Physiology of Stressed Crops
Membrane System
U.S. Gupta: Adj. Professor, Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, USA
ISBN 978-1-57808-521-7; October 2007; 418 pages, hc; US$ 111.40     Buy Now

ABOUT THE BOOK
Though plant cells are separated by cell walls, cells maintain their identity as they are delimited by semi-permeable membranes that permit them to function as autonomous units. The flow of materials in and out of the cell is regulated by channels, transporters, pumps, and acquaporins in these membranes. The cytoplasm is sandwiched between two membranes: the plasma membrane, which forms the outer boundary of the cytoplasm, and the tonoplast or the vacuolar membrane which forms the inner boundary. Cell membranes serve several different functions: form boundaries and provide compartmentalization, site of chemical reactions catalyzed by membrane proteins, regulate the exchange of ions/compounds across the barrier, site of perception/transmission of signals (hormones), and act in cell-to-cell communication. The membrane functions are affected by different abiotic (biotic stress not discussed), nutritional, edaphic and mechanical stresses, which have been discussed in this volume in light of the recent literature/researches. This book will be useful to advanced students, teachers and researchers interested in crop stress physiology, especially in understanding, planning and execution of further research.


CONTENTS:
. Membranes
. Cold and Freezing
. Heat Stress
. Drought Stress
. Salinity Stress
. Hypoxic Stress
. Oxidative Stress
. UV-B Radiation Stress
. Nutrient Deficiency Stress
. Heavy Metal Toxicity Stress
. Soil Acidity Stress
. Mechanical Stress and Wounding
. Low Humidity Stress