Inter-cellular Electrical Signals in Plant Adaptation and Communication


Book Description

Plants use the Sun´s energy to synthesize the basic biomolecules that make up all the organic matter of all organisms of terrestrial ecosystems, including ourselves. Therefore, understanding their adaptive mechanisms to variations of environmental factors, both biotic and abiotic, is fundamental, and particularly relevant in the current context of rapid climate change. Some of the most important adaptive mechanisms of plants are the electrical and chemical signaling systems for the exchange of information between proximally and distally located cells. These signalling systems allow plants to dynamically coordinate the activities of all cells under a diversity of situations. In this Research Topic, we present eight articles that bring up new hypothesis and data to understand the mechanisms of systemic electrical signaling and the central role that it plays in adapting the whole plant to different stresses, as well as new findings on intracellular calcium and nitric oxide-based signaling pathways under stress, which could be extrapolated to non-plant research.




Inter-cellular Electrical Signals in Plant Adaptation and Communication


Book Description

Plants use the Sun's energy to synthesize the basic biomolecules that make up all the organic matter of all organisms of terrestrial ecosystems, including ourselves. Therefore, understanding their adaptive mechanisms to variations of environmental factors, both biotic and abiotic, is fundamental, and particularly relevant in the current context of rapid climate change. Some of the most important adaptive mechanisms of plants are the electrical and chemical signaling systems for the exchange of information between proximally and distally located cells. These signalling systems allow plants to dynamically coordinate the activities of all cells under a diversity of situations. In this Research Topic, we present eight articles that bring up new hypothesis and data to understand the mechanisms of systemic electrical signaling and the central role that it plays in adapting the whole plant to different stresses, as well as new findings on intracellular calcium and nitric oxide-based signaling pathways under stress, which could be extrapolated to non-plant research.










Plant Electrophysiology


Book 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.




Communication in Plants


Book Description

Plant neurobiology is a newly emerging field of plant sciences. It covers signalling and communication at all levels of biological organization – from molecules up to ecological communities. In this book, plants are presented as intelligent and social organisms with complex forms of communication and information processing. Authors from diverse backgrounds such as molecular and cellular biology, electrophysiology, as well as ecology treat the most important aspects of plant communication, including the plant immune system, abilities of plants to recognize self, signal transduction, receptors, plant neurotransmitters and plant neurophysiology. Further, plants are able to recognize the identity of herbivores and organize the defence responses accordingly. The similarities in animal and plant neuronal/immune systems are discussed too. All these hidden aspects of plant life and behaviour will stimulate further intense investigations in order to understand the communicative plants in their whole complexity.




The Neuron


Book Description

Intended for use by advanced undergraduate, graduate and medical students, this book presents a study of the unique biochemical and physiological properties of neurons, emphasising the molecular mechanisms that generate and regulate their activity.




Plant Energetics


Book Description

Emphasizing the physical and technological aspects of plant energetics, this comprehensive book covers a significant interdisciplinary research area for a broad range of investigators. Plant Energetics presentsthe thermodynamics of energy processes in plants, their interconnection and arrangement, and the estimation of intrinsic energy needs of the plant connected with performing various physiological functions. The book also demonstrates the role of electrical and electrochemical processes in the plants life cycle. Plant Energetics incorporates such diverse themes as thermodynamics, biophysics, and bioelectrochemistry with applications in horticulture and ecology. It also discusses the roles and mechanisms of both quantum and thermophysical processes of theconversion of solar energy by plants, including photosynthesis and long distance transport. Comprehensive details of value to basic and applied researchers dealing with photosynthesis, agriculture, horticulture, bioenergetics, biophysics, photobiology, and plant physiology make Plant Energetics an informative, one-stop resource that willsave time and energy in your search for the latest information. - Plant Energetics incorporates such diverse themes as thermodynamics, biophysics, and bioelectrochemistry with applications in horticulture and ecology. It also discusses the roles and mechanisms of both quantum and thermophysical processes of the conversion of solar energy by plants, including photosynthesis and long-distance transport - Extensive details of value to basic and applied researchers dealing with photosynthesis, agriculture, horticulture, bioenergetics, biophysics, photobiology, and plant physiology make Plant Energetics an informative, one-stop resource that will save you time and energy in your search for the latest information




Handbook of Plant and Crop Stress, Fourth Edition


Book Description

Since the publication of the third edition of the Handbook of Plant and Crop Stress, continuous discoveries in the fields of plant and crop environmental stresses and their effects on plants and crops have resulted in the compilation of a large volume of the latest discoveries. Following its predecessors, this fourth edition offers a unique and comprehensive collection of topics in the fields of plant and crop stress. This new edition contains more than 80% new material, and the remaining 20% has been updated and revised substantially. This volume presents 10 comprehensive sections that include information on soil salinity and sodicity problems; tolerance mechanisms and stressful conditions; plant/crop responses; plant/crop responses under pollution and heavy metal; plant/crop responses under biotic stress; genetic factors and plant/crop genomics under stress conditions; plant/crop breeding under stress conditions; empirical investigations; improving tolerance; and beneficial aspects of stressors. Features: Provides exhaustive coverage written by an international panel of experts in the field of agriculture, particularly in plant/crop stress areas Contains 40 new chapters and 10 extensively revised and expanded chapters Includes three new sections on plant breeding, stress exerted to weeds by plants, and beneficial aspects of stress on plants/crops Numerous case studies With contributions from 100 scientists and experts from 20 countries, this Handbook provides a comprehensive resource for research and for university courses, covering soil salinity/sodicity issues and plant/crop physiological responses under environmental stress conditions ranging from cellular aspects to whole plants. The content can be used to plan, implement, and evaluate strategies to mitigate plant/crop stress problems. This new edition includes numerous tables, figures, and illustrations to facilitate comprehension of the material as well as thousands of index words to further increase accessibility to the desired information.




Dryland Ecohydrology


Book Description

Ecohydrology emerges as a new field of research aiming at furthering our understanding of the earth system through the study of the interactions between the water cycle and vegetation. By combining the analysis of biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystems, this volume provides a synthesis of material on arid and semiarid landscapes, which is currently spread in a number of books and journal articles. The focus on water-limited ecosystems is motivated by their high sensitivity to daily, seasonal, and decadal perturbations in water availability, and by the ecologic, climatic, and economic significance of most of the drylands around the world. Conceived as a tool for scientists working in the area of the earth and environmental sciences, this book presents the basic principles of eco-hydrology as well as a broad spectrum of topics and advances in this research field. The chapters collected in this book have been contributed by authors with different expertise, who work in several arid areas around the World. They describe the various interactions among the biological and physical dynamics in dryland ecosystems, starting from basic processes in the soil-vegetation-climate system, to landscape-scale hydrologic and geomorphic processes, ecohydrologic controls on soil nutrient dynamics, and multiscale analyses of disturbances and patterns.