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Book Plant Chemical Genomics

    Book Details:
  • Author : Glenn R. Hicks
  • Publisher : Humana
  • Release : 2020-12-04
  • ISBN : 9781071609538
  • Pages : 196 pages

Download or read book Plant Chemical Genomics written by Glenn R. Hicks and published by Humana. This book was released on 2020-12-04 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This second edition volume is a companion volume to the previous edition and looks at new findings on novel bioactive chemicals and cognate targets, as well as the use of synthetic small molecules and a variety of tools to understand these processes. Chapters in this book cover topics such as screening plants for novel bioactive chemicals including lipid signaling and photo receptors; small molecule screens to include peptide ligands to generate new variations; using new chemicals to affect and dissect hormone signaling; and the application of easier microscale methods to simplify target identification and validation. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and practical, Plant Chemical Genomics: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable resource that provides a foundation of techniques for novice and expert researchers in the plant chemical biology community.

Book Chemical Genomics

    Book Details:
  • Author : Haian Fu
  • Publisher : Cambridge University Press
  • Release : 2012-02-13
  • ISBN : 1107377587
  • Pages : 359 pages

Download or read book Chemical Genomics written by Haian Fu and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-02-13 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advances in chemistry, biology and genomics coupled with laboratory automation and computational technologies have led to the rapid emergence of the multidisciplinary field of chemical genomics. This edited text, with contributions from experts in the field, discusses the new techniques and applications that help further the study of chemical genomics. The beginning chapters provide an overview of the basic principles of chemical biology and chemical genomics. This is followed by a technical section that describes the sources of small-molecule chemicals; the basics of high-throughput screening technologies; and various bioassays for biochemical-, cellular- and organism-based screens. The final chapters connect the chemical genomics field with personalized medicine and the druggable genome for future discovery of new therapeutics. This book will be valuable to researchers, professionals and graduate students in many fields, including biology, biomedicine and chemistry.

Book Chemogenomics and Chemical Genetics

Download or read book Chemogenomics and Chemical Genetics written by ERIC MARECHAL and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-06-21 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biological and chemical sciences have undergone an unprecedented transformation, reflected by the huge use of parallel and automated technologies in key fields such as genome sequencing, DNA chips, nanoscale functional biology or combinatorial chemistry. It is now possible to generate and store from tens of thousands to millions of new small molecules, based on enhanced chemical synthesis strategies. Automated screening of small molecules is one of the technologies that has revolutionized biology, first developed for the pharmaceutical industry and recently introduced in academic laboratories. High-throughput and high-content screening allow the identification of bioactive compounds in collections of molecules (chemical libraries), being effective on biological targets defined at various organisational scales, from proteins to cells to complete organisms. These bioactive molecules can be therapeutic drug candidates, molecules for biotech, diagnostic or agronomic applications, or tools for basic research. Handling a large number of biological (genomic and post-genomic), chemical and experimental information, screening approaches cannot be envisaged without any electronic storage and mathematical treatment of the data. “Chemogenomics and Chemical Genetics” is an introductory manual presenting methods and concepts making up the basis for this recent discipline. This book is dedicated to biologists, chemists and computer scientist beginners. It is organized in brief, illustrated chapters with practical examples. Clear definitions of biological, chemical and IT concepts are given in a glossary section to help readers who are not familiar with one of these disciplines. "Chemogenomics and Chemical Genetics" should therefore be helpful for students (from Bachelor's degree level), technological platform engineers, and researchers in biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, cheminformatics, both in biotech and academic laboratories.

Book Plant Chemical Biology

    Book Details:
  • Author : Dominique Audenaert
  • Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
  • Release : 2014-01-07
  • ISBN : 9780470946695
  • Pages : 0 pages

