This volume contains four reviews covering subjects of interest to a broad +ange of botanists. Saxe examines the effect of polluted air on photosynthesis and stomatal function, and the use of physiological and biochemical responses for early detection of injury caused by stress and air pollution. Streeter provides and overview of the transport and metabolism of carbon and nitrogen in legume nodules, and van Gardingen and Grace discuss the interaction of plants with wind, including the effect of vegetation on air movement and the resulting influences on microclimate, and outline the most recent advances in research in to the physiological responses to wind. The construction of fibre optic microprobes and their applications in measuring the light microenvironment within plant tissues are considered by Vogelman and his colleagues.

Harmonious, integrated functioning of the whole plant system requires that its various cells, tissues and organs should be able to communicate with each other, transferring a range of information on environmental conditions, physiological and microbial stresses etc. In this volume of Advances in Botanical Research incorporating Advances in Plant Pathology three articles are concerned with different aspects of plant signalling.
McDonald and Davis consider how shoot systems respond to drying and N-deficient soil, in terms of their stomatal behaviour and growth, via the transmission of root-derived chemical signals. Malone considers the major hypotheses that have been proposed with particular attention being given to hydraulic pressure signals and the hydraulic dispersal of chemical signals. At a different, intracellular level of communication, a wide variety of second messengers couple extracellular stimuli to a characteristic physiological response. Webb et al. Consider progress made in establishing similar roles for calcium in plant signalling in the context of the mammalian paradigms.
The effects of UV-B radiation on plants have been extensively investigated in recent years. Jordan considers progress in understanding the chain of events from perception of UV-B to signal transduction and consequent changes in gene expression and regulation.
Smith and Smith assess the various hypotheses erected over the years to explain structure and function of the host-parasite interface formed by vesticular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizas, an important and widespread mutualistic symbioses of a wide range of higher and some lower plants.

Lignin is a large phenolic polymer found in the cell wall of most land plants. Volume ABR104, provides in-depth reviews on the most recent discoveries in the field. It revisits the lignin paradigm and reviews the occurrence of unconventional lignin precursors that are derived from both the monolignol biosynthetic pathway, and from other polyphenolic biosynthetic pathways. The volume encompasses the most recent data about the regulation of lignin biosynthesis in a environment of polysaccharides, the importance of oxidases, the pivotal role of feruloylation and coumaroylation of the cell wall both in the lignified stem and in the cereal grain. The volume gives an important part to the transcriptional regulation at different scales. At last, vibrational and fluorescence microscopy methods to characterize the lignin-decorated cell wall as well the most recent bioengineering approaches towards lignin modification are reviewed.

• The paradigm of lignin polymer expanded to new discovered compounds
• The fluorescence and vibrational microscopy to detect lignin and phenolics
• Spatial and timed transcriptional regulation of lignification

Articles in this volume analyze rapidly evolving approaches, many at the cusp of development, to research plant defense mechanisms, pathogen variability, and epidemiology. Jones and Jones focus on emerging patterns that key resistance genes encode or require leucine-rich repeat proteins. Holub and Beynon analyze associating host resistance specificity with a locus and whether a phenotype is due to single or multiple genes. Ashby combines biochemical, molecular, and classical plant pathology to analyze interactions and provide leads to novel control strategies. Heath and Skalamera question why fungal biotrophs form intracellular structures, the significance of ensuing cellular rearrangements and death of invaded resistant cells. Spencer-Phillips explores the roles of haustoria and intercellular hyphae in intercepting organic and inorganic nutrients from hosts.
Chamberlain and Ingram compare pathogen asexual and sexual reproduction for generating genetic variation, physiological and fitness costs and trade-offs. Hardham and Hyde consider new knowledge of sporangiogenesis and zoospore production in oomycetes. Dewey et al. analyze recent advances in accurately enumerating pathogens in soil. Wistemeyer et al. consider opportunities for horizontal gene transfer amongst microbes and plants in soil. Irwin et al. discuss origins of genetic variationof Phytophthora pathogens of pasture legumes. Rodriguez and Redman show how prominent pathogens which also behave as endophytes or saprophytes may influence plant community structure and dynamics. Haubold and Rainey challenge us to consider geneticvariation in plant-colonizing bacterial populations. Milgroom and Fry demonstrate that the practical need to understand pathogen variation is the most significant application of population genetics to disease management.

Edited by Jean-Claude Kader and Michel Delseny and supported by an international Editorial Board, Advances in Botanical Research publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 53rd volume, the series features a wide range of reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This eclectic volume features reviews on cutting-edge topics of interest to postgraduates and researchers alike.

* Multidisciplinary reviews written from a broad range of scientific perspectives
* For over 40 years, series has enjoyed a reputation for excellence
* Contributors internationally recognized authorities in their respective fields

Edited by Jean-Claude Kader and Michel Delseny, Advances in Botanical Research publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 54th volume, the series features a wide range of reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This eclectic volume features reviews on cutting-edge topics of interest to postgraduates and researchers alike.

* Multidisciplinary reviews written from a broad range of scientific perspectives
* For over 40 years, series has enjoyed a reputation for excellence
* Contributors internationally recognized authorities in their respective fields

Edited by Jean-Claude Kader and Michel Delseny and supported by an international Editorial Board, Advances in Botanical Research publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 50th volume, the series features a wide range of reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This eclectic volume features six reviews on cutting-edge topics of interest to postgraduates and researchers alike.

• Multidisciplinary reviews written from a broad range of scientific perspectives
• For over 40 years, series has enjoyed a reputation for excellence
• Contributors internationally recognized authorities in their respective fields

Edited by Jean-Claude Kader and Michel Delseny and supported by an international Editorial Board, Advances in Botanical Research publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 53rd volume, the series features a wide range of reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This eclectic volume features reviews on cutting-edge topics of interest to postgraduates and researchers alike.

* Multidisciplinary reviews written from a broad range of scientific perspectives
* For over 40 years, series has enjoyed a reputation for excellence
* Contributors internationally recognized authorities in their respective fields

Edited by Jean-Claude Kader and Michel Delseny and supported by an international Editorial Board, Advances in Botanical Research publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 50th volume, the series features a wide range of reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This eclectic volume features six reviews on cutting-edge topics of interest to postgraduates and researchers alike.

* Multidisciplinary reviews written from a broad range of scientific perspectives
* For over 40 years, series has enjoyed a reputation for excellence
* Contributors internationally recognized authorities in their respective fields

Edited by Jean-Claude Kader and Michel Delseny, Advances in Botanical Research publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 54th volume, the series features a wide range of reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This eclectic volume features reviews on cutting-edge topics of interest to postgraduates and researchers alike.

* Multidisciplinary reviews written from a broad range of scientific perspectives
* For over 40 years, series has enjoyed a reputation for excellence
* Contributors internationally recognized authorities in their respective fields

Edited by Jean-Claude Kader and Michel Delseny and supported by an international Editorial Board, Advances in Botanical Research publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 50th volume, the series features a wide range of reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. This eclectic volume features six reviews on cutting-edge topics of interest to postgraduates and researchers alike.

* Multidisciplinary reviews written from a broad range of scientific perspectives
* For over 40 years, series has enjoyed a reputation for excellence
* Contributors internationally recognized authorities in their respective fields