Product Description
The world population is expected to increase to 9 billion by the year 2050 which will generate food and fuel shortages. Since it will be difficult to increase the land area under cultivation without serious environmental consequences, higher productivity for biomass is required. Improvement in photosynthetic efficiency would require increased knowledge and deeper understanding of :(a) the biosynthesis of photosynthetic membrane components such as hemes, chlorophylls, carotenoids, quinones, and lipids; (b) photosynthetic membrane apoprotein biosynthesis; (c) the biosynthesis and regulation of the assembly of pigment-apoprotein complexes; and (d) the complexities of carbon sensing, biosynthesis and allocation. These goals may be accomplished by bioengineering of chloroplasts with higher photosynthetic efficiency and superior adaptation to various stresses and/or alteration of the kinetic properties of the CO 2 assimilating enzyme, Rubisco. Advances towards this goal are addressed in this volume that will foster cooperation between biochemists and molecular biologists, scientists involved in photosynthesis research and biotechnologists involved in plant and plastid genomics and transformation. We envision future research to focus attention on "Chloroplast Bioengineering" as an integrated novel field of research. This book is designed for graduate students and researchers in chlorophyll metabolism, integrative plant biology, plant physiology, plant biochemistry, plant molecular biology, biotechnology, bioenergy and biofuels. ... Read more

Product Description

How do plants help you breathe? Why are fungi and bacteria important? Do plants have “lungs”? The visually stimulating 'Sci-Hi' books take learning science core curriculum to a whole new exciting level. Each title explores an area of life, physical, or ear

... Read more

Product Description

This book compiles new findings in plant electrophysiology from the work of internationally renowned experts in the fields of electrophysiology, bio-electrochemistry, biophysics, signal transduction, phloem transport, tropisms, ion channels, plant electrochemistry, and membrane transport. Opening with a historical introduction, the book reviews methods in plant electrophysiology, introducing such topics as measuring membrane potentials and ion fluxes, path-clamp technique, and electrochemical sensors. The coverage includes experimental results and their theoretical interpretation.

Customer Reviews (1)

Electrophysiology resurfacing
It is a fine collection of papers on a subject that has been neglected by the scientific community. ... Read more

Product Description
Penetration of light into aquatic ecosystems is greatly affected by the absorption and scattering processes that take place within the water.Thus within any water body, the intensity and color of the light field changes greatly with depth and this has a marked influence on both the total productivity of, and the kinds of plant that predominate in, the ecosystem.This study presents an integrated and coherent treatment of the key role of light in aquatic ecosystems.It ranges from the physics of light transmission within water, through the biochemistry and physiology of aquatic photosynthesis, to the ecological relationships that depend on the underwater light climate. ... Read more

Product Description
A clear, concise and vivid account of the process of photosynthesis is presented in this enlarged and fully revised sixth edition. The attractive presentation of this book, including the frequent use of line illustrations and color plates, leads the reader into a fascinating introduction to this sometimes complex topic. The details of photosynthetic processes at the macro and molecular level are discussed based on the results of biochemical, biophysical, and genetic studies. The role of photosynthesis in food production and in the global environment are also highlighted. To aid students in their practical work, a set of simple experiments are described and explained. A comprehensive further reading list is included. Although aimed primarily at undergraduate students in all fields of biological sciences, Photosynthesis will also appeal to the advanced school biology student and to all teachers in biological disciplines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent
Of extreme importance for all life on this planet, photosynthesis is one of the most widely studied topics in the physiology of plants. This book gives a fine overview of the subject and is suitable for readers who have some background in botany. It could though be read profitably by anyone, from those students intending to specialize in botany, as well as those who are curious as to the workings of photosynthesis. With serious discussion and research now being done in bringing about "artificial" photosynthesis, anyone interested in these kinds of developments will need to first have a solid grounding in the mechanisms behind photosynthesis in plants.

The authors are selective in what topics are covered in detail, but by far the most interesting part of the book is chapter 8, which overviews some of the latest research in photosynthesis (they don't discuss any of the research in artificial synthesis though). One of the first topics discussed is the research that indicates that PSII might alone be able to initiate electron transfer from water to NADP and carbon dioxide fixation, this taking place in a mutant version of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The authors are careful to point out that the complete absence of PSI in this system has not been established.

