Ebook: Genes Involved in Microbe-Plant Interactions

Interdependence between species is a law of nature. The degree of this interdependence is vividly evident in the plant-microbial world. Indeed, there is no axenic plant in nature and one finds various forms of interac­ tions between these two kingdoms ranging from completely innocuous to obligate parasitic. Most of these interactions are poorly understood at the molecular and physiological levels. Only those few cases for which a molecular picture is emerging are discussed in this volume. With the advent of recombinant DNA technology and the realization that some of these interactions are very beneficial to the host plant, a spate of activity to understand and manipulate these processes is occurring. Microbes interact with plants for nutrition. In spite of the large number of plant-microbe interactions, those microbes that cause harm to the plants (i. e. , cause disease) are very few. It is thus obvious that plants have evolved various defense mechanisms to deal with the microbial world. The mecha­ nisms for protection are highly diverse and poorly understood. Some pathogens have developed very sophisticated mechanisms to parasitize plants, an excellent example for this being crown gall caused by a soil bac­ terium, Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A remarkable ingenuity is exhibited by this bacterium to manipulate its host to provide nitrogenous compounds which only this bacterium can catabolize. This is carried out by a direct gene transfer mechanism from bacteria to plants.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XIV
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Host Specificity in Rhizobium-Legume Interactions....Pages 3-31
Interaction of Agrobacterium tumefaciens with the Plant Cell Surface....Pages 33-54
Front Matter....Pages 55-55
Legume-Rhizobium-Symbiosis: Host’s Point of View....Pages 57-93
Rhizobium-Leguminosae Symbiosis: The Bacterial Point of View....Pages 95-128
Nitrogen Assimilation in the Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis: A Joint Endeavour....Pages 129-178
Hydrogenase and Energy Efficiency in Nitrogen Fixing Symbionts....Pages 179-203
Symbiotic Relationships in Actinorhizae....Pages 205-223
Host-Fungus Specificity, Recognition and Compatibility in Mycorrhizae....Pages 225-253
Molecular Biology of Stem Nodulation....Pages 255-268
Front Matter....Pages 269-269
Induction of Cell Proliferation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. Rhizogenes: A Parasite’s Point of View....Pages 271-286
Gene Organization of the Ti-Plasmid....Pages 287-309
Phytohormone-Mediated Tumorigenesis by Plant Pathogenic Bacteria....Pages 311-336
Front Matter....Pages 337-337
Genetic and Biochemical Basis of Virulence in Plant Pathogens....Pages 339-374
Defense Responses of Plants....Pages 375-386
Back Matter....Pages 387-393

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XIV
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Host Specificity in Rhizobium-Legume Interactions....Pages 3-31
Interaction of Agrobacterium tumefaciens with the Plant Cell Surface....Pages 33-54
Front Matter....Pages 55-55
Legume-Rhizobium-Symbiosis: Host’s Point of View....Pages 57-93
Rhizobium-Leguminosae Symbiosis: The Bacterial Point of View....Pages 95-128
Nitrogen Assimilation in the Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis: A Joint Endeavour....Pages 129-178
Hydrogenase and Energy Efficiency in Nitrogen Fixing Symbionts....Pages 179-203
Symbiotic Relationships in Actinorhizae....Pages 205-223
Host-Fungus Specificity, Recognition and Compatibility in Mycorrhizae....Pages 225-253
Molecular Biology of Stem Nodulation....Pages 255-268
Front Matter....Pages 269-269
Induction of Cell Proliferation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. Rhizogenes: A Parasite’s Point of View....Pages 271-286
Gene Organization of the Ti-Plasmid....Pages 287-309
Phytohormone-Mediated Tumorigenesis by Plant Pathogenic Bacteria....Pages 311-336
Front Matter....Pages 337-337
Genetic and Biochemical Basis of Virulence in Plant Pathogens....Pages 339-374
Defense Responses of Plants....Pages 375-386
Back Matter....Pages 387-393
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