Download or read book Plant Chemical Biology written by Dominique Audenaert and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-01-07 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Demonstrates how advances in plant chemical biology can translate to field applications With contributions from a team of leading researchers and pioneers in the field, this book explains how chemical biology is used as a tool to enhance our understanding of plant biology. Readers are introduced to a variety of chemical biology studies that have provided novel insights into plant physiology and plant cellular processes. Moreover, they will discover that chemical biology not only leads to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of plant biology, but also the development of practical applications. For example, the authors discuss small molecules that can be used to identify targets of herbicides and develop new herbicides and plant growth regulators. The book begins with a historical perspective on plant chemical biology. Next, the authors introduce the chemical biology toolbox needed to perform successful studies, with chapters covering: Sources of small molecules Identification of new chemical tools by high-throughput screening (HTS) Use of chemical biology to study plant physiology Use of chemical biology to study plant cellular processes Target identification Translation of plant chemical biology from the lab to the field Based on the latest findings and extensively referenced, the book explores available compound collections, principles of assay design, and the use of new research tools for the development of new applications. Plant Chemical Biology is recommended for students and professionals in all facets of plant biology, including molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, agriculture, horticulture, and agronomy. All readers will discover new approaches that can lead to the development of a healthier and more plentiful global food supply.

Book Plant Functional Genomics

    Book Details:
  • Author : Erich Grotewold
  • Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
  • Release : 2008-02-03
  • ISBN : 1592594131
  • Pages : 443 pages

Download or read book Plant Functional Genomics written by Erich Grotewold and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-02-03 with total page 443 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Functional genomics is a young discipline whose origin can be traced back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when molecular tools became available to determine the cellular functions of genes. Today, functional genomics is p- ceived as the analysis, often large-scale, that bridges the structure and organi- tion of genomes and the assessment of gene function. The completion in 2000 of the genome sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana has created a number of new and exciting challenges in plant functional genomics. The immediate task for the plant biology community is to establish the functions of the approximately 25,000 genes present in this model plant. One major issue that will remain even after this formidable task is c- pleted is establishing to what degree our understanding of the genome of one model organism, such as the dicot Arabidopsis, provides insight into the or- nization and function of genes in other plants. The genome sequence of rice, completed in 2002 as a result of the synergistic interaction of the private and public sectors, promises to significantly enrich our knowledge of the general organization of plant genomes. However, the tools available to investigate gene function in rice are lagging behind those offered by other model plant systems. Approaches available to investigate gene function become even more limited for plants other than the model systems of Arabidopsis, rice, and maize.

Book Plant Genomics  Methods and Functions

Download or read book Plant Genomics Methods and Functions written by Isabelle Nickel and published by . This book was released on 2019-06-24 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plant genomics is a vast field of study. It studies the structure, mapping, function, evolution and editing of genomes. It is instrumental in the splicing and deletion of specific genes to produce desired phenotypes as a response to the changed genotype. Such genetic modifications can be generated by the "Gene Gun" method and by transformation via Agrobacterium. Introduction of new traits and control over existing traits in plants is possible due to research in plant genetics and genomics. Most of the topics introduced in this book cover new techniques and applications of plant genomics. While understanding the long-term perspectives of the topics, the book makes an effort in highlighting their impact as a modern tool for the growth of the discipline. Those with an interest in this field would find this book helpful.

Book From Plant Genomics to Plant Biotechnology

Download or read book From Plant Genomics to Plant Biotechnology written by Palmiro Poltronieri and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2013-08-31 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the appearance of methods for the sequencing of genomes and less expensive next generation sequencing methods, we face rapid advancements of the -omics technologies and plant biology studies: reverse and forward genetics, functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, the movement at distance of effectors and structural biology. From plant genomics to plant biotechnology reviews the recent advancements in the post-genomic era, discussing how different varieties respond to abiotic and biotic stresses, understanding the epigenetic control and epigenetic memory, the roles of non-coding RNAs, applicative uses of RNA silencing and RNA interference in plant physiology and in experimental transgenics and plants modified to specific aims. In the forthcoming years these advancements will support the production of plant varieties better suited to resist biotic and abiotic stresses, for food and non-food applications. This book covers these issues, showing how such technologies are influencing the plant field in sectors such as the selection of plant varieties and plant breeding, selection of optimum agronomic traits, stress-resistant varieties, improvement of plant fitness, improving crop yield, and non-food applications in the knowledge based bio-economy. Discusses a broad range of applications: the examples originate from a variety of sectors (including in field studies, breeding, RNA regulation, pharmaceuticals and biotech) and a variety of scientific areas (such as bioinformatics, -omics sciences, epigenetics, and the agro-industry) Provides a unique perspective on work normally performed 'behind closed doors'. As such, it presents an opportunity for those within the field to learn from each other, and for those on the 'outside' to see how different groups have approached key problems Highlights the criteria used to compare and assess different approaches to solving problems. Shows the thinking process, practical limitations and any other considerations, aiding in the understanding of a deeper approach

