Oxidative stress is a central factor in a number of biotic and abiotic stress phenomena that occurs when there is a serious imbalance in any plant cell compartment between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense, leading to physiological and metabolic changes. The presence of high concentration of ROS in cells causes oxidative damage to photosynthetic functions and vital bio-molecules, and disrupt cellular metabolism. Thus, it is important for plant cells to have tight control on the concentration of ROS. Plants possess to a variable extent antioxidant metabolites, enzymes and non-enzymes that have the ability to detoxify ROS thus, to protect the photosynthetic- and cellular functions against ROS-caused oxidative stress and to maintain optimum growth, development and productivity under changing environment. The current volume mainly elucidates major recent advances through physiological and molecular studies on the aspects of the causes, consequences of oxidative stress and also discusses and suggests potential strategies for enhancing tolerance to oxidative stress in detail in the light of recent advances in molecular biology.
1. An Introduction to Oxidative Stress in Plants and the Role of Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants
2. Environmental Factors Affecting Components of Ascorbate-Glutathione Pathway in Crop Plants
3. Regulatory Role of Components of Ascorbate-Glutathione (AsA-GSH) Pathway in Plant Tolerance to Oxidative Stress
4. Ascorbate and Glutathione: Saviours Against Oxidative Stress
5. Ascorbate-Glutathione and Plant Tolerance to Various Abiotic Stresses
6. Ascorbate-Glutathione Related Redox Regulation in Plant Stress Tolerance
7. Detoxification of Heavy Metal Induced Oxidative Stress in Plants - Enzymatic- and Non-Enzymatic Mechanisms-A Mini Review
8. Significance of Glutathione in Higher Plants for Combating Abiotic Stress-Effects
9. Heavy Metals and Oxidative Stress in Plants
10. Ascorbate and Glutathione: A Defence System Against Heavy Metal Stress in Plants
11. The Role of Ascorbate Peroxidase and Glutathione in Higher Plants to Abiotic-Induced Oxidative Stress
12. Defence Strategies of Plants Against UV-B-Induced Oxidative Stress
13. Role of Ascorbate-Glutathione During Salt Stress-Induced Oxidative Stress Tolerance in Plants
14. Secondary Metabolites as Non-Enzymatic Plant Protectors from Oxidative Stress
15. The Role of Ascorbate in Growth and Development of Cells During the Formation of Annual Rings in Coniferous Trees
16. Modulation of Glutathione, its Redox Couple and Related Enzymes in Plants Under Abiotic Stresses
17. Heavy Metals in Soil and Plants: An Overview of Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium and Mercury
Subject Index