Oxidative Stress in Plants [Hardcover]

Plants depend on physiological mechanisms to combat adverse environmental conditions, such as pathogen attack, wounding, drought, cold, freezing, salt, UV, intense light, heavy metals and SO2. Many of these cause excess production of active oxygen species in plant cells. Plants have evolved complex defense systems against such oxidative stress. The study of these mechanisms has become a fast-moving, important field to many biologists. Written and edited by world-leading scientists, Oxidative Stress in Plants explores the current knowledge of the mechanisms by which various biotic and abiotic environmental stress conditions produce oxygen radicals. The text considers the biochemistry and molecular biology of both non-enzymatic (vitamin C, glutathione) and enzymatic systems which eliminate active oxygen species. In addition, the book discusses evidence that active oxygen species and antioxidants act as signals which trigger defense reactions.Oxidative Stress: an Introduction. The Contribution of Oxygen Metabolism in Photosynthesis to Oxidative Stress in Plants. Low-temperature Stress and Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms in Higher Plants. Oxidative Stress and Defense Reactions in Plants Exposed to Air Pollutants and UV-B Radiation. Oxidative Burst and the Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Plant-Pathogen Interactions. Photosensitizing Tetrapyrroles Induce Antioxidative and Pathogen Defense Responses in Plants. Metals Ion-activated Oxidative Stress and Its Control. Engineering Stress Tolerance in Maize. Early Events in Environmental Stresses in Plants - Induction Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress. The Molecular Biology of the Ascorbate-Glutahione Cycle in Higher Plants. Ascorbate Metabolism and Stress. Glutathione Biosynthesis in Plants.