Book Applied Plant Genomics and Biotechnology

Download or read book Applied Plant Genomics and Biotechnology written by Palmiro Poltronieri and published by Woodhead Publishing. This book was released on 2015-01-27 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Applied plant genomics and biotechnology reviews the recent advancements in the post-genomic era, discussing how different varieties respond to abiotic and biotic stresses, investigating epigenetic modifications and epigenetic memory through analysis of DNA methylation states, applicative uses of RNA silencing and RNA interference in plant physiology and in experimental transgenics, and plants modified to produce high-value pharmaceutical proteins. The book provides an overview of research advances in application of RNA silencing and RNA interference, through Virus-based transient gene expression systems, Virus induced gene complementation (VIGC), Virus induced gene silencing (Sir VIGS, Mr VIGS) Virus-based microRNA silencing (VbMS) and Virus-based RNA mobility assays (VRMA); RNA based vaccines and expression of virus proteins or RNA, and virus-like particles in plants, the potential of virus vaccines and therapeutics, and exploring plants as factories for useful products and pharmaceuticals are topics wholly deepened. The book reviews and discuss Plant Functional Genomic studies discussing the technologies supporting the genetic improvement of plants and the production of plant varieties more resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. Several important crops are analysed providing a glimpse on the most up-to-date methods and topics of investigation. The book presents a review on current state of GMO, the cisgenesis-derived plants and novel plant products devoid of transgene elements, discuss their regulation and the production of desired traits such as resistance to viruses and disease also in fruit trees and wood trees with long vegetative periods. Several chapters cover aspects of plant physiology related to plant improvement: cytokinin metabolism and hormone signaling pathways are discussed in barley; PARP-domain proteins involved in Stress-Induced Morphogenetic Response, regulation of NAD signaling and ROS dependent synthesis of anthocyanins. Apple allergen isoforms and the various content in different varieties are discussed and approaches to reduce their presence. Euphorbiaceae, castor bean, cassava and Jathropa are discussed at genomic structure, their diseases and viruses, and methods of transformation. Rice genomics and agricultural traits are discussed, and biotechnology for engineering and improve rice varieties. Mango topics are presented with an overview of molecular methods for variety differentiation, and aspects of fruit improvement by traditional and biotechnology methods. Oilseed rape is presented, discussing the genetic diversity, quality traits, genetic maps, genomic selection and comparative genomics for improvement of varieties. Tomato studies are presented, with an overview on the knowledge of the regulatory networks involved in flowering, methods applied to study the tomato genome-wide DNA methylation, its regulation by small RNAs, microRNA-dependent control of transcription factors expression, the development and ripening processes in tomato, genomic studies and fruit modelling to establish fleshy fruit traits of interest; the gene reprogramming during fruit ripening, and the ethylene dependent and independent DNA methylation changes. provides an overview on the ongoing projects and activities in the field of applied biotechnology includes examples of different crops and applications to be exploited reviews and discusses Plant Functional Genomic studies and the future developments in the field explores the new technologies supporting the genetic improvement of plants

