The Plant Cell Wall

Plant cell walls are complex, dynamic cellular structures essential for plant growth, development, physiology and adaptation. Plant Cell Walls provides an in depth and diverse view of the microanatomy, biosynthesis and molecular physiology of these cellular structures, both in the life of the plant and in their use for bioproducts and biofuels. Plant Cell Walls is a textbook for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students, as well as a professional-level reference book. Over 400 drawings, micrographs, and photographs provide visual insight into the latest research, as well as the uses of plant cell walls in everyday life, and their applications in biotechnology. Illustrated panels concisely review research methods and tools; a list of key terms is given at the end of each chapter; and extensive references organized by concept headings provide readers with guidance for entry into plant cell wall literature. Cell wall material is of considerable importance to the biofuel, food, timber, and pulp and paper industries as well as being a major focus of research in plant growth and sustainability that are of central interest in present day agriculture and biotechnology. The production and use of plants for biofuel and bioproducts in a time of need for responsible global carbon use requires a deep understanding of the fundamental biology of plants and their cell walls. Such an understanding will lead to improved plant processes and materials, and help provide a sustainable resource for meeting the future bioenergy and bioproduct needs of humankind.

Plant cell walls are composed of complex carbohydrates, proteins, phenolic compounds, and inorganic ions, all of which play functional roles. Cellulose (1,4-fO-glucan) and callose (1,3-fO-glucan) are synthesized in the plasma membrane, while other polysaccharides are synthesized in the Golgi. Plant cell growth occurs with the loosening of the walls, which may be caused by several enzymatic actions. Plant development is related to the morphological changes of cells and tissue, which is caused by structural changes of the walls."

The plant cell wall plays a vital role in almost every aspect of plant physiology. New techniques in spectroscopy, biophysics and molecular biology have revealed the extraordinary complexity of its molecular architecture and just how important this structure is in the control of plant growth and development. The Second Edition of this accessible and integrated textbook has been revised and updated throughout. As well as focusing on the structure and function of plant cell walls the book also looks at the applications of this research. It discusses how plant cell walls can be exploited by the biotechnology industry and some of the main challenges for future research. Key topics include: architecture and skeletal functions of the wall; cell-wall formation; control of cell growth; role in intracellular transport; interactions with other organisms; cell-wall degradation; biotechnological applications of cell-walls; role in diet and health. This textbook provides a clear, well illustrated introduction to the physiology and biochemistry of plant cell walls which will be invaluable to upper level undergraduate and post graduate students of plant physiology, plant pathology, plant biotechnology and biochemistry.

Cell walls are defining feature of plant life. The unique and multi-faceted role they play in plant growth and development has long been of interest to students and researchers. Plant Cell Wall Patterning and Cell Shape looks at the diverse function of cell walls in plant development, intercellular communication, and defining cell shape. Plant Cell Wall Patterning and Cell Shape is divided into three sections. The first section looks at role cell walls play in defining cell shape. The second section looks more broadly at plant development. While the third and final section looks at new insights into cell wall patterning.

Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 8 In the last few years, the new analytical tools associated withmolecular biology, biochemistry, spectroscopy, microscopy,immunology, genomics and proteomics have been employed toinvestigate plant cell wall structure and function, providing adegree of resolution that was, until recently, unattainable. Thishas resulted in a growing awareness of the critical role of plantcell walls in a broad range of developmental events, addingstrength and diversity to cell wall-related scientificresearch. This volume provides an overview of our current understanding ofplant cell walls, drawing on the recent advances of plant molecularbiology. It incorporates the identification of a rapidly growingnumber of genes and the proteins responsible for plant wallsynthesis, restructuring, degradation and wall-associated signaltransduction. The book bridges the biochemistry-oriented cell wallliterature and the new technology-driven approaches. This is a book for academic and industrial researchers in plantcell biology, biochemistry, developmental biology, genetics andmolecular biology.

Modern Methods of Plant Analysis When the handbook Modern Methods of Plant Analysis, was first introduced in 1954, the considerations were: 1. the dependence of scientific progress in biology on the improvement of existing and the introduction of new methods; 2. the difficulty in finding many new analytical methods in specialized journals which are normally not accessible to experimental plant biologists; 3. the fact that in the methods sections of papers the description of methods is frequently so compact, or even sometimes to incomplete, that it is difficult to reproduce experiments. These considerations still stand today. The series was highly successful, seven volumes appearing between 1956 and 1964. Since there is still today a demand for the old series, the publisher has decided to resume publication of Modern Methods of Plant Analysis. It is hoped that the New Series will be just as acceptable to those working in plant sciences and related fields as the early volumes undoubtedly were. It is difficult to single out the major reasons for the success of any publication, but we believe that the methods published in the first series were up-to-date at the time and presented in a way that made description, as applied to plant material, complete in itself with little need to consult other publications. Contribution authors have attempted to follow these guidelines in this New Series of volumes. Editorial The earlier series of Modern Methods of Plant Analysis was initiated by Michel V.