Crop Photosynthesis
Crop Photosynthesis

Author: N.R. Baker

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2013-10-22

Total Pages: 471

ISBN-13: 1483291413

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Since photosynthetic performance is a fundamental determinant of yield in the vast majority of crops, an understanding of the factors limiting photosynthetic productivity has a crucial role to play in crop improvement programmes. Photosynthesis, unlike the majority of physiological processes in plants, has been the subject of extensive studies at the molecular level for many years. This reductionist approach has resulted in the development of an impressive and detailed understanding of the mechanisms of light capture, energy transduction and carbohydrate biosynthesis, processes that are clearly central to the success of the plant and the productivity of crops. This volume examines in the widest context the factors determining the photosynthetic performance of crops. The emphasis throughout the book is on the setting for photosynthesis rather than the fundamental process itself. The book will prove useful to a wide range of plant scientists, and will encourage a more rapid integration of disciplines in the quest to understand and improve the productivity of crops by the procedures of classical breeding and genetic manipulation.

Terrestrial Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment
Terrestrial Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment

Author: Jaume Flexas

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2012-07-19

Total Pages: 753

ISBN-13: 1107377676

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Understanding how photosynthesis responds to the environment is crucial for improving plant production and maintaining biodiversity in the context of global change. Covering all aspects of photosynthesis, from basic concepts to methodologies, from the organelle to whole ecosystem levels, this is an integrated guide to photosynthesis in an environmentally dynamic context. Focusing on the ecophysiology of photosynthesis – how photosynthesis varies in time and space, responds and adapts to environmental conditions and differs among species within an evolutionary context – the book features contributions from leaders in the field. The approach is interdisciplinary and the topics covered have applications for ecology, environmental sciences, agronomy, forestry and meteorology. It also addresses applied fields such as climate change, biomass and biofuel production and genetic engineering, making a valuable contribution to our understanding of the impacts of climate change on the primary productivity of the globe and on ecosystem stability.

Plant Physiological Ecology
Plant Physiological Ecology

Author: R. Pearcey

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 463

ISBN-13: 9400922213

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Physiological plant ecology is primarily concerned with the function and performance of plants in their environment. Within this broad focus, attempts are made on one hand to understand the underlying physiological, biochemical and molecular attributes of plants with respect to performance under the constraints imposed by the environment. On the other hand physiological ecology is also concerned with a more synthetic view which attempts to under stand the distribution and success of plants measured in terms of the factors that promote long-term survival and reproduction in the environment. These concerns are not mutually exclusive but rather represent a continuum of research approaches. Osmond et al. (1980) have elegantly pointed this out in a space-time scale showing that the concerns of physiological ecology range from biochemical and organelle-scale events with time constants of a second or minutes to succession and evolutionary-scale events involving communities and ecosystems and thousands, if not millions, of years. The focus of physiological ecology is typically at the single leaf or root system level extending up to the whole plant. The time scale is on the order of minutes to a year. The activities of individual physiological ecologists extend in one direction or the other, but few if any are directly concerned with the whole space-time scale. In their work, however, they must be cognizant both of the underlying mechanisms as well as the consequences to ecological and evolutionary processes.

Non-Photochemical Quenching and Energy Dissipation in Plants, Algae and Cyanobacteria
Non-Photochemical Quenching and Energy Dissipation in Plants, Algae and Cyanobacteria

Author: Barbara Demmig-Adams

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2014-11-22

Total Pages: 672

ISBN-13: 9401790329

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Harnessing the sun’s energy via photosynthesis is at the core of sustainable production of food, fuel, and materials by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Photosynthesis depends on photoprotection against intense sunlight, starting with the safe removal of excess excitation energy from the light-harvesting system, which can be quickly and non-destructively assessed via non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ). By placing NPQ into the context of whole-organism function, this book aims to contribute towards identification of plant and algal lines with superior stress resistance and productivity. By addressing agreements and open questions concerning photoprotection’s molecular mechanisms, this book contributes towards development of artificial photosynthetic systems. A comprehensive picture –from single molecules to organisms in ecosystems, and from leading expert’s views to practical information for non-specialists on NPQ measurement and terminology – is presented.