Book Genomics of Plant   Pathogen Interaction and the Stress Response

Download or read book Genomics of Plant Pathogen Interaction and the Stress Response written by Ashutosh Mani and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2023-09-25 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plants are an indispensable part of human and animal lives for nutrition and health. But pests, diseases and abiotic stress adversely affect crop yield, which ultimately places significant pressure on society to provide food to an increasing population. Moreover, it also encourages increased chemical/pesticide usage on crops, which we see in the biomagnification of toxic and hazardous compounds polluting water bodies, soil and the environment. This condition will continue to worsen in the future due to the resistance-acquiring ability of pathogens against plant defense and chemical treatments. In addition, environmental disturbances and consumer health issues are being reported more promptly than before due to intensive use of pesticides in food production. Plant diseases affect our daily lives, as the use of insecticides and pesticides has become part of our food chain. As a result, precise disease diagnosis and management is crucial in order to avoid huge losses in plant production and related commodities. Accurate detection, precise diagnosis and proper management can play a significant role in keeping plants free from pathogens. In this book, scientists, researchers and scholars share their research knowledge, offering a valuable resource for understanding plant diseases, pathogen interaction and responses to stress through an omics perspective, contributing to further advancements in the field Diseases in plants may be caused by various factors, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and abiotic stress. Disease causes low crop yield, production of poor-quality fruits and grains, and deficiency of nutrients, which have a direct impact on human and animal health. A genomics-based approach can be applied to disease diagnosis; disease outbreak; evolution of plant and pathogen genome for disease outbreak in relation to climate change; and development of long-term strategies for plant health and defense. This book presents an overview of omics technologies and approaches used to understand: 1) the relation between plants and their environment in terms of diseases 2) responses to abiotic stress 3) the genomics of plant–pathogen interaction 4) herbicide-resistance mechanisms 5) the epigenetics of plant–pathogen interaction 6) gene regulation during abiotic stress response 7) the oxidative stress response

Book Achievements of the National Plant Genome Initiative and New Horizons in Plant Biology

Download or read book Achievements of the National Plant Genome Initiative and New Horizons in Plant Biology written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-03-20 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Life on Earth would be impossible without plants. Humans rely on plants for most clothing, furniture, food, as well as for many pharmaceuticals and other products. Plant genome sciences are essential to understanding how plants function and how to develop desirable plant characteristics. For example, plant genomic science can contribute to the development of plants that are drought-resistant, those that require less fertilizer, and those that are optimized for conversion to fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. The National Plant Genome Initiative (NPGI) is a unique, cross-agency funding enterprise that has been funding and coordinating plant genome research successfully for nine years. Research breakthroughs from NPGI and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Arabidopsis 2010 Project, such as how the plant immune system controls pathogen defense, demonstrate that the plant genome science community is vibrant and capable of driving technological advancement. This book from the National Research Council concludes that these programs should continue so that applied programs on agriculture, bioenergy, and others will always be built on a strong foundation of fundamental plant biology research.

Book Genomics of Plant   Pathogen Interaction and the Stress Response

Download or read book Genomics of Plant Pathogen Interaction and the Stress Response written by Ashutosh Mani and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2023-09-25 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plants are an indispensable part of human and animal lives for nutrition and health. But pests, diseases and abiotic stress adversely affect crop yield, which ultimately places significant pressure on society to provide food to an increasing population. Moreover, it also encourages increased chemical/pesticide usage on crops, which we see in the biomagnification of toxic and hazardous compounds polluting water bodies, soil and the environment. This condition will continue to worsen in the future due to the resistance-acquiring ability of pathogens against plant defense and chemical treatments. In addition, environmental disturbances and consumer health issues are being reported more promptly than before due to intensive use of pesticides in food production. Plant diseases affect our daily lives, as the use of insecticides and pesticides has become part of our food chain. As a result, precise disease diagnosis and management is crucial in order to avoid huge losses in plant production and related commodities. Accurate detection, precise diagnosis and proper management can play a significant role in keeping plants free from pathogens. In this book, scientists, researchers and scholars share their research knowledge, offering a valuable resource for understanding plant diseases, pathogen interaction and responses to stress through an omics perspective, contributing to further advancements in the field Diseases in plants may be caused by various factors, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and abiotic stress. Disease causes low crop yield, production of poor-quality fruits and grains, and deficiency of nutrients, which have a direct impact on human and animal health. A genomics-based approach can be applied to disease diagnosis; disease outbreak; evolution of plant and pathogen genome for disease outbreak in relation to climate change; and development of long-term strategies for plant health and defense. This book presents an overview of omics technologies and approaches used to understand: the relation between plants and their environment in terms of diseases responses to abiotic stress the genomics of plant–pathogen interaction herbicide-resistance mechanisms the epigenetics of plant–pathogen interaction gene regulation during abiotic stress response the oxidative stress response

