Polyamines- Phytohormones- Nutrients Network : Nexus in Plant Responses to Abiotic Stresses

Polyamine-Phytohormone-Nutrient Network: Nexus in Plant Responses to Abiotic Stresses presents the latest global research on the these important tools for improving physiological / biochemical molecular mechanisms for improved plant health and production. Exposure of plants (crop and non-crop) to abiotic stresses is inevitable; hence, impairments in plant growth, metabolism and productivity due to abiotic stresses seem obvious. Naturally, plants are endowed with endogenous chemicals including intracellular messengers and signalling molecules to counteract the potential stress-impacts, protect cellular functions, and grow and produce well. Polyamines (PAs) are low molecular weight nitrogen- containing compounds with aliphatic polycationic properties. In addition to their roles in diverse growth and development processes, Pas(such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) have been implicated in improving plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. On the other hand, PAs have their close relation with both phytohormones (such as cytokinins, abscisic acid, auxins, gibberellins and gaseous hormone ethylene), and most mineral nutrients (such as N and S). Interestingly, the interactive response and outcomes of PAs with either phytohormones or mineral nutrients could exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effects. Thus, either the functions of PAs can be modulated by phytohormones and mineral nutrients; or the cellular/organ or whole plant level PAs may potentially affect the role of both phytohormones and mineral nutrients. With a globally diverse team of expert contributors, this book focuses on the PA-phytohormone-mineral nutrient interactions that is significant for establishing connections between nutrient assimilation, C-fixation, and secondary metabolic pathways.