Plant Systems Biology

This volume aims to provide a timely view of the state-of-the-art in systems biology. The editors take the opportunity to define systems biology as they and the contributing authors see it, and this will lay the groundwork for future studies. The volume is well-suited to both students and researchers interested in the methods of systems biology. Although the focus is on plant systems biology, the proposed material could be suitably applied to any organism.

In this authoritative guide, expert investigators provide cutting-edge chapters dealing with modern plant systems biology approaches. This work provides the kind of detailed description and implementation advice that is crucial for getting optimal results.

This second edition volume expands on the previous edition with an update on the latest techniques used to study plant systems biology on three specific scales: the molecular level, the tissue level, and the whole plant. Chapters cover topics such as gene regulatory network inference and dynamic modeling using ordinary differential equations or Boolean formalisms; protocols for at-will induction of plant aerial or root organs, or quantification of tissue mechanical properties; mathematical modeling of plant tissue using SimuPlant or VirtualLeaf; and simulating crop root systems using OpenSimRoot or R-SWMS. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols or software tutorials, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Plants Systems Biology: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable resource for plant biologists looking for different approaches to finding solutions to their questions and generating new ideas, as well as for students who desire to discover the field of plant systems biology.

Progress in plant biology relies on the quantification, analysis and mathematical modeling of data over different time and length scales. This book describes common mathematical and computational approaches as well as some carefully chosen case studies that demonstrate the use of these techniques to solve problems at the forefront of plant biology. Each chapter is written by an expert in field with the goal of conveying concepts whilst at the same time providing sufficient background and links to available software for readers to rapidly build their own models and run their own simulations. This book is aimed at postgraduate students and researchers working the field of plant systems biology and synthetic biology, but will also be a useful reference for anyone wanting to get into quantitative plant biology.

Plant Systems Biology is an excellent new addition to theincreasingly well-known and respected Annual Plant Reviews.Split into two parts, this title offers the reader: A fundamental conceptual framework for Systems Biologyincluding Network Theory The progress achieved for diverse model organisms: Prokaryotes, C. elegans and Arabidopsis The diverse sources of “omic” information necessaryfor a systems understanding of plants Insights into the software tools developed for systemsbiology Interesting case studies regarding applications includingnitrogen-use, flowering-time and root development Ecological and evolutionary considerations regarding livingsystems This volume captures the cutting edge of systems biologyresearch and aims to be an introductory material for undergraduateand graduate students as well as plant and agricultural scientists,molecular biologists, geneticists and microbiologists. It alsoserves as a foundation in the biological aspects of the field forinterested computer scientists. Libraries in all universities andresearch establishments where biological and agricultural sciencesare studied and taught and integrated with Computer Sciences shouldhave copies of this important volume on their shelves.

The sequencing of genomes has been completed for an increasing number of crop species, and researchers have now succeeded in isolating and characterising many important QTLs/genes. High expectations from genomics, however, are waving back toward the recognition that crop physiology is also important for realistic improvement of crop productivity. Complex processes and networks along various hierarchical levels of crop growth and development can be thoroughly understood with the help of their mathematical description – modelling. The further practical application of these understandings also requires quantitative predictions. In order to better support design, engineering and breeding for new crops and cultivars for improving agricultural production under global warming and climate change, there is an increasing call for an interdisciplinary research approach, which combines modern genetics and genomics, traditional physiology and biochemistry, and advanced bioinformatics and modelling. Such an interdisciplinary approach has been practised in various research groups for many years. However, it does not seem to be fully covered in the format of book publications. We want to initiate a book project on crop systems biology - narrowing the gaps between genotypes and phenotypes and the gaps between crop modelling and genetics/genomics, for publication in 2013/2014. The book will be meant for those scientists and graduate students from fundamental plant biology and applied crop science who are interested in bridging the gap between these two fields. We have invited a group of scientists (who have very good track records in publishing excellent papers in this field or in a closely related area) to contribute chapters to this new book, and they have agreed to do so.​

Plant Systems Biology is an excellent new addition to the increasingly well-known and respected Annual Plant Reviews. Split into two parts, this title offers the reader: A fundamental conceptual framework for Systems Biology including Network Theory The progress achieved for diverse model organisms: Prokaryotes, C. elegans and Arabidopsis The diverse sources of "omic" information necessary for a systems understanding of plants Insights into the software tools developed for systems biology Interesting case studies regarding applications including nitrogen-use, flowering-time and root development Ecological and evolutionary considerations regarding living systems This volume captures the cutting edge of systems biology research and aims to be an introductory material for undergraduate and graduate students as well as plant and agricultural scientists, molecular biologists, geneticists and microbiologists. It also serves as a foundation in the biological aspects of the field for interested computer scientists. Libraries in all universities and research establishments where biological and agricultural sciences are studied and taught and integrated with Computer Sciences should have copies of this important volume on their shelves.

The phenotype of a plant in response to a stress condition is the reflection of the molecular responses in different cell-types composing the plant. The multicellular complexity represents a challenge when accessing specific responses of each cell or cell type composing the plant. To overcome this difficulty and allow the clear characterization of the plant cell molecular mechanisms, the research community is now focusing on studying a single cell and single cell-types. The isolation of plant single cells is limited by the cell wall that confers the rigidity of the plant and its overall structure. Various methods have been developed for isolating plant cells (e.g. laser capture microdissection; cell sorting of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-tagged protoplasts, differential protoplastization of cells such as guard cells, isolation of easily accessible cell types such as cotton fiber, pollen cells, trichomes and root hair cells). The development of these innovative approaches to isolate single plant cells or cell-types combined with the application of sensitive and high-throughput technologies allows a better analysis of the developmental processes and response to environmental stresses. Ultimately, single plant cell and cell-type biology will lead to establishment of more reliable and accurate -molecular regulatory networks at the resolution of basic life unit. The goal of this Research Topic is to cover new technological and biological advances in the study of plant single cell, cell-type and systems biology.