Plant Pigments and Their Manipulation

About this book

Plant pigments represent a large and active field of research that impacts on fundamental studies of plant function and gene expression, agriculture, the processing of foods and human health.

This book provides an overview of pigment chemistry and biology, together with an up-to-date account of the biosynthesis of pigments and the modification of their production using biotechnology. The chapters cover a wide scope of pigmentation research - from the importance of structural diversity in generating the range of colours seen in plants, through to improving human health properties of crops by increasing pigment levels in transgenic plants.

The volume is directed at researchers and professionals in plant biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics.

Contents

1. An introduction to plant pigments in biology and commerce Kevin M. Davies, Crop & Food Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand 2. Chlorophylls Robert D. Willows, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia 3. Carotenoids Abby Cuttriss and Barry Pogson, School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia 4. Flavonoids Kathy E. Schwinn and Kevin M. Davies, Crop & Food Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand 5. Condensed tannins Greg Tanner, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, Australia 6. Betalains Jean-Pierre Zryd and Laurent Christinet, Laboratory of Plant Cell Genetics, Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland 7. Important rare pigments Kevin M. Davies, Crop & Food Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand 8. Plant pigments and human health Mary Ann Lila, Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, USA 9. Plant pigments and protection against UV-B radiation Brian R. Jordan, Soil, Plant & Ecological Sciences Division, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand 10. Techniques of pigment identification Oyvind M. Andersen and George W. Francis, Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Norway References Index

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