Preface to the Second Edition

Preface to the First Edition

Part I. Plants and energy. 1. Photosynthesis: the leitmotiv of life

2. Plant respiration: breathing without lungs

Part II. Plant nutrition. 3. Plants are cool, but why?

4. Nutrition for the healthy lifestyle

5. Nitrogen, nitrogen, everywhere ...

6. Transport of delights

Part III. Growth and development. 7. Growth: the long and the short of it

8. The time of their lives

9. A dash of seasoning

10. Dormancy: a matter of survival

11. Color, fragrance, and flavor

Part IV. Stress, defense, and decline. 12. Stressful tranquility

13. Chemical warfare

14. Senescence and death

Part V. Plants and the environment. 15. Elemental cycles

16. The human touch

Appendix : Genetic engineering : an essential tool in a rapidly changing world.