Springer SALICYLIC ACID: Plant Growth and Development

In its second edition, this book covers Salicylic Acid biosynthesis, action in response to water deficit, the interplay between environmental signals and SA, its impact on transport and distribution of sugars, potential uses in food production and much more. From the Back Cover Phytohormones are known to  direct plant growth, in a coordinated fashion in association with the metabolism that supplies energy and the building blocks to generate the form that is recognized as a plant. Out of the chemicals recognized as hormones, attention has largely been focused on Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Abscisic acid, Ethylene and more recently to Brassinosteroids. However, this book provides the recent information about a natural chemical, Salicylic Acid, that could be raised to the status as assigned to the above phytohormones because it has significant regulatory impact on important aspects of the plant life.  Salicylic acid (SA) was first discovered as a major component in the bark extracts from Salix (willow) which was used as an anti-inflammatory drug. However, SA is ubiquitous in plants, generating a significant impact on plant growth and development, photosynthesis, transpiration, ion uptake and their transport. Moreover, SA also induces specific changes in leaf anatomy and chloroplast structure. SA is recognized as an endogenous signal, mediating in plant defence, against pathogens.  In this book a total of 16 chapters have been included which provide a recent update on salicylic acid. This book is not an encyclopedia of reviews but includes a selected collection of newly written, integrated, illustrated reviews describing our knowledge on salicylic acid. The aim of this book is to tell about the salicylic acid involvement in plants, by the present time. The various chapters incorporate both theoretical and practical aspects which may serve as a baseline information for future research through which significant developments are possible. We are of the opinion that this book will be of immense importance to all those who have even the least interest in biological and agricultural sciences. About the Author Dr. Shamsul Hayat is an Associate Professor, in the Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India and presently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Botany & Microbiology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. He received his Ph.D. degree in Botany from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Before joining the Department as faculty, he has worked as Research Associate and Young Scientist in the same Department. His major areas of research are phytohormones and heavy metal stress in plants Dr. Hayat has been awarded Prof. HiraLalChakravorty Award by Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkata, India, Associate of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi, India, BOYSCAST fellow by Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi and young scientist by Association of the Advancement of Science, Aligarh, India. He has been the Principal Investigator of the various projects sanctioned by different agencies and guided three students for the award of Ph.D. degree and two students for the award of M.Phil degree. Dr. Hayat has published more than hundred research papers in leading journal of the world such as Environmental & Experimental Botany, Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, Environmental Pollution, PlantSignalling&Behaviourand also published nine books published by Kluwer Academic, Springer, Wiley-VCH, Science Publisher and Narosa Publishing House. His works has been cited in various journals and at present about 1500 citation has been noted.Dr. Aqil Ahmad is the senior most Professor, in the Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. He was conferred Ph.D. by Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh in 1975. Dr. Ahmad worked as Post-Doctorate Research Fellow of Danish International Developm