Book Plant Genomics

    Book Details:
  • Author : Ibrokhim Y. Abdurakhmonov
  • Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
  • Release : 2016-07-14
  • ISBN : 9535124552
  • Pages : 312 pages

Download or read book Plant Genomics written by Ibrokhim Y. Abdurakhmonov and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2016-07-14 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plant genomics aims to sequence, characterize, and study the genetic compositions, structures, organizations, functions, and interactions/networks of an entire plant genome. Its development and advances are tightly interconnected with proteomics, metabolomics, metagenomics, transgenomics, genomic selection, bioinformatics, epigenomics, phenomics, system biology, modern instrumentation, and robotics sciences. Plant genomics has significantly advanced over the past three decades in the land of inexpensive, high-throughput sequencing technologies and fully sequenced over 100 plant genomes. These advances have broad implications in every aspect of plant biology and breeding, powered with novel genomic selection and manipulation tools while generating many grand challenges and tasks ahead. This Plant genomics provides some updated discussions on current advances, challenges, and future perspectives of plant genome studies and applications.

Book Phytochemistry in the Genomics and Post Genomics Eras

Download or read book Phytochemistry in the Genomics and Post Genomics Eras written by John Romeo and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2002-06-20 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This monograph series is commissioned by the Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA). The volumes in this series contain articles on developing topics of interest to scientists, students and individuals interested in recent developments in the biochemistry, chemistry and molecular biology of plants. Volume 36 centers on the role of phytochemistry in the rapid developments in biology brought about by the application of large-scale genomics approaches. Several functional genomic approaches discussed in this volume address plant gene function on a large scale. Plants are combinatorial chemists par excellence, and understanding the principles that relate enzyme structure to function will open up unlimited possibilities for the rational design of new enzymes to generate novel biologically active natural products. Knowledge of the molecular genetics of plant natural product pathways will also facilitate the engineering of these pathways for plant improvement and human benefit. Phytochemistry truly has a great future in the genomics and post-genomics eras.

Book Phytochemistry in the Genomics and Post genomics Eras

Download or read book Phytochemistry in the Genomics and Post genomics Eras written by Phytochemical Society of North America. Meeting and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This monograph series is commissioned by the Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA). The volumes in this series contain articles on developing topics of interest to scientists, students and individuals interested in recent developments in the biochemistry, chemistry and molecular biology of plants. Volume 36 centers on the role of phytochemistry in the rapid developments in biology brought about by the application of large-scale genomics approaches. Several functional genomic approaches discussed in this volume address plant gene function on a large scale. Plants are combinatorial chemists par excellence, and understanding the principles that relate enzyme structure to function will open up unlimited possibilities for the rational design of new enzymes to generate novel biologically active natural products. Knowledge of the molecular genetics of plant natural product pathways will also facilitate the engineering of these pathways for plant improvement and human benefit. Phytochemistry truly has a great future in the genomics and post-genomics eras.

Book Plant Biotechnology and Genetics

Download or read book Plant Biotechnology and Genetics written by C. Neal Stewart, Jr. and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-12-13 with total page 554 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Designed to inform and inspire the next generation of plant biotechnologists Plant Biotechnology and Genetics explores contemporary techniques and applications of plant biotechnology, illustrating the tremendous potential this technology has to change our world by improving the food supply. As an introductory text, its focus is on basic science and processes. It guides students from plant biology and genetics to breeding to principles and applications of plant biotechnology. Next, the text examines the critical issues of patents and intellectual property and then tackles the many controversies and consumer concerns over transgenic plants. The final chapter of the book provides an expert forecast of the future of plant biotechnology. Each chapter has been written by one or more leading practitioners in the field and then carefully edited to ensure thoroughness and consistency. The chapters are organized so that each one progressively builds upon the previous chapters. Questions set forth in each chapter help students deepen their understanding and facilitate classroom discussions. Inspirational autobiographical essays, written by pioneers and eminent scientists in the field today, are interspersed throughout the text. Authors explain how they became involved in the field and offer a personal perspective on their contributions and the future of the field. The text's accompanying CD-ROM offers full-color figures that can be used in classroom presentations with other teaching aids available online. This text is recommended for junior- and senior-level courses in plant biotechnology or plant genetics and for courses devoted to special topics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also an ideal reference for practitioners.

