A well-structured and comprehensive summary of the strategies and several case studies for applying molecular plant genomics in the fields of plant ecotoxicology and plant ecology. With an increasing number of plant genome projects now being completed, there arises the need to develop plant functional genomics. The book concentrates on ecological functions and relates molecular stress responses and signalling pathways to environmental interactions. This paves the way for uncovering new mechanisms of plant fitness, population dynamics and evolution, and new possibilities for plant breeding and sustainable agriculture. Topics covered include: definition and up-scaling of molecular ecotoxicology; signalling substances, enzymes and genes involved in defence against pathogens, xenobiotics, ozone, UV-B and further environmental stressors; and manipulation of plant signal transduction by soil bacteria.

1 Molecular Ecotoxicology: From Man-Made Pollutants to Multiple Environmental Stresses.- 2 Metabolism of Natural and Xenobiotic Substrates by the Plant Glutathione S-Transferase Superfamily.- 3 Activated Oxygen Species in Multiple Stress Situations and Protective Systems.- 4 Ethylene and Jasmonate as Regulators of Cell Death in Disease Resistance.- 5 The Role of Salicylic Acid and Nitric Oxide in Programmed Cell Death and Induced Resistance.- 6 Cis Elements and Transcription Factors Regulating Gene Promoters in Response to Environmental Stress.- 7 Increased Plant Fitness by Rhizobacteria.- 8 Scaling Up from Molecular to Ecological Processes.- Color Illustrations.