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  • © 2014

Root Engineering

Basic and Applied Concepts

  • A valuable source of information for scientists in soil ecology, agriculture, plant sciences and microbiology
  • Provides basic research results as well as practical applications
  • With contributions by internationally recognized scientists
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Soil Biology (SOILBIOL, volume 40)

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Table of contents (23 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Anatomical and Morphological Strategies of Roots

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Anatomy of Root from Eyes of a Microbiologist

      • Smriti Shrivastava, Ram Prasad, Ajit Varma
      Pages 3-22
    3. Role of Phi Cells Under Abiotic Stress in Plants

      • Nieves Fernández-García, Carmen López-Berenguer, Enrique Olmos
      Pages 23-37
    4. Root System Architecture

      • Beata Orman-Ligeza, René Civava, Sophie de Dorlodot, Xavier Draye
      Pages 39-56
    5. Root Growth Model Based on Swarm Intelligence

      • Tomé Matos, Cristina Cruz, Luís Correia
      Pages 57-73
    6. The Development of the Maize Root System: Role of Auxin and Ethylene

      • María Victoria Alarcón, Pedro G. Lloret, Julio Salguero
      Pages 75-103
  3. Rhizosphere and Microorganisms

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 105-105
    2. Mycorrhizosphere: The Role of PGPR

      • Rosario Azcón
      Pages 107-143
    3. How Root Structure Defines the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and What We Can Learn from It?

      • Beatriz Dreyer, Mario Honrubia, Asunción Morte
      Pages 145-169
    4. How Ectomycorrhizae Structures Boost the Root System?

      • Javier Parladé, Beatriz Águeda, Luz Marina Fernández-Toirán, Fernando Martínez-Peña, Ana María de Miguel
      Pages 171-191
    5. Functions of Root Fungal Endophytes

      • K. Sowjanya Sree, Manjita Mishra, Aditya Saran, S. K. Singh, R. K. Sharma, K. V. S. S. Ram et al.
      Pages 193-201
    6. Strigolactones Involvement in Root Development and Communications

      • Hinanit Koltai, Yoram Kapulnik
      Pages 203-219
  4. Physiological Strategies of Roots

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 249-249
    2. Root Strategies for Nitrate Assimilation

      • José S. Rubio-Asensio, Carmen López-Berenguer, Jesús García-de la Garma, Martin Burger, Arnold J. Bloom
      Pages 251-267
    3. Root Aquaporins

      • Thorsten Knipfer, Wieland Fricke
      Pages 269-296
    4. Root Strategies for Rill and Gully Erosion Control

      • S. De Baets, T. A. Quine, J. Poesen
      Pages 297-323
    5. Root System Response to Drought and Salinity: Root Distribution and Water Transport

      • M. Jesús Sánchez-Blanco, Sara Álvarez, M. Fernanda Ortuño, M. Carmen Ruiz-Sánchez
      Pages 325-352
    6. Cluster Roots

      • Alejandra Zúñiga-Feest, Mabel Delgado, Ángela Bustos
      Pages 353-367

About this book

This volume illustrates the complex root system, including the various essential roles of roots as well as their interaction with diverse microorganisms localized in or near the root system.

Following initial chapters describing the anatomy and architecture as well as the growth and development of root systems, subsequent chapters focus on the various types of root symbiosis with bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere. A third section covers the physiological strategies of roots, such as nitrate assimilation, aquaporins, the role of roots in plant defense responses and in response to droughts and salinity changes. The book’s final chapters discuss the prospects of applied engineering of roots, i.e., inventing new root structures or functions through genetic modification, but also with conventional breeding and manipulation of root symbionts. The budding field of root engineering is expected to promote a second green revolution.

Reviews

“We enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in crop breeding, agronomy, and sustainable agriculture. Importantly, this book will serve as an introductory course in root biology for undergraduate and graduate students, and as a useful resource of anecdotes for teachers. … this book will inspire established scientists to future innovations, while youngsters will find it useful as a tool to guide novel experiments.” (P. C. Abhilash and Rama Kant Dubey, Trends in Plant Science, Vol. 20 (7), July, 2015)

“Morte (Univ. of Murcia, Spain) and Varma (Amity Univ., India) have compiled varied but mostly too-brief contributions representing many aspects of root biology. The 22-chapter book does cover both applied and fundamental issues, but for most readers, the result could be more coherent with the topics better integrated and related. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers/faculty.” (W. Loescher, Choice, Vol. 52 (6), February, 2015)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain

    Asunción Morte

  • Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India

    Ajit Varma

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Root Engineering

  • Book Subtitle: Basic and Applied Concepts

  • Editors: Asunción Morte, Ajit Varma

  • Series Title: Soil Biology

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54276-3

  • Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg

  • eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-642-54275-6Published: 29 April 2014

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-662-52326-1Published: 23 August 2016

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-642-54276-3Published: 12 April 2014

  • Series ISSN: 1613-3382

  • Series E-ISSN: 2196-4831

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XI, 493

  • Number of Illustrations: 43 b/w illustrations, 42 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Agriculture, Microbiology, Plant Physiology, Soil Science & Conservation

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access