Fungal Disease in Plants Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetic Enginerring

About this book

Presents the latest developments in crop protection from fungal infection. Leading experts in botany, plant breeding, and plant pathology contribute their knowledge to help reduce and possibly prevent new outbreaks of devastating crop epidemics caused by fungi. With exciting new advances in molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetic engineering, this informative book will help researchers, professors, and students further their understanding of plant defenses.

Contents

About the Editor Contributors Foreword (Sophien Kamoun) Preface Chapter 1. Signal Transduction in Plant Defense Responses to Fungal Infection (Dierk Scheel and Thorsten Nuernberger) Introduction and Background Signals and Signal Delivery in Plant-Fungus/Oomycete Interactions Signal Perception A Complex Matter Cellular Signaling A Matter of Networks Conclusions Chapter 2. Cellular Expression of Resistance to Fungal Plant Pathogens (Denny G. Mellersh and Mich le C. Heath) Introduction Background Detailed Review Use of Transgenic Plants to Study Expression of Resistance at the Cellular Level Current Work in Our Laboratory Concluding Remarks Chapter 3. The Hypersensitive Response and Its Role in Disease Resistance (Hans-Peter Stuible and Erich Kombrink) Introduction Features of the Hypersensitive Response Proteins Involved in Pathogen Recognition and Initiation of HR Cell Death Small Molecules Involved in Signaling and Execution of HR Cell Death Negative Regulatory Components Is Protein Degradation Important for Execution of HR Cell Death? The Role of Cell Organelles in HR Induction Is HR Cell Death Required for Resistance? Do Plant Pathogens Modulate the HR in an Active Manner? Development of Transgenic Plants: Exploitation of HR for Disease Control Conclusions and Future Directions Chapter 4. Fungal (A)Virulence Factors at the Crossroads of Disease Susceptibility and Resistance (N. Westerink, M. H. A. J. Joosten, and P. J. G. M. de Wit) Introduction Background Fungal (A)Virulence Genes with Genotype and Species Specificity Pathogens with Evolved Mechanisms to Counteract Plant Defense Responses Plant Genes that Confer Resistance Toward Fungi and Oomycetes Perception of Avr Gene Products by Resistant Plant Genotypes Development of Transgenic Plants That Display Broad Resistance Against Pathogens Conclusions and Future Directions Chapter 5. Pathogenesis-Related Proteins and Their Roles in Resistance to Fungal Pathogens (Jayaraman Jayaraj, Ajith Anand, and Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan) Introduction Classification of PR Proteins Nondefense Functions of PR Proteins and PR-Like Proteins Natural and Synthetic Elicitors of PR-Protein Genes Mechanisms That Protect Pathogens from PR Proteins Transgenic Plants Expressing Single Genes for PR Proteins Transgenic Plants with Combinations of PR Proteins Conclusions Chapter 6. Induced Plant Resistance to Fungal Pathogens: Mechanisms and Practical Applications (Ray Hammerschmidt) Introduction Background Mechanisms of Induced Resistance to Fungal Pathogens The Application of Induced Resistance Transgenic Plants and Induced Resistance to Fungi Current Research Program on Induced Resistance in Cucumber Conclusions Chapter 7. Genetic Engineering of Plants to Enhance Resistance to Fungal Pathogens (Zamir K. Punja) Introduction Genetic Engineering Approaches Activation of Plant Defense Responses Resistance Genes (R Genes) Challenges Index Reference Notes Included

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