Book Plant Chemical Biology

    Book Details:
  • Author : Dominique Audenaert
  • Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
  • Release : 2013-11-05
  • ISBN : 1118742745
  • Pages : 384 pages

Download or read book Plant Chemical Biology written by Dominique Audenaert and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-11-05 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Demonstrates how advances in plant chemical biology can translate to field applications With contributions from a team of leading researchers and pioneers in the field, this book explains how chemical biology is used as a tool to enhance our understanding of plant biology. Readers are introduced to a variety of chemical biology studies that have provided novel insights into plant physiology and plant cellular processes. Moreover, they will discover that chemical biology not only leads to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of plant biology, but also the development of practical applications. For example, the authors discuss small molecules that can be used to identify targets of herbicides and develop new herbicides and plant growth regulators. The book begins with a historical perspective on plant chemical biology. Next, the authors introduce the chemical biology toolbox needed to perform successful studies, with chapters covering: Sources of small molecules Identification of new chemical tools by high-throughput screening (HTS) Use of chemical biology to study plant physiology Use of chemical biology to study plant cellular processes Target identification Translation of plant chemical biology from the lab to the field Based on the latest findings and extensively referenced, the book explores available compound collections, principles of assay design, and the use of new research tools for the development of new applications. Plant Chemical Biology is recommended for students and professionals in all facets of plant biology, including molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, agriculture, horticulture, and agronomy. All readers will discover new approaches that can lead to the development of a healthier and more plentiful global food supply.

Book When Chemistry Meets Biology     Generating Innovative Concepts  Methods and Tools for Scientific Discovery in the Plant Sciences

Download or read book When Chemistry Meets Biology Generating Innovative Concepts Methods and Tools for Scientific Discovery in the Plant Sciences written by Erich Kombrink and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2016-08-12 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biologically active small molecules have increasingly been applied in plant biology to dissect and understand biological systems. This is evident from the frequent use of potent and selective inhibitors of enzymes or other biological processes such as transcription, translation, or protein degradation. In contrast to animal systems, which are nurtured from drug research, the systematic development of novel bioactive small molecules as research tools for plant systems is a largely underexplored research area. This is surprising since bioactive small molecules bear great potential for generating new, powerful tools for dissecting diverse biological processes. In particular, when small molecules are integrated into genetic strategies (thereby defining “chemical genetics”), they may help to circumvent inherent problems of classical (forward) genetics. There are now clear examples of important, fundamental discoveries originating from plant chemical genetics that demonstrate the power, but not yet fully exploited potential, of this experimental approach. These include the unraveling of molecular mechanisms and critical steps in hormone signaling, activation of defense reactions and dynamic intracellular processes. The intention of this Research Topic of Frontiers in Plant Physiology is to summarize the current status of research at the interface between chemistry and biology and to identify future research challenges. The research topic covers diverse aspects of plant chemical biology, including the identification of bioactive small molecules through screening processes from chemical libraries and natural sources, which rely on robust and quantitative high-throughput bioassays, the critical evaluation and characterization of the compound’s activity (selectivity) and, ultimately, the identification of its protein target(s) and mode-of-action, which is yet the biggest challenge of all. Such well-characterized, selective chemicals are attractive tools for basic research, allowing the functional dissection of plant signaling processes, or for applied purposes, if designed for protection of crop plants from disease. New methods and data mining tools for assessing the bioactivity profile of compounds, exploring the chemical space for structure–function relationships, and comprehensive chemical fingerprinting (metabolomics) are also important strategies in plant chemical biology. In addition, there is a continuing need for diverse target-specific bioprobes that help profiling enzymatic activities or selectively label protein complexes or cellular compartments. To achieve these goals and to add suitable probes and methods to the experimental toolbox, plant biologists need to closely cooperate with synthetic chemists. The development of such tailored chemicals that beyond application in basic research can modify traits of crop plants or target specific classes of weeds or pests by collaboration of applied and academic research groups may provide a bright future for plant chemical biology. The current Research Topic covers the breadth of the field by presenting original research articles, methods papers, reviews, perspectives and opinions.