1 Organization of Nuclear DNA
1.1 The nucleus and chromatin organization
1.2 DNA replication
1.3 Nuclear DNA amounts and the C-value paradox
1.4 Organization of DNA sequences
1.5 Satellite DNAs
1.6 Nucleolar genes for rRNA
1.7 Function of repeated DNA sequences
1.8 Genes coding for proteins
1.9 Genome variation
1.10 Transposable elements
2 Structure and Expression of Nuclear Genes
2.1 RNA polymerases
2.2 Transcription and processing of rRNA and tRNA
2.3 Synthesis and properties of mRNA
2.4 Regulatory signals in plant genes
2.5 RNA splicing
2.6 Post-translational modifications and the direction of proteins to different cellular compartments
2.7 Gene expression and plant development
3 The Plastome and Chloroplast Biogenesis
3.1 Plastid interrelationships
3.2 Chloroplast organization and function
3.3 Chloroplast genetics and the extent of plastid autonomy
3.4 Structure and function of the plastome
3.5 Chloroplast ribosomes and protein synthesis
3.6 Transcription and processing of chloroplast RNA
3.7 Transit peptides and the genetic specification of protein transport into chloroplasts
4 Mitochondrial DNA Organization and Function
4.1 Evolution and function of mitochondria
4.2 Plant mitochondrial DNA
4.3 Mitochondria] protein synthesis in vitro
4.4 Senescence in Podospora anserina
4.5 Mitochondrial DNA and cytoplasmic male sterility
4.6 Import of proteins into mitochondria
4.7 Conclusions
5 Regulation of Differential Gene Expression During Plant Development
5.1 Differential regulation of gene expression
5.2 Seed development and germination
5.3 Effect of light on the synthesis of chloroplast proteins
5.4 Ethylene, senescence, and fruit ripening
5.5 Responses to stress
5.6 Conclusions
6 Gene Expression During Development of Nitrogen-Fixing Root Nodules
6.1 Rhizobium recognition of legume roots and elicitation of nodule development
6.2 Nitrogen fixation in root nodules
6.3 Genetic determinants of nodule formation
6.4 Functions of Rhizobium genes in nodule development
6.5 Plant nodulin genes
6.6 Time-course of nodule gene expression
6.7 Prospects
7 Genetic Transformation of Plants by Agrobacterium
7.1 Characteristics of tumour induction and growth
7.2 Tumour-inducing (Ti) plasmids
7.3 Genetic organization of the Ti plasmid
7.4 Activation of Ti plasmid genes controlling T-DNA mobilization
7.5 Functions encoded by integrated T-DNA
7.6 Agrobacterium rhizoyenes
7.7 Summary of the transformation process
7.8 Regeneration of Agrobacterium-transformed plants
7.9 Agrobacterium and Rhizobium
8 Plant Viruses
8.1 Biology of plant virus infections
8.2 Distribution of genome types among the plant viruses
8.3 Studying plant viruses
8.4 Expression strategies of RNA virus genomes
8.5 DNA viruses
8.6 Viroids and virusoids
8.7 Conclusions
9 Genetic Engineering of Plants
9.1 Plant breeding
9.2 Gene vectors
9.3 Agrobacterium Ti plasmid vectors
9.4 Plant virus vectors
9.5 Direct transformation
9.6 Chimaeric gene vectors
9.7 Genetically-engineered plants
9.8 Prospects
References.