1;Preface;6 1.1;Further Reading;7 2;Contents;8 3;Mechanical Integration of Plant Cells;10 3.1;1 Introduction;10 3.2;2 Mechanical Organization of Plant Cells;11 3.2.1;2.1 Constructing the Pathway for Mechanotransduction;13 3.3;3 Control of Cell Morphogenesis and Fate Determination;15 3.4;4 Responses of Plants and Plant Cells to Mechanical Stimuli;16 3.4.1;4.1 Osmoregulation in Plant Cells;17 3.4.2;4.2 Reactions to Touch;18 3.4.3;4.3 Responses to Gravity;20 3.5;References;22 4;Root Behavior in Response to Aluminum Toxicity;30 4.1;1 Introduction;30 4.2;2 Aluminum-Induced Inhibition of Root Growth;32 4.3;3 Mechanisms of Al-Induced Inhibition of Root Growth;33 4.3.1;3.1 Al-Induced Inhibition of Cell Expansion;34 4.3.2;3.2 Effects of Aluminum on Cell Division;37 4.3.3;3.3 Root Transition Zone: Site for Al Perception and Al Signal Transduction;40 4.4;4 Al Toxicity Mechanisms: Common Features in Plant and Animal Cells?;40 4.4.1;4.1 Actin-Myosin Network and Vesicle Trafficking: Common Targets for Al Toxicity in Plant and Brain Cells;41 4.5;5 Coordination of Root Developmental Features Under Al Stress;42 4.6;6 Aluminum Tolerance;44 4.7;7 Conclusions and Outlook;45 4.8;References;46 5;Communication and Signaling in the Plant- Fungus Symbiosis: The Mycorrhiza;54 5.1;1 Introduction;54 5.2;2 Communication and Signaling in Arbuscular Mycorrhiza ;56 5.2.1;2.1 Presymbiotic Events;56 5.2.2;2.2 AM Fungal Contact with Host Roots;58 5.2.3;2.3 Arbuscule and Symbiotic Interface Development;60 5.2.4;2.4 Role of Plastids in Communication in AM;62 5.3;3 Communication and Signaling in Ectomycorrhiza (ECM);66 5.3.1;3.1 Possible Signals in the ECM;67 5.3.2;3.2 Cytoskeleton and Signal Transduction;68 5.3.3;3.3 Impact of Nutrient Levels and Transport in Plant-Fungus Communication;69 5.3.4;3.4 How Do ECM Fungi Bypass Plant Defense Reactions?;70 5.3.5;3.5 Toward the Identification of Ectomycorrhiza-Specific Genes?;71 5.4;4 Conclusion and Future Prospects;71 5.5;References;71 6;Role of g -Aminobutyrate and g -Hydroxybutyrate in Plant Communication;82 6.1;1 Introduction;82 6.2;2 GABA and GHB Metabolism;84 6.3;3 Accumulation of GABA and GHB is a General Response to Stress;86 6.4;4 GABA and GHB Signaling Between Plants and Other Organisms;88 6.5;5 Conclusions and Future Prospects;89 6.6;References;89 7;Hemiparasitic Plants: Exploiting Their Host's Inherent Nature to Talk;94 7.1;1 Introduction;94 7.2;2 Purpose of Review;96 7.3;3 Evolution of Parasitism;96 7.3.1;3.1 Transition from Autotroph to Facultative Hemiparasite: The Origin of Haustoria;97 7.3.2;3.2 Facultative Hemiparasite to Obligate Hemiparasite: Increased Host Specificity;98 7.3.3;3.3 Obligate Hemiparasite to Holoparasite: Loss of Autotrophic Functions;99 7.4;4 Hemiparasite Families;99 7.4.1;4.1 Orobanchaceae;99 7.4.2;4.2 Santalales;100 7.4.3;4.3 Convolvulaceae;101 7.4.4;4.4 Lauraceae;101 7.4.5;4.5 Krameriaceae;101 7.5;5 The Parasitism Process with Specific Reference to Host Determination;101 7.5.1;5.1 Germination;101 7.5.2;5.2 Early Haustorium Development;102 7.5.3;5.3 Post-Attachment Physiology;103 7.6;6 Conclusions;105 7.7;References;105 8;Host Location and Selection by Holoparasitic Plants;110 8.1;1 Introduction ;110 8.1.1;1.1 Plant Behavior;110 8.1.2;1.2 The Behavior of Parasitic Plants;112 8.2;2 The Lifestyle of Parasitic Plants;112 8.3;3 Strategies for Seed Dispersal and Host Location ;114 8.3.1;3.1 Seed Dispersal Strategies;114 8.4;4 Seed Germination ;115 8.4.1;4.1 Seed Dormancy and Germination Requirements;115 8.4.2;4.2 Germination Stimulants;117 8.5;5 Host Location and Selection by Foraging Seedlings;121 8.6;References;123 9;Plant Innate Immunity;128 9.1;1 Introduction;128 9.2;2 Recognition and Response at the Plant Cell Surface ;131 9.2.1;2.1 Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns and Pattern Recognition Receptors;131 9.2.2;2.2 Signaling Downstream of PRR Activation;132 9.3;3 Immune Responses Mediated by Plant Resistance Proteins ;133 9.3.1;3.1 Pathogen Virulence Through the Delivery of Effecto