Main Description

In the past twenty years there has been a revolution in plant sciences, as new methods of molecular biology and biophysics have been applied to investigate environmental stress, particularly desiccation tolerance. Today, there is a good level of understanding of how plant cells cope with extreme water stress. This book is divided into four sections, dealing with 1) the technical background to desiccation tolerance studies; 2) the frequency and levels of dehydration stress tolerance in biological systems; 3) mechanisms of damage and tolerance, and 4) a brief prospect and retrospect. It covers orthodox and recalcitrant seeds, pollen and spores, vegetative parts, and other plant tissues.

Readership

Researchers, scientists and educators working in the field of seed science and plant physiology, also biological, agricultural, horticultural and ecological sciences.

Main Contents

Part I: Introduction

Drying without dying, P Alpert and M J OliverPart II: Methodology

Methods for study of water relations under desiccation stress, W K Sun

Experimental aspects of drying and recovery, N W Pammenter, P Berjak, J Wesley-Smith and C Vander Willigen

Biochemical and biophysical methods for quantifying desiccation phenomena in seeds and vegetative tissues, O Leprince and E GolovinaPart III: Biology of dehydration

Desiccation sensitivity in orthodox and recalcitrant seeds in relation to development, A Kermode and B E Finch-Savage

Pollen and spores: Desiccation tolerance in pollen and the spores of lower plants and fungi, F A Hoekstra

Vegetative tissues: Bryophytes, vascular resurrection plants and vegetative propagules, M C F Proctor and V C Pence

Ecological, taxonomic and phylogenetic aspects of desiccation tolerance in seeds and other plant tissues, J Dickie and H PritchardPart IV:Mechanisms of damage and tolerance

Desiccation stress and damage, C Walters, J M Farrant, N W Pammenter and P Berjak

Biochemistry and biophysics of tolerance systems, J Buitink, F A Hoekstra and O Leprince

Molecular genetics of desiccation and tolerant systems, J Phillips, M J Oliver and D Bartels

Rehydration of dried systems: Membranes and the nuclear genome, D J Osborne, I Boubriak and O LeprincePart V: Retrospect and prospect

Damage and tolerance in retrospect and prospect, M Black, H Pritchard and R Obendorf

• "The whole book is well edited and up-to-date. I found the list of acronyms, the glossary of terms and the inclusion of both a taxonomic and subject index made the volume very user-friendly. Get your library to buy this!."
  
  Bulletin of the British Ecological Society, 2003

  
  

• "This excellent volume provides a very readable and comprehensive coverage of desiccation tolerance in plants. This book should be found on the shelves of all those who are researching into or are interested in plant desiccation."
  J Derek Bewley, Annals of Botany Company, 2003

  
  

• "The book is impressive, very readable and is the only volume available that covers this very important area of plant physiology."
  South African Journal of Botany, 2003

  
  

• "In summary, this is a timely, well thought out book that summarizes a fascinating aspect of plant life. The book is well indexed, with a separate species index, and it also has a useful glossary."
  Israel Journal of Plant Sciences, May 2003

  
  

• "What makes this particular book stand out far above many others is the excellent introductory sections, extensive cross-referencing and the avoidance of repetition in detail."
  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 2003

  
  
  

• "This work is a valuable addition to the reference bookshelf of any water relations scientist."
  Erik Tallak Nilsen, Ecology, 84(10), 2004