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........ published in NEWSLETTER # 63

BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY OF THE PLANT HORMONE ETHYLENE
By Professor A.K. Kanellis, NAGREF, Heraklion (Greece) Professor C. Chang, University of Maryland, College Park/MD (U.S.A.), Professor H. Kende, Michigan State University/MI (U.S.A.) and Professor D. Gierson, University, Nottingham (U.K.)

The rapid advance in elucidating the mechanisms of ethylene perception and synthesis by plants, the signal transduction pathway, and ethylene control in transgenic plants have made imperative the organization of a series of conferences, dedicated to the plant hormone ethylene. This volume (NATO ASI SERIES 3-34) contains articles and short reviews of current research by the principal lecturers attending the NATO Advanced Research Workshop entitled "Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene" held in Chania, Crete/Greece, June 9-13, 1996. Ethylene is a simple gaseous plant hormone (C2H4, the simplest olefin) produced by higher plants and also by bacteria and fungi. Because of its commercial importance and its profound effects on plant growth and development its biosynthesis, action, and manipulation by chemical, physical and biotechnological means have been intensively investigated. Thanks to new tools available in biochemistry and molecular genetics, parts of the ethylene biosynthesis, perception and signal transduction reactions have been elucidated. This knowledge has been applied to enhance the quality of a number of agronomically important crops. Research on ethylene has led the way in advancing our understanding of the biosynthesis of a plant hormone at the biochemical and molecular levels, and future studies should further help in the understanding of the biochemical machinery responsible for perception, signal transduction and biological response. The articles in this book cover the following topics:

1. Mechanisms of ethylene synthesis
2. Perception and signal transduction
3. Ethylene role in pathogenesis and stress
4. Ethylene involvement in plant growth and development
5. Ethylene and senescence of plant organs
6. Biotechnological control of ethylene function and formation
7. Applied aspects

The contents of the book offer a critical assessment of the existing knowledge, summarize recent advances and assist in identifying future research directions in the rapidly moving field of ethylene research. This book will be of major interest to all academic, industrial and agricultural researchers as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate students in plant biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology and food science.
Reference books: 3-34, A128, A134, A210, C368, E204, E210, H10, H18

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