Physiology and Behaviour of Plants

Physiology and Behaviour of Plants

 
Physiology and Behaviour of Plants looks at plants and how they sense and respond to their environment. It takes the traditional plant physiology book into a new dimension by demonstrating how the biochemical observations underlie the behaviour of the plant. In many ways the book parallels courses studied at university on animal physiology and behaviour. The plant has to meet the same challenges as an animal to survive, but overcomes these challenges in very different ways. Students learn to think of plants not only as dynamic organisms, but aggressive, territorial organisms capable of long-range communication.
Hallmark features include:
• Based on a successful course that the author has run for several years at Sussex University, UK
• Relates plant biochemistry to plant function
• Printed in four colour throughout
• Includes a wealth of illustrations and photographs that engages the reader’s attention and reinforce key concepts explored within the text
• Presents material in a modern ‘topic’ based approach, with many relevant and exciting examples to inspire the student
• An accompanying web site will include teaching supplements
 

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introducing Plants
Introduction
The beginning: the evolution of plants and the major divisions
Conquering the land
The evolution of lignin
Plants and mass extinction
Floristic kingdoms, Biogeography and Biomes
What makes a plant?
Structure of the whole plant
Structure of the plant cell
The chloroplast
The vacuole
Microbodies
The cell wall
Plasmodesmata
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 2 Photosynthesis the ultimate in autotrophy
Introduction
Light harvesting
Leaf form
Chlorophyll and the chloroplast
Converting light energy into chemical energy
The Calvin cycle
Photorespiration
Carbohydrate synthesis and storage
The fate of carbon fixed during photosynthesis
The efficiency of photosynthesis
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 3 Nonphotosynthetic metabolism
Introduction
Phloem transport
Structure of the phloem
Coping with damage to the phloem
The sink tissues
Sink regulation of photosynthesis
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 4 Roots and the uptake of water
Introduction
Types of root
Functions of roots
Structure of roots
Osmosis
Loading and movement in the xylem
Stomata
References
Figure legends
Chapter 5 Mineral nutrition of plants
Introduction
Soil structure and mineral ions
General ion uptake
Phosphorus uptake and assimilation
Nitrogen uptake and assimilation
Iron uptake and assimilation
Sulphur uptake and assimilation
Function and effects of deficiencies of mineral ions on plants
Major elements
Minor elements
References
Figure legends
Chapter 6 Mycorrhizal Associations and Saprophytic Nutrition
Introduction
Mycorrhizal associations
Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Orchidaceous mycorrhizal associations
Ectomycorrhiza
Ericaceous mycorrhiza
Ectendomycorrhiza
Development of the mycorrhizal association
The role of the mycorrhizal association
Saprophytic nutrition
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 7 Parasitic plants
Introduction
Establishing a parasitic relationship
Facultative parasitic plants
Obligate parasitic plants, hemi-parasites
Obligate parasitic plants, holo-parasites
Parasitic species other than the dicotyledons
References
Tables
Figure Legends
Chapter 8 Carnivorous Plants
Introduction
Carnivory: the search for a definition
Why have some plants turned to carnivory?
Bladderworts (genus Utricularia)
Sundews (genus Drosera)
References
Background general reading
Figure Legends
Chapter 9 Asexual and Sexual Reproduction
Introduction
Asexual Reproduction
Roots
Stems
Leaves
Apomixis
Sexual Reproduction
Wind based pollination
Insect based pollination
Pollination
Mechanisms for improving cross fertilisation
Self incompatibility mechanisms
Trifolium repens
Apple (Malus)
Papaver rhoeas
Petunia hybrida
Petunia inflata
Seed development
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 10 Plant growth
Introduction
Types of growth
Cell division and the cell cycle
Polyploidy in plants
Seed formation and germination
The dividing meristem
Flower development
Vascular cambium and secondary growth
Intercalary meristem
Cell death
Plant growth regulators and cell growth
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 11 Plant Movement
Introduction
Tropism and nastic movements
Tropic movements
Nastic movements
Circumnutation
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 12 Plants and stress
Introduction
Adaptations to drought stress
Crassulacean acid metabolism
C4 photosynthesis
Resurrection plants
Salt stress
Flooding stress and anoxia
Cold stress
Adaptations to heat stress
References
Chapter 13 Plant senses and perceiving the world
Introduction
Sensing light (sight)
Protochlorophyllide
Phytochromes
Cryptochrome
Sensing time
Circadian clock
Photoperiodism
Sensing touch (feeling)
Sensing chemicals (taste)
Communicating (smell)
Sensing sounds (hearing)
References
Table 1. Ratios of red to far-red light in different environments. The data is based on that reported by Hopkins (1999)
Figure Legends.
Chapter 14 Seed dispersal, dormancy and germination
Introduction
Seed dispersal
Gravity-mediated dispersal
Wind-mediated dispersal
Water-mediated dispersal
Animal-mediated dispersal
Importance of post-dispersal mechanisms
Dormancy and germination
Recalcitrant seeds
Dormant seeds
Factors governing dormancy and germination
Presence of germination inhibitors
Presence of inhibitory tissues
Presence of germination promoters
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 15 Interactions with the Animal Kingdom
Introduction
Animal mediated pollination
Mimicry in plants
Batesian mimicry
Müllerian mimicry
Aggressive mimicry
Seed dispersal and food reserves: the role of humans
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 16 Plant defences
Introduction
Physical defence structures
The cuticle
The cell wall
The cell wall as a passive barrier
The cell wall as an active barrier
Poisons by injection or touch
Chemical defences
Terpenes
Nitrogen-containing organic compounds
Cyanogenic glycosides
Glycosinolates
Lectins
Alkaloids
Defence reactions and signal pathways
Jasmonic acid
Salicylic acid
Systemin.
Phytoalexins
Allelopathy
Recognising self
Mimicry and the enrolment of other organisms for protection
References
Figure Legends
Chapter 17 Plants and Medicines
Introduction
Doctrine of signatures
Viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare)
Ethnobotany
The origins of aspirin
The origins of antimalarial drugs
St John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.)
Natural alternatives to Viagra
Natural treatments for AIDS
A cure for certain cancers
Sustainable development of medicines from plants
References
Figure legends
Chapter 18 Plant Tissue Culture and the Rise of Plant Biotechnology
Introduction
The development of plant tissue culture media
Components of the medium
Major elements
Minor elements
Carbohydrates
Vitamins
Plant growth regulators
Tissue culture sterility
Types of plant tissue culture
Applications of plant tissue culture
References
Figure legends.
Chapter 19 Remarkable Plants
Introduction
Insect mimicry in the Orchidaceae
The Venus Flytrap
The oldest and biggest plants in the world
Tallest plants
Cycads
Welwitschia mirabilis and Ephedra viridis
The Castor bean plant
Garlic
Theobroma cacao
Wheat and agriculture
References
Figure legends.
Index