Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically encoded, active process which results in the death of individual cells, tissues, or whole organs. PCD plays an essential role in plant development and defense, and occurs throughout a plants lifecycle from the death of the embryonic suspensor to leaf and floral organ senescence. In plant biology, PCD is a relatively new research area, however, as its fundamental importance is further recognized, publications in the area are beginning to increase significantly. The field currently has few foundational reference books and there is a critical need for books that summarizes recent findings in this important area. This book contains chapters written by several of the worlds leading researchers in PCD. This book will be invaluable for PhD or graduate students, or for scientists and researchers entering the field. Established researchers will also find this timely work useful as an up-to-date overview of this fascinating research area.

Dr. Arunika Gunawardena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. Over recent years the Gunawardena laboratory has pioneered the use of the beautiful lace plant,Aponogeton madagascariensis as a novel model organism for the study of programmed cell death. (http://pcdlab.biology.dal.ca).

Dr. Paul McCabe is Head of the Botany Programme at the School of Biology and Environmental Science at University College Dublin, Ireland. Dr. McCabe's research interests include the regulation of developmental cell fate and cell death determination. Dr. McCabe and his colleagues have used PCD morphology and in vitro cell cultures to study several aspects of plant programmed cell death.

An Overview of Programmed Cell Death Research: From Canonical to Emerging Model Species.- Mitochondrion and Chloroplast Regulation of Plant Programmed Cell Death.- Life Beyond Death: the Formation of Xylem Sap Conduits.- Programmed Cell Death in Plant Immunity: Cellular Reorganization, Signaling and Cell Cycle Dependence in Cultured Cells as a Model System.- Vascular Aerenchyma and PCD.- Out for a Walk Along the Secretory Pathway During Programmed Cell Death.- Nuclear Dismantling Events: Crucial Steps During the Execution of Plant Programmed Cell Death.- Programmed Cell Death Regulation by Plant Proteases with Caspase-Like Activity.- Senescence-Associated Programmed Cell Death.- The Hypersensitive Response in PAMP- and Effector-Triggered Immune Responses.- To Live or Die: Auophagy in Plants.