Secretions and Exudates in Biological Systems (Signaling and Communication in Plants Book 12)

Secretions and emissions in biological systems play important signaling roles within the organism but also in its communications with the surrounding environment. This volume brings together state-of-the-art information on the role of secretions and emissions in different organs and organisms ranging from flowers and roots of plants to nematodes and human organs. The plant chapters relate information regarding the biochemistry of flower volatiles and root exudates, and their role in attracting pollinators and soil microbial communities respectively. Microbial chapters explain the biochemistry and ecology of quorum sensing and how microbial communities highly co-adapted to plants can aid in bio-energy applications by degrading ligno-cellulosic materials. Other chapters explain the biology of secretions by nematodes, algae and humans, among other organisms. This volume will be a welcome addition to the literature, as no other book covers aspects related to biological secretion in such a holistic and integrative manner. "Secretions and emissions in biological systems play important signaling roles within the organism but also in its communication with the surrounding environment ... Not too long ago, secretions and emissions were considered biological waste products that were simply discharged out of plants through a chemical gradient with no function to the environment whatsoever ... This volume brings together state-of-the-art information about the role of secretions and emissions in different organs and organisms ranging from flowers and roots of plants to human organs ... The plant chapters will relate information regarding the biochemistry of flower volatiles and root exudates, and their role in attracting pollinators and interacting with soil microbial communities, respectively ... Microbial chapters will explain the biochemistry and ecology of quorum sensing and how microbial communities aggregate in different environments through the continuous release and sensing of compounds that regulate the 'quorum' in the community ... Other chapters will explain the biology of secretions by algae and humans, among other organisms."--Preface Front Matter....Pages i-viii Plant Root Secretions and Their Interactions with Neighbors....Pages 1-26 Root Exudates of Legume Plants and Their Involvement in Interactions with Soil Microbes....Pages 27-48 Strigolactones in Root Exudates as a Signal in Symbiotic and Parasitic Interactions....Pages 49-73 Proteoid Roots and Exudation of Proteases by Plant Roots....Pages 75-89 Unity Is Strength: The Power of Border Cells and Border-Like Cells in Relation with Plant Defense....Pages 91-107 Plant Volatiles and Other Specialized Metabolites: Synthesis, Storage, Emission, and Function....Pages 109-123 Lignocellulose Decomposition by Microbial Secretions....Pages 125-153 Sugary Exudates in Plant Pollination....Pages 155-185 Nectar Secretion: Its Ecological Context and Physiological Regulation....Pages 187-219 Secretion in the Diatoms....Pages 221-250 Bacterial Secretions....Pages 251-267 Inter-Organ and -Tissue Communication via Secreted Proteins in Humans....Pages 269-278 Back Matter....Pages 279-183