Programmed Cell Death in Plants

The recognition of cell death as an active process has changed the way in which biologists view living things. Geneticists are now re-evaluating long-known mutants, redesigning research strategies, and searching for new model systems. Plant biologists now apply this new perspective in the investigation of programmed cell death (PCD) in plants. For the first time in a single volume, Programmed Cell Death in Plants draws together new information from researchers worldwide, enabling readers to develop new insights into this emerging topic. The book refers to relevant PDC paradigms in other organisms, describes the cell death events in reproductive tissues, and discusses PCD events in vegetative tissues and the evidence that links PCD regulation to cell cycle regulation. It also investigates the important role of PCD in plant responses to biotic stress. The author distills the difficult literature on this topic and summarizes the various signaling pathways involved, clarifying a subject critical to plant breeding. This volume concludes by stating how new model systems, careful assessment of cell death events, and markers specific to plant PCD are each required for additional insight into plant PCD processes.

Table of Contents:
PARADIGMS OF THE EVOLUTION OF PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH John Gray Introduction PCD in Prokaryotes PCD in Unicellular Eukaryotes PCD in Multicellular Eukaryotes PCD Pathways in Plants Conclusions PARADIGMS OF PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN ANIMALS AND PLANTS Martin B. Dickman and John C. Reed Introduction Cell Suicide: A Genetically Programmed Response Comparative Biology: Perspectives of Plant Apoptosis Conclusions PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH DURING SEED DEVELOPMENT AND GERMINATION Daniel R. Gallie Introduction Cell Death During Pistil Development Cell Death During Megasporogenesis Cell Death During Embryogenesis Cell Death of Seed Tissues During Germination Conclusions PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH EVENTS DURING REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT C. Daniel Riggs Introduction Sex Determination in Plants The Role of Mitochondria in PCD PCD Events Associated with Pollen/Pistil Interactions Conspectus PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT VEGETATIVE TISSUE (LEAF AND ROOT) Martin Huelskamp and ARP Schnittger Summary Introduction Brief Summary of Cell-Cycle and Cell-Growth Control in Plants Coupling Mechanisms of Cell Death and Growth Control in Animal Development Growth and Cell Death During Plant Development Growth Control and Cell Death in Plant Pathogen Response Targeting of Cell-Cycle and Cell Growth Regulators-A Direct Link to Cell- Death Control? Perspective PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN XYLEM DIFFERENTIATION Keisuke Obara and Hiroo Fukuda Introduction In Vitro Culture System as a Powerful Tool for the Study of TE PCD Cytological Features of the PCD Process Initiation of Progression of PCD Vacuole Rupture-A Critical Step in PCD Autolytic Process-Orchestrated Degradation of Cellular after Vacuole Rupture Possible Overlap with Some Other Plant PCDs, during Developmental Processes Concluding Remarks and Future Prospects PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN PLANT SENESCENCE Diego Orzaez and Antonio Granell Introduction Senescence and Organ Senescence as Forms of PCD The Onset: Cell Sensitivity to Senescence The Senescent Cell Morphotype Molecular Phenotype of Senescing Tissues The Senescence Pathway: A Transcriptional Activation Cascade in Senescence PCD? The Senescence/PCD Pathway: Other Elements of the Upstream Senescence Signaling Pathway Senescence PCD: Othe rImportant Early Elements in the Pathway Coordinating Cell Death: A Network of Interactions Hormonal Control of the Senescence Program Metabolic/Sugar Signaling Control of Senescence: The Low Calorie Connection On the Evolutionary Origins of Plant Senescence as a Form of PCD PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN RESPONSE TO ABIOTIC STRESS David E. Evans Introduction: Plant Responses to Abiotic Stress Types of Cell Death in Abiotic Stress Identifying PCD Aerenchyma Formation as an Example of PCD in Abiotic Stress Gaseous Pollutants, Ozone, ROS and PCD Cell Death Induced by Light Radiation Mechanical Stress and Cell Death Cell Death in Cold Stress Toxic Ions and Cell Death Unifying Mechanisms and Prospects for Future Research PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN PLANT RESPONSE TO BIOTIC STRESS (PATHOGEN ATTACK) Alex Levine The Rationale of PCD in Pathogenesis Plant Disease Resistance Mechanisms PCD Signaling Interaction and Integration between the Different Signaling Pathways PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN PLANTS: FUTURE PERSPECTIVES, APPLICATIONS, AND METHODS Ron Mittler and Vladimir Shulaev Introduction: Pathways for PCD in Plants Experimental Systems to Study PCD in Plants Methods to Detect PCD Applications of PCD in Agriculture Summary

Review :
"This book by J. Gray draws together the most recent information on [programmed cell death (PCD)] with regard to plant science and also refers to relevant PCD paradigms in non-plant organisms, enabling readers to obtain both a qualified overview as well as profound, detailed insight into this emerging topic. This book is a must for all those interested in 'life' sciences, in particular botany, forestry, agriculture, and, last not least, phytopathology." - Journal of Plant Physiology 161, 2004 "This book represents, for the first time, the compilation of studies on PCD in plants into a single volume, and provides readers with all the detailed information on the PCD processes that occur in the life cycle of plants. The book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in PCD in plants." - Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 79, No. 3, September 2004 "This book is a timely and updated summary of the research that is ongoing in the subject of programmed cell death as it happens in plant systemsthe well-presented introductory chapter by the editor, John, Graygives a broad overview of the evolutionary theory pertaining to the genesis of the cell death program during the speciation processThe presentation of the materials, as well as the illustrations in the various chapters, is clear and helpful. I highly recommend this book" - Annals of Botany, Vol. 95, No. 4, 2004