Photosynthesis Under Fluctuating Light
Photosynthesis Under Fluctuating Light

Author: Michele Grieco

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2023-06-27

Total Pages: 189

ISBN-13: 2832527906

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Photosynthesis is a fundamental process that drives almost all life on Earth, and is the motor of agriculture and food production. For several decades, its basic functioning has been investigated mainly at steady-state, under constant illumination. This approach was necessary to understand the basic mechanisms underlying the light reactions and carbon assimilation. However, this condition does not reflect the natural environment, where plants experience changes in both the intensity and spectrum of irradiance in a wide range of time scales, spanning from seconds to several hours. In recent years, it has become clear that the processes allowing the photosynthetic apparatus to adapt to changes in irradiance are of paramount importance to plant fitness and productivity. Therefore, increased research effort has been directed towards studying the regulation of photosynthetic activity under fluctuating light, i.e. upon the variation of light intensity or light spectrum. This is important for understanding how photosynthetic organisms cope with natural environmental conditions. Fluctuating light itself constitutes a potentially stressful condition, because, depending on the scale of the fluctuation, it can transiently generate extreme redox and transthylakoid potentials, and forces the photosynthetic machinery to be re-adjusted. Not surprisingly, plants have evolved several mechanisms allowing a prompt response to these normal environmental events. In natural environments, photosynthetic organisms often have to cope with fluctuating light while experiencing other kinds of stress, such as heat, nutrient deficiency, drought, and pathogen attacks. Therefore, the study of combined stresses is essential for understanding the acclimation to realistic environmental conditions.

Biological Soil Crusts: Structure, Function, and Management
Biological Soil Crusts: Structure, Function, and Management

Author: Jayne Belnap

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-12-01

Total Pages: 496

ISBN-13: 3642564755

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In arid lands, where vegetation is sparse or absent, the open ground is not bare but generally covered by a community of small, highly specialized organisms. Cyanobacteria, algae, microfungi, lichens, and bryophytes aggregate soil particles to form a coherent skin - the biological soil crust. It stabilizes and protects the soil surface from erosion by wind and water, influences water runoff and infiltration, and contributes nitrogen and carbon to desert soils. Soil surface disturbance, such as heavy livestock grazing, human trampling or off-road vehicles, breaks up the fragile soil crust, thus compromising its stability, structure, and productivity. This book is the first synthesis of the biology of soil crusts and their importance as an ecosystem component. Composition and functioning of different soil-crust types are discussed, and case studies are used to show the impact of crusts on landscape hydrology, soil stability, nutrient cycles, and land management.

Photosynthesis: Photoreactions to Plant Productivity
Photosynthesis: Photoreactions to Plant Productivity

Author: Y.P. Abrol

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 606

ISBN-13: 9401127085

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All biomass is derived from photosynthesis. This provides us with food fuel, as well as fibre. This process involves conversion of solar energy, via photochemical reactions, into chemical energy. In plants and cyanobacteria, carbon dioxide and water are converted into carbohydrates and oxygen. It is the best studied research area of plant biology. We expect that this area will assume much greater importance in the future in view of the depleting resources ofthe Earth's fuel supply. Furthermore, we believe that the next large increase in plant productivity will come from applications of the newer findings about photosynthetic process, especially through manipulation by genetic engineering. The current book covers an integrated range of subjects within the general field of photosynthesis. It is authored by international scientists from several countries (Australia, Canada, France, India, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, UK and USA). It begins with a discussion of the genetic potential and the expression of the chloroplast genome that is responsible for several key proteins involved in the electron transport processes leading to O evolution, proton release and the production of 2 NADPH and A TP, needed for CO fixation. The section on photosystems discusses 2 how photosystem I functions to produce NADPH and how photosystem II oxidizes water and releases protons through an "oxygen clock" and how intermediates between the two photosystems are produced involving a "two electron gate".

Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress
Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress

Author: Parvaiz Ahmad

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2019-11-04

Total Pages: 365

ISBN-13: 1119501776

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A guide to environmental fluctuations that examines photosynthesis under both controlled and stressed conditions Photosynthesis, Productivity and Environmental Stress is a much-needed guide that explores the topics related to photosynthesis (both terrestrial and aquatic) and puts the focus on the basic effect of environmental fluctuations. The authors—noted experts on the topic—discuss photosynthesis under both controlled and stressed conditions and review new techniques for mitigating stressors including methods such as transgeneics, proteomics, genomics, ionomics, metabolomics, micromics, and more. In order to feed our burgeoning world population, it is vital that we must increase food production. Photosynthesis is directly related to plant growth and crop production and any fluctuation in the photosynthetic activity imposes great threat to crop productivity. Due to the environmental fluctuations plants are often exposed to the different environmental stresses that cause decreased photosynthetic rate and problems in the plant growth and development. This important book addresses this topic and: Covers topics related to terrestrial and aquatic photosynthesis Highlights the basic effect of environmental fluctuations Explores common stressors such as drought, salinity, alkalinity, temperature, UV-radiations, oxygen deficiency, and more Contains methods and techniques for improving photosynthetic efficiency for greater crop yield Written for biologists and environmentalists, Photosynthesis, Productivity and Environmental Stress offers an overview of the stressors affecting photosynthesis and includes possible solutions for improved crop production.