponic system into a profitable business by providing the necessary templates for tracking a successful endeavor. This book also contains references for further reading and a comprehensive index.

This brief describes various methods of chitosan nano-materials synthesis, with detailed discussion of various factors effecting its synthesis process, stability and physicochemical properties. Chitosan is naturally occurring biopolymer derived from chitin. Due to the unique biological properties of chitosan nano-materials such as antimicrobial, plant growth inducer, plant defense modulator, chitosan has gained attention in fields of plant sciences. Book further extended the details of different types of chitosan nano-materials specially for plant applications along with its future prospects in plant protection and growth. Bioactivities of chitosan nano-materials and its mechanism have also been covered. This book aims to widening the understanding of the synthesis, characterization and use of chitosan based nano-materials in plant system.

This book is a product of years of research on saffron biology. It intends to give a broad but concise overview of the various aspects of apocarotenoid biosynthesis in Crocus sativus, its regulation and pharmacology .Crocus sativus L. of family Iridaceae is an important medicinal plant. The dried stigma of C. sativus flower is considered as the world's costliest spice. Saffron is the sources of unique carotenoid derived molecules called apocarotenoids which include crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal. These molecules are synthesized in the tissue and developmental stage specific manner. Besides providing colour, aroma and flavour to the spice, these molecules have tremendous medicinal importance. The book uncovers major concepts of apocarotenoids biosynthesis and provides deeper and more complete understanding about their biotechnological and pharmacological applications.The book is divided into three sections –The first section provides a general introduction of C. sativus, its apocarotenoids, their biosynthesis, regulation and transport. Second section provides information about the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) which are the key players in apocarotenoid biosynthesis. The classification of plant CCDs, their structure, reaction mechanism, biotechnological application are thoroughly discussed. The final section deals with the major pharmacological properties of C. sativus apocarotenoids, ranging from their role as anticancer to their utility as neuroprotective molecules.This is a one of its kind book on Crocus sativus. It will be useful for the researchers working on Crocus sativus, students and also practitioners involved in extraction and bio-synthesis of the useful medical components.