Description: Written by the leading experts in the field, this book examines the evolutionary advantages of gender dimorphism - the occurence of two sexual forms - and sexual dimorphism - dimorphism in secondary sex characters - in flowering plants. Gender dimorphism is found in approximately 10% of flowering plant species and has been an active topic of research. By contrast, sexual dimorphism in plants is much less widely appreciated. The book consists of three sections: The first introduces readers to the tremendous variety of breeding systems and their evolution in plants and sets the stage for a consideration of the evolution of dimorphism in reproductive and non-reproductive characters. The second section deals with the evolution of secondary sexual characters, including the theory related to the evolution of sexual dimorphism and its empirical patterns. The last section deals with the genetics of gender expression and of secondary sexual characters.
Description: Studies of the perception and transduction of hormonal signals in higher plants are relatively recent. Despite the rather small number of researchers involved in comparison, say, to those studying signalling in animals, plant scientists are becoming attracted to this important field because of the fascinating mechanisms being revealed and the recognition that any hope of understanding the ways in which the growth and development of the whole plant are controlled can only be based on an exploration of the physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of these mechanisms. The Moscow symposium that gave rise to the present book drew many of the most active workers in the area, and many new developments were revealed. Audience: Important reading for all those interested in plant growth and development.
Description: The third volume in this annual series presents modern techniques and surveys important new research in all aspects of plant molecular and cell biology, including molecular genetics, biochemical and cell genetics, and plant micro-organism interactions. A timely update of work in the field for molecular and cell biologists, plant biochemists, and plant physiologists.
