Plant cell vacuoles: an introduction

Abstract

This book is the only comprehensive work, at introductory level, on plant cell vacuoles. Vacuoles are ubiquitous, multifaceted and indispensable organelles and yet they have been thinly treated in the literature to date. This is at odds with the amount of interest in vacuoles that has been expressed in the last two decades. This comprehensive work provides a solid foundation on vacuoles to an advanced level. The latest research findings have been included in all aspects of plant and yeast vacuoles. The book synthesizes all the available information on the plant cell vacuole. It includes methodologies, occurrence and diversity, structure and biochemistry of tonoplasts and molecular biology of biogenesis and diverse functions, all presented in a concise way. The tremendous surge in the genetic engineering of plants for commercial products requires a comprehension of the functions and possibilities of vacuole manipulation since most of the targets of improvement directly involve vacuoles. Thus the work will be valuable to students of plant sciences, plant breeding, cell biology and plant biotechnology, as well as advanced researchers who seek a better understanding of this vital organelle.