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This book describes the natural history of leaf defence against both invertebrate and vertebrate attack, incorporating insights from the field and laboratory.
List of contents
1 Introduction: The leaf and the pressures it faces; 2 Leaf colour patterning and leaf form; 3 Structural defences and specialised defence cells; 4 Chemical defences; 5 Inducible defences and the jasmonate pathway; 6 Top-down pressures and indirect defences; 7 Release and escape from herbivory; 8 Escape in space : The cliff trees of Socotra
About the author
Edward E. Farmer a is professor in the Department of Plant Molecular Biology at the University of Lausanne where he leads an international research team focussed on understanding leaf defence mechanisms. His work has led to the discovery of mechanisms that allow leaves to respond to attack and also allow damaged tissues communicate their health status to other parts of the plant. Professor Farmer has travelled widely to study the defence features of plants in tropical, desert and mountain habitats and has also focussed attention on the often unique defence features of island floras.
Summary
This book describes the natural history of leaf defence against both invertebrate and vertebrate attack, incorporating insights from the field and laboratory.
Additional text
Leaf Defence ... definitively provides the perfect read for beginners in the field to get up to date and, more importantly, sparks interest that will motivate to follow through with some of the questions. However, it also provides a very helpful overall conceptual framework that integrates and balances the very diverse scientific approaches and views in the field, which will make the volume also valuable to experienced researchers as a guideline and reference. The structure of the book is ingenious in its simplicity and logic.