Still another interesting topic in this chapter concerns the determination of how chloroplasts develop via colorless organelles called `etioplasts'. The authors unfortunately do not spend too much time on this topic, but it is an excellent example of light-induced control of the transcription of genes, these genes encoding the proteins that control the transition from etioplast to chloroplast. This is followed by a somewhat more detailed discussion of chloroplast genetics, with the genetic map of the rice chloroplast given as an example. Mentioned also is the work currently done in the genetic engineering of the chloroplast, with the example of the green alga, which has been engineered to be deficient in PSII, PSI, ATP synthase, etc. The genetic engineering of the chloroplast shows some promise in alleviating the concerns of some who point to dangers in the development of transgenic plants, the latter topic of which is also discussed in this chapter. Instead of inserting transgenes into a plant genome, they are inserted into the genome of the chloroplast. Some researchers have claimed that such an approach will not be subject to the `gene silencing' problem that would make the resulting transgene expression unstable. Other researchers though have remained skeptical, and have pointed to other gene silencing mechanisms that might in be even more prevalent in the genetic engineering of the chloroplast. Either way these issues need more investigation, both from the standpoint of scientific curiosity and from an environmental one.

A superb dissertation on all aspects of Photosynthesis.
This book presents all aspects of photysynthesis in a fairly detailed manner.The material here covers everything form mitochondrial structure to phytochromes.There is just enough information here to keep the material brisk yet cogent.There are numerous charts and good quality illustrations.The electron transport cycle and phosphorylation sections deserve special mention for their beauty and usefulness.The 'Research in Photosynthesis' chapter is very good, except that I have the fifth edition (1994),and my guess is the material may be quite dated.I highly recommend this book for an under-graduate course in photosynthesis.If you wish to know what photosynthesis is and the why and how of an important biological function buy this book.Over and above being a very good biology book the discourse is presented in a elegant manner.

A very nice book
This is a nice book. Small but complete. A pleasure to read. I suggest it for anyone that want know enough on the photosynthesis. The tables on the potentials are very useful. Some nice plates are included and a lot ofhistorical notes too. Also, there are many illustrations that make the bookvaluable. A complete "Further reading" close the book. I nowbegin the fifth reading of the book just for enjoy myself. ... Read more

Product Description

Our image of plants is changing dramatically away from passive entities merely subject to environmental forces and organisms that are designed solely for the accumulation of photosynthate. Plants are revealing themselves to be dynamic and highly sensitive organisms that actively and competitively forage for limited resources, both above and below ground, organisms that accurately gauge their circumstances, use sophisticated cost-benefit analysis, and take clear actions to mitigate and control diverse environmental threats. Moreover, plants are also capable of complex recognition of self and non-self and are territorial in behavior. They are as sophisticated in behavior as animals but their potential has been masked because it operates on time scales many orders of magnitude less than those of animals. Plants are sessile organisms. As such, the only alternative to a rapidly changing environment is rapid adaptation. This book will focus on all these new and exciting aspects of plant biology.

Product Description
This book, which has derived from UNEP-sponsored training courses in the subject, contains vital up-to-date information, presented by a leading team of international experts, on all the major parameters of plant growth and the effect upon them of global climate change. It will be an invaluable manual and reference source for students and researchers in plant science, ecology and environmental science. ... Read more

Product Description
Most textbooks on measuring terrestrial vegetation have focused on the characteristics of biomass, cover, and the density or frequency of dominant life forms (trees, shrubs, grasses, and forbs), or on classifying, differentiating, or evaluating and monitoring dominant plant communities based on a few common species. Sampling designs for measuring species richness and diversity, patterns of plant diversity, species-environment relationships, and species distributions have received less attention. There are compelling, urgent reasons for plant ecologists to do a far better job measuring plant diversity in this new century. Rapidly invading plant species from other countries are affecting rangeland condition and wildlife habitat, placing more plant species on threatened and endangered species lists, and increasing wildfire fuel loads. Attention has shifted from the classification of plant communities to accurately mapping rare plant assemblages and species of management concern to afford them better protection. More ecologists, wildlife biologists, and local and regional planners recognize the value in understanding patterns, dynamics, and interactions of rare and common plant species and habitats to better manage grazing, fire, invasive plant species, forest practices, and restoration activities. Thus, revised and new sampling approaches, designs, and field techniques for measuring plant diversity are needed to assess critical emerging issues facing land managers. This book offers alternatives to the approaches, designs, and techniques of the past that were chiefly designed for dominant species and other purposes. The author focuseson field techniques that move beyond classifying, mapping, and measuring plant diversity for relatively homogeneous communities. This book complements methods for measuring the biomass and cover of dominant plant species. Most species are sparse, rare, and patchily distributed. It empowers the reader to take an experimental approach in the science of plant diversity to better understand the distributions of common and rare species, native and non-native species, and long-lived and short-lived species. ... Read more

Product Description

The Structure and Function of Plastids provides a comprehensive look at the biology of plastids, the multifunctional biosynthetic factories that are unique to plants and algae. Fifty-nine international experts have contributed 28 chapters that cover all aspects of this large and diverse family of plant and algal organelles.

