Review.- Botanical Aspects of Landscape Ecology with Outlooks on Forest Dieback.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Important Concepts.- a) Landscape and Landscape Ecology.- b) Geoecology.- c) Ecotopes and Other Units in the Landscape.- d) Site and Environment.- 3. Research Methods and Some Results.- a) Exploring and Mapping the Ecological Pattern.- b) Functions and Turnovers in Landscapes.- c) Potentials, Suitabilities, Values, and Risks.- 4. Regional Examples of Landscape Ecological Studies.- a) Central Europe.- b) Other Parts of the World.- 5. Practical Tasks and Responsibilities.- a) Land Use Planning and Nature Conservation.- b) Public Importance of Landscape Ecology.- 6. Problems of Forest Dieback.- a) Known Forms and Causes of Forest Decline.- b) The General Forest Dieback as a Construct.- References.- A. Physiology.- I. Plant Water Relations: Metabolic Responses to Water Deficit and Surplus.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Effects of Water Deficit on Cellular Processes.- a) Influence of Water Stress on Protein Biosynthesis.- b) Metabolism of Drought Stress-Protective Compatible Nitrogen Compounds.- c) Oxidative Damage and Compensatory Metabolic Responses Under Cellular Water Stress.- 3. Effects of Water Surplus on Plant Performance.- a) Transcription and Protein Synthesis Under Hypoxic Conditions.- b) Disturbance Effects of Hypoxia on Intermediary Metabolism.- 4. Conclusions.- References.- II. The Leaf Epidermis: its Ecophysiologieal Significance.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Morphology of Epidermal Cells and Their Subcellular Organization.- 3. New Methods in the Investigation of Epidermal Functions.- 4. Interactions Between Environmental Factors Acting on Plants and the Leaf Epidermis.- a) Visible and UV Light.- b) Water Vapor Saturation Deficit.- c) Gases.- d) Xenobiotics.- e) Pathogens.- 5. The Biochemistry of the Epidermis.- a) Basic Epidermal Metabolism.- b) Synthesis of Cuticular Compounds.- c) Secondary Plant Products.- 6. Function of the Epidermis in Mineral Nutrition.- a) Compartmentation of Nutrient Elements.- b) Salt and Water Stress.- c) Heavy Metal Stress.- 7. The Role of the Epidermis in Homeostasis of the Plant Stress Hormone Abscisic Acid (ABA).- a) ABA Uptake.- b) Basic Permeability of the Epidermis Plasma Membrane.- c) ABA Transport Across the Epidermis Plasma Membrane.- d) ABA Transport Across the Epidermis Tonoplast.- e) ABA Metabolism in the Epidermis.- f) Consequences of Epidermal ABA Uptake and Metabolism for ABA Redistribution in Stressed Leaves.- 8. First Approaches Towards a Genetic Understanding of Epidermal Cell Specificity.- References.- III. Developmental Physiology: Regulation of Polar Cell Growth and Morphogenesis.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Cellular Morphogenesis.- a) Induction and Rise of Polarity in the Fucacean Zygote.- b) Cell Shape Formation in Desmid Cells.- 3. Polar Tip Growth of Pollen Tubes, Rhizoid and Root Hair Cells.- a) Morphology, Cytoskeleton, and Cytoplasmic Streaming.- b) Turgor Pressure and Cell Growth.- c) Ion Pumps, Channels, Currents, and Growth Localization.- d) Exocytosis and Vesicle Fusion.- e) Molecular Biology of Polar Growth.- 4. Concluding Remarks.- References.- IV. Intracellular Movement.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Actin- and Microtubule-Dependent Organelle Motors.- 3. Cytoplasmic Streaming.- a) Vaucheria andAcetabularia.- b) Characean Internodal Cells.- ?) Actin and Myosin.- ?) Tubulin.- ?) Mechanism of Streaming.- ?) Calcium Effects on Reconstituted Motility.- 4. Oriented Positioning of Organelles.- a) Nuclear Positioning.- b) Chloroplast Orientation in Mougeotia, Mesotaenium, and Adiantum.- ?) Photoreceptors.- ?) Mechanics of the Movement.- ?) Calcium Effects.- ?) Microtubules.- References.- V. Thermotropic Responses of Biomembranes Exemplified by the Tonoplast of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Plants.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Role of the Vacuole in Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) and the Transport of Malic Acid Across the Tonoplast.- 3. The Tonoplast as a Likely Target of Temperature Effects on CAM: Physiological Evidence.- 4. Modalities of Order and Dynamics in Biomembranes.- a) Modalities of Order.- ?) Domains.- ß) Asymmetry.- b) Modalities of Dynamics.- 5. The Thermotropic Responses of Tonoplast Fluidity in CAM Plants.- 6. Outlook.- References.- VI. Nitrate or Ammonium Uptake and Transport, and Rapid Regulation of Nitrate Reduction in Higher Plants.- 1. General Introduction.- 2. Uptake of Nitrogen.- a) Nitrate Uptake Mechanisms.- b) Ammonium Uptake Mechanisms.- c) Energy Dependency.- d) Nitrate Versus Ammonium Uptake.- e) Summary.- 3. Long-Distance Transport of Nitrogen.- a) Site of Nitrogen Assimilation.- b) Transported N Compounds.- c) Partitioning.- 4. Rapid Regulation of Nitrate Reduction.- a) In Vivo Conditions Modulating NRA.- ?) Light.- ß) Response to CO2.- ?) Oxygen Availability.- b) Reversible Protein Phosphorylation as the Regulatory Mechanism.- c) Involvement of an Inhibitor Protein.- d) Signals Triggering PK and PP.- References.- VII. Secondary Plant Substances: Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Reticuline.- 3. Morphinan-Type Alkaloids.- 4. Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids.- 5. Cularine-Type Alkaloids.- 6. Aporphine Alkaloids.- 7. Protoberberine Alkaloids.- 8. Benzophenanthridine Alkaloids.- 9. Phytoalexins.- References.- VIII. Carbohydrate Processing in the Mesophyll Trajectory in Symplasmic and Apoplasmic Phloem Loading.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Outlines and Definitions of Phloem Loading.- 3. The Principal Modes of Phloem Loading.- a) Evolution of the Phloem-Loading Machinery.- b) Apoplasmic Phloem Loading.- c) Symplasmic Phloem Loading.- d) Physiological Evidence for Two Modes of Phloem Loading.- 4. Carbohydrate Metabolism and Intracellular Compartmentation.- a) Sucrose Metabolism and Intracellular Compartmentation of C-Metabolites.- b) Interplay Between Chloroplastic, Cytosolic and Vacuolar Compartmentation of Sucrose.- c) Uptake of Sucrose and Hexoses by Vacuoles.- d) Metabolism and Compartmentation of Other Soluble Carbohydrates.- 5. Intercellular Compartmentation, Metabolic Processing, and Division of Labor in the Production Compartment of “Apoplasmic Loaders”.- a) Driving Forces of Intercellular Photosynthate Movement.- b) Path of Intercellular Movement.- c) Retrieval Along the Production Compartment.- d) Scattered or Focused Release from the Production Compartment?.- e) Mechanