1;186229_1_En_BookFrontmatter_OnlinePDF;12;186229_1_En_Part1_Chapter_OnlinePDF;202.1;Part A: General Biology;203;186229_1_En_1_Chapter_OnlinePDF;213.1;Chapter 1: Biodiversity, Biology and Conservation of Medicinal Plants of the Thar Desert;213.1.1;Introduction;213.1.2;Deserts of the World;223.1.2.1;The Thar Desert;223.1.2.2;Climate;233.1.2.3;Topographical Features;233.1.2.4;Phytogeography;233.1.3;Ethnobotanical Studies;243.1.4;Biology of Desert Plants;243.1.5;Medicinal and Biological Activities;253.1.6;Methods of Propagation;343.1.7;Biotechnological Approaches;373.1.8;Conclusions;413.1.9;References;414;186229_1_En_2_Chapter_OnlinePDF;554.1;Chapter 2: Potentiality of Hydrocarbon Yielding Plants for Future Energy and Chemicals;554.1.1;Introduction;554.1.2;Screening and Processing of Biomass for Bio-Crude;574.1.3;Extraction and Characterisation of Plant Extracts;604.1.4;Processing of Bio-Crude for Hydrocarbon;634.1.5;Current Research in India;654.1.6;The Economics of Plant Hydrocarbon Production;664.1.7;Research at NEIST Jorhat;674.1.8;Conclusion;694.1.9;References;715;186229_1_En_3_Chapter_OnlinePDF;755.1;Chapter 3: Biology and Biotechnological Advances in Jatropha curcas - a Biodiesel Plant;755.1.1;Introduction;765.1.2;Jatropha curcas - a Biodiesel Plant;765.1.2.1;J. curcas as Folk Medicine;775.1.2.2;J. curcas Seed Cake as Fertiliser;775.1.2.3;Other Uses of J. curcas;785.1.2.4;Toxicity of J. curcas;785.1.3;Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetics of Jatropha Species;785.1.3.1;Intraspecific Genetic Diversity in J. curcas;805.1.3.2;Markers for Toxic and Non-Toxic Varieties of J. curcas;825.1.4;Tissue Culture and Genetic Transformation;825.1.4.1;In Vitro Micropropagation of Jatropha;835.1.4.2;Genetic Transformation Studies;835.1.5;Conclusions and Prospects;855.1.6;References;856;186229_1_En_4_Chapter_OnlinePDF;906.1;Chapter 4: Biology of Annual Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Desert Regions of China;906.1.1;Introduction;906.1.2;Species Diversity and Distribution Characteristics;916.1.2.1;Annual Plants in the Alashan Desert of Inner Mongolia;926.1.2.2;Ephemeral Plants in the Gurbanturggut Desert of Xingjiang;926.1.3;Seed Germination Traits and Strategies;936.1.3.1;Seed Germination Traits and Process;936.1.3.2;Seed Germination Strategies and Adaptability to Different Environments;956.1.4;Soil Seed Bank and its Relationship to Vegetation;976.1.4.1;Study Status of Soil Seed Banks in Deserts;976.1.4.2;Proportion of Annual Species in Soil Seed Banks;986.1.4.3;Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Soil Seed Banks;996.1.4.4;Relationship of Soil Seed Banks to Aboveground Vegetation;1016.1.5;Population Competition and Environmental Effects;1016.1.6;Effects of Animals on Annual Species;1026.1.7;Conclusion;1026.1.8;References;1037;186229_1_En_5_Chapter_OnlinePDF;1077.1;Chapter 5: Soil Biology in Traditional Agroforestry Systems of the Indian Desert;1077.1.1;Introduction;1087.1.2;Agroforestry in Western Rajasthan;1087.1.2.1;Desert Soils;1097.1.3;Soil Fertility;1107.1.4;Nature of the Organic Matter;1127.1.5;Litter Decomposition;1147.1.6;Microorganisms;1177.1.7;Soil Enzymes;1207.1.8;Microcosm Experiment Drying and Wetting;1207.1.9;References;1298;186229_1_En_6_Chapter_OnlinePDF;1378.1;Chapter 6: Aspects of Mycorrhizae in Desert Plants;1378.1.1; Introduction;1378.1.1.1; Deserts;1378.1.1.2; Mycorrhizae;1388.1.1.3; Mycorrhizal Fungi;1388.1.1.4; Taxonomy of Desert Mycorrhizal Fungi;1398.1.1.5; Initiation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbioses;1408.1.2; Economics, Agriculture, and Mycorrhizae in the Desert;1408.1.2.1; Disease Resistance;1418.1.2.2; Endemic Mycorrhizal Plants as Food;1418.1.3; Water;1418.1.4; Ecological Considerations;1428.1.4.1; Succession;1428.1.4.2; Physiognomy and Mycorrhizae;1428.1.4.3; Seedling Establishment;1438.1.4.4; Phenology;1438.1.4.5; Salinity;1448.1.5; Mycorrhizal Helper Bacteria;1448.1.5.1; Ectomycorrhizal Associated Bacteria;1458.1.6; Gloma