Author Description

Of all the advances in agriculture, it is the use of nitrogen fertilizers that has provided the greatest increase in crop yield. The study of nitrogen metabolism is thus of vital importance. Additionally, because nitrogen is a constituent of such a wide range of plant metabolites, the study of their chemistry and biochemistry engages the attention of many plant scientists. This book covers recent developments in this field. Topics include the study of root nodules; the uptake, assimilation, and transport of ammonium and nitrate; amino acid metabolism; the distribution and synthesis of seed proteins; and recent research on polyamines, cyanogenic glycosides, and alkaloids. There are also chapters on denitrification and the impact of nitrogen on agricultural productivity and the environment. With contributions from international experts, this volume will interest all plant physiologists and phytochemists as well as biochemists interested in the behavior of nitrogen compounds.