Product Description

The plant hormone ethylene plays a prominent role among several intrinsic and extrinsic factors that control growth and physiology of plants. Its biological activity was discovered over a century ago. However, extensive studies on its mode of action came later. This book brings into focus the recent developments on the biochemical, physiological, and molecular basis for ethylene action in plants.

Product Description

Photosynthesis in silico: Understanding Complexity from Molecules to Ecosystems is a unique book that aims to show an integrated approach to the understanding of photosynthesis processes. In this volume - using mathematical modeling - processes are described from the biophysics of the interaction of light with pigment systems to the mutual interaction of individual plants and other organisms in canopies and large ecosystems, up to the global ecosystem issues. Chapters are written by 44 international authorities from 15 countries. Mathematics is a powerful tool for quantitative analysis. Properly programmed, contemporary computers are able to mimic complicated processes in living cells, leaves, canopies and ecosystems. These simulations - mathematical models - help us predict the photosynthetic responses of modeled systems under various combinations of environmental conditions, potentially occurring in nature, e.g., the responses of plant canopies to globally increasing temperature and atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Tremendous analytical power is needed to understand nature's infinite complexity at every level.

Product Description
This volume illuminates the multidisciplinary character ofphotosynthesis, which spans (bio)physics to agronomy. The book willhelp provide students with the necessary conceptual outlook forintegrating information from the bioenergetic and enzymatic angles,obtained at the molecular l4vel, with the physiology of chloroplasts,leaves and eventually crops. It therefore serves the larger interestsof both students and researchers in the areas of agriculture,biotechnology, biochemistry, biophysics, plant physiology, andmolecular biology, who are engaged in studying not only the basicaspects of photosynthesis, a major process determining biomassproduction, but also its relationship to plant productivity. Thepossibility of using the information in this book to improve biomassand grain yield is something that no one can ignore.
... Read more

Product Description

The last ten years have witnessed a monumental increase in our understanding of plant hormones. A decade ago, scientists were forced to rely on vague ideas about hormone action; today, these have been replaced by detailed molecular models. Given the rapid increase in our understanding of plant hormone biology, this comprehensive review could not have come at a better time. In Plant Hormones: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition, expert researchers explore the most current genetic, biochemical, analytical and chemical biological approaches for understanding plant hormone action, providing a concise overview of methods and reagents needed to dissect plant signalling pathways using chemical genetic methods. Chapters address such topics as genetic methods of analysis using the model system Arabidopsis thaliana, biochemical methods for documenting interactions between hormones and receptors, the use of high-throughput sequencing technologies for microRNA analysis, and analytical approaches for measuring endogenous plant hormone levels, including LC-MS and GC-MS based methods. Composed in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, step-by-step methods, a list of necessary materials, and a Notes section which shares tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Innovative and cutting edge, Plant Hormones: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is an essential guide for all plant scientists who are facing the complex and challenging questions that will determine the future of this vital field.

Product Description

Photoprotection, Photoinhibition, Gene Regulation, and Environment examines the processes whereby plants monitor environmental conditions and orchestrate their response to change, an ability paramount to the life of all plants. “Excess light”, absorbed by the light-harvesting systems of photosynthetic organisms, is an integrative indicator of the environment, communicating the presence of intense light and any conditions unfavorable for growth and photosynthesis. Key plant responses are photoprotection and photoinhibition. In this volume, the dual role of photoprotective responses in the preservation of leaf integrity and in redox signaling networks modulating stress acclimation, growth, and development is addressed. In addition, the still unresolved impact of photoinhibition on plant survival and productivity is discussed. Specific topics include dissipation of excess energy via thermal and other pathways, scavenging of reactive oxygen by antioxidants, proteins key to photoprotection and photoinhibition, peroxidation of lipids, as well as signaling by reactive oxygen, lipid-derived messengers, and other messengers that modulate gene expression. Approaches include biochemical, physiological, genetic, molecular, and field studies, addressing intense visible and ultraviolet light, winter conditions, nutrient deficiency, drought, and salinity.