Nitrogen Acquisition and Assimilation in Higher Plants

Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth. During the green revolution nitrogenfertilisation was responsible for spectacular yield increases. At present yield is balanced with commitments towards the environment and sustainable agriculture. For agro-biotechnology comprehensive knowledge of plant functioning is needed. Yield improvement and accumulation of essential nitrogen compounds is relying on selection and gene technologies.

Research on the uptake, acquisition and assimilation of nitrogen, as well as the synthesis and storage of reserve and defence N-compounds, therefore, is essential. The third volume in the Plant Ecophysiology series integrates functional and molecular physiology with ecophysiological and sustainable agricultural approaches to get a better understanding of the regulation and the impact of environmental and stress signals on nitrogen acquisition and assimilation. The book is of interest for advanced students and junior researchers and supplies comprehensive information for scientists working in the field of nitrogen metabolism and readers interested in sustainable development.

Nitrate uptake by Roots - Transporters and Root Development.- Metabolic Regulation of Ammonium uptake and Assimilation.- Atmospheric Nitrogen - Pollutant or Fertiliser?.- Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.- Nitrogen Metabolism and Plant Adaptation to the Environment - The Scope for Process-Based Modelling.- Light Regulation of Nitrate uptake, Assimilation and Metabolism.- Modulation of Nitrate Reduction - Environmental and Internal Factors Involved.- Integrated Molecular Analysis of the Polyamine Metabolic Pathway in Abiotic Stress Signalling.- Significance of Secondary Nitrogen Metabolites for Food Quality.- Biotechnology of Nitrogen Acquisition in Rice - Implications for Food Security.