First attempts to isolate plant genes were for those genes that are abun dantly expressed in a particular plant organ at a specific stage of devel opment. However, many important gene products are produced in a very minute quantity and in specialized cell types. Such genes can now be isolated using a variety of approaches, some of which are described in this volume. The rapid progress during the last decade in regeneration of a number of crop plants and the availability of molecular tools to introduce foreign genes in plants is allowing the engineering of specific traits of agri cultural importance. These genes must, however, be regulated in a spatial and temporal manner in order to have desired effects on plant devel opment and productivity. The habitat of plants necessitate adaptive responses with respect to the environmental changes. Starting from germination of the seed, the plant begins to sense environmental cues such as moisture, light, temperature and the presence of pathogens, and begins to respond to them. Little is known about various signal transduction pathways that lead to biochemical and morphogenetic responses, in particular, transition from vegetative to reproductive phase. With the availability of tools to generate specific mutations via transposon tagging, identification and isolation of genes affecting these processes may be facilitated. Transfer of these genes into heterologous environments will allow understanding of the complex processes that control plant development.

Klappentext

First attempts to isolate plant genes were for those genes that are abun­ dantly expressed in a particular plant organ at a specific stage of devel­ opment. However, many important gene products are produced in a very minute quantity and in specialized cell types. Such genes can now be isolated using a variety of approaches, some of which are described in this volume. The rapid progress during the last decade in regeneration of a number of crop plants and the availability of molecular tools to introduce foreign genes in plants is allowing the engineering of specific traits of agri­ cultural importance. These genes must, however, be regulated in a spatial and temporal manner in order to have desired effects on plant devel­ opment and productivity. The habitat of plants necessitate adaptive responses with respect to the environmental changes. Starting from germination of the seed, the plant begins to sense environmental cues such as moisture, light, temperature and the presence of pathogens, and begins to respond to them. Little is known about various signal transduction pathways that lead to biochemical and morphogenetic responses, in particular, transition from vegetative to reproductive phase. With the availability of tools to generate specific mutations via transposon tagging, identification and isolation of genes affecting these processes may be facilitated. Transfer of these genes into heterologous environments will allow understanding of the complex processes that control plant development.

Inhalt
1 Arabidopsis as a Tool for the Identification of Genes Involved in Plant Developmen.- I. Introduction.- II. Phytohormone Mutants.- III. Environmental Regulation of Growth and Development.- IV. Conclusions and Future Directions.- V. References.- 2 Regulation of Gene Expression During Seed Germination and Postgerminative Developmen.- I. Introduction.- II. Differential Gene Expression Underlies Seed Germination.- III. Spatial Regulation of Postgermination-Abundant Genes.- IV. Activation of Postgermination-Abundant Genes.- V. Future Directions.- VI. References.- 3 Genes Involved in the Patterns of Maize Leaf Cell Divisio.- I. Introduction.- II. The Shoot Apical Meristem as a Self-Regulating Unit.- III. Heterochrony.- IV. Maize Leaf Mesophyll and Epidermis Lineage Maps.- V. Leaf Vascularization and Development Compartments.- VI. The Importance of Periclinal Divisions.- VII. Strict Versus Loose Programming of Epidermal Cell Division.- VIII. Alternative Models Involving the Programming of Cell Division.- IX. The Ligule and Mutants that Affect It.- X. Kn 1: Neomorphic Mutants that Induce the Epidermis to Divide.- XI. Conclusions About Leaf and Ligule Development Derived from Mutant Analyses, and the Concept of Cell Age Identity.- XII. Where Are the Molecules.- XIII. References.- 4 Molecular Analysis of Genes Determining Spatial Patterns in Antirrhinum majus.- I. Introduction.- II. Cis-Acting Mutations.- III. Trans-Acting Mutations.- IV. Mutations Which Act Both in cis and trans.- V. Conclusions.- VI. References.- 5 Isolation of Differentially Expressed Genes from Tomato Flower.- I. Introduction.- II. Screening for Floral-Specific cDNAs.- III. Organ and Temporal Specificity of Floral Clones.- IV. Tissue Specificity of Floral Clones.- V. Discussion.- VI. References.- 6 Anther- and Pollen-Expressed Gene.- I. Introduction.- II. Gene Expression in the Anther.- III. Gene Expression in the Developing Male Gametophyte.- IV. References.- 7 Self-Incompatibility Genes in Flowering Plant.- I. Introduction.- II. Homomorphic Incompatibility.- III. Heteromorphic Incompatibility.- IV. Nature of the Self-Incompatibility Reaction.- V. Nature of the S-Gene Products.- VI. Studies of the Molecular Basis of Self-Incompatibility.- VII. Concluding Comments.- VIII. References.- 8 Regulatory Circuits of Light-Responsive Gene.- I. Introduction.- II. Multiplicity of Light Effects.- III. Effectors of Photoreception.- IV. Conclusions.- V. References.- 9 Regulation of Gene Expression by Ethylen.- I. Introduction.- II. Analysis of Ethylene-Inducible Gene Expression.- III. Discussion.- IV. References.- 10 Root Nodule Symbiosis: Nodulins and Nodulin Gene.- I. Introduction.- II. An Overview of Legume Nodulation.- III. Induction of Plant Genes Coding for Nodulins.- IV. Rapid Evolution of Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis.- V. References.- 11 Structure and Expression of Plant Genes Encoding Pathogenesis-Related Protein.- I. Introduction.- II. Characteristics of PR mRNAs and Genes.- III. General Conclusion.- IV. References.- 12 Proteinase Inhibitor Gene Families: Tissue Specificity and Regulatio.- I. Introduction.- II. Developmentally Regulated Proteinase Inhibitor Genes in Seeds, Tubers, and Fruit.- III. Wound-Inducible Proteinase Inhibitor Genes in Leaves.- IV. Summary.- V. References.- 13 Cell Wall Extensin Gene.- I. Cell Walls.- II. Extensin Networks.- III. Extensin Genes.- IV. Prospects.- V. References.- 14 The Expression of Heat Shock Genes A Model for Environmental Stress Respons.- I. Introduction.- II. Molecular Biology of Heat Shock Genes.- III. General Conclusions.- IV.References.- 15 Protein Transport in Plant Cell.- I. Introduction.- II. The Secretory Pathway.- III. Post-Translational Transport.- IV. Conclusions.- V. References.- 16 Genetic Engineering of Herbicide Resistance Gene.- I. Introduction.- II. Identification and Engineering of Herbicide Resistance Genes.- III. Conclusions.- IV. References.- 17 Virus Cross-Protection in Transgenic Plant.- I. Introduction.- II. Genetic Transformation to Produce Virus Resistant Plants.- III. Field Testing of Virus Protection in Transgenic Plants.- IV. Conclusions.- V. References.