Plant Programmed Cell Death

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically encoded, active process which results in the death of individual cells, tissues, or whole organs. PCD plays an essential role in plant development and defense, and occurs throughout a plant’s lifecycle from the death of the embryonic suspensor to leaf and floral organ senescence. In plant biology, PCD is a relatively new research area, however, as its fundamental importance is further recognized, publications in the area are beginning to increase significantly. The field currently has few foundational reference books and there is a critical need for books that summarizes recent findings in this important area. This book contains chapters written by several of the world’s leading researchers in PCD. This book will be invaluable for PhD or graduate students, or for scientists and researchers entering the field. Established researchers will also find this timely work useful as an up-to-date overview of this fascinating research area. Front Matter....Pages i-xi An Overview of Programmed Cell Death Research: From Canonical to Emerging Model Species....Pages 1-31 Mitochondrion and Chloroplast Regulation of Plant Programmed Cell Death....Pages 33-53 Life Beyond Death: The Formation of Xylem Sap Conduits....Pages 55-76 Programmed Cell Death in Plant Immunity: Cellular Reorganization, Signaling, and Cell Cycle Dependence in Cultured Cells as a Model System....Pages 77-96 Vascular Aerenchyma and PCD....Pages 97-121 Out for a Walk Along the Secretory Pathway During Programmed Cell Death....Pages 123-161 Nuclear Dismantling Events: Crucial Steps During the Execution of Plant Programmed Cell Death....Pages 163-189 Programmed Cell Death Regulation by Plant Proteases with Caspase-Like Activity....Pages 191-202 Senescence-Associated Programmed Cell Death....Pages 203-233 The Hypersensitive Response in PAMP- and Effector-Triggered Immune Responses....Pages 235-268 To Live or Die: Autophagy in Plants....Pages 269-300 Back Matter....Pages 301-306 This book provides a thorough analysis of the process known as prgrammed cell death (PCD). This process, while utterly destructive on a cellular level, plays an indispensable role in plant development and defense. Programmed cell death is a crucial cellular event that occurs throughout a plant's life cycle from the death of the embryonic suspensor to leaf and floral organ senescence. The text contains eleven chapters in total, covering the most recent research findings in the area of plant PCD at the molecular, biochemical, and cellular levels. This book serves as an invaluable guide for graduate students, upper-level undergraduate students, and researchers that are entering the field of cell death research for the first time. Established researchers will also find this work indispensable as an up-to-date review of PCD topics. This book provides a thorough analysis of the process known as programmed cell death (PCD). This process, while utterly destructive on a cellular level, plays an indispensable role in plant development and defense. Programmed cell death is a crucial cellular event that occurs throughout a plant's life cycle from the death of the embryonic suspensor to leaf and floral organ senescence. The text contains eleven chapters in total, covering the most recent research findings in the area of plant PCD at the molecular, biochemical, and cellular levels. This book serves as an invaluable guide for graduate students, upper-level undergraduate students, and researchers that are entering the field of cell death research for the first time. Established researchers will also find this work indispensable as an up-to-date review of PCD topics