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Sulphur (S) plays a pivotal role in various plant growth and development processes being a constituent of sulphur-containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine, and other metabolites viz., glutathione and phytochelatins, co-factor of enzymes which contribute to stress repair and amelioration of heavy metal toxicity. Besides, a number of S-containing components are biologically active and, thus, a source for use as medicinal value. The basic global issue before the agricultural scientist and world community is to evolve cultivars and develop methodologies for efficient use of inputs to enhance agricultural productivity. This is particularly true of the developing countries which are going to see maximum rise in population with changing food demands and declining availability of land. Amongst the inputs, nutrients play a crucial role. The major requirement is for N, P and K followed by several micro-nutrients. In this context reports of world-wide S deficiency in the agricultural systems are relevant. The reasons are many. Broadly speaking reduction inS emission, use of S-free N, P and K fertilizers and higher biomass production contributed the maximum. Despite the need for sulphur as an essential plant nutrient and the substantial returns expected from its use, very little attention has been given to fill the gap between supply and demand of S.
List of contents
1 The global sulphur cycle and its links to plant environment.- 2 Food production and plant nutrient sulphur.- 3 Managing sulphur in agroecosystems.- 4 Sulphate uptake and transport.- 5 Sulphate assimilation: a pathway which likes to surprise.- 6 Sulphur distribution and redistribution in vegetative and generative plants.- 7 Sulphur amino acids: biosynthesis of cysteine and methionine.- 8 Glucosinolates: biosynthesis and metabolism.- 9 Metallothioneins and phytochelatins: ecophysiological aspects.- 10 Metallothioneins and phytochelatins: molecular aspects.- 11 Sulphoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) - the sulpholipid of higher plants.- 12 The role of thiols in plant adaptation to environmental stress.- 13 Genetic engineering of oxidative stress resistance in plants.- 14 Hydrogen sulphide: emission and utilization by plants.- 15 Plant responses to atmospheric sulphur.- 16 Sulphur nutrition and legume seed quality.- 17 Effect of sulphur nutrition on agronomic and quality attributes of wheat.- 18 Sulphur nutrition and oilseed quality.- 19 Crop responses to sulphur nutrition.- 20 Sulphur interaction with other nutrients.- 21 Biologically active sulphur compounds of plant origin.
Summary
Sulphur (S) plays a pivotal role in various plant growth and development processes being a constituent of sulphur-containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine, and other metabolites viz., glutathione and phytochelatins, co-factor of enzymes which contribute to stress repair and amelioration of heavy metal toxicity. Besides, a number of S-containing components are biologically active and, thus, a source for use as medicinal value. The basic global issue before the agricultural scientist and world community is to evolve cultivars and develop methodologies for efficient use of inputs to enhance agricultural productivity. This is particularly true of the developing countries which are going to see maximum rise in population with changing food demands and declining availability of land. Amongst the inputs, nutrients play a crucial role. The major requirement is for N, P and K followed by several micro-nutrients. In this context reports of world-wide S deficiency in the agricultural systems are relevant. The reasons are many. Broadly speaking reduction inS emission, use of S-free N, P and K fertilizers and higher biomass production contributed the maximum. Despite the need for sulphur as an essential plant nutrient and the substantial returns expected from its use, very little attention has been given to fill the gap between supply and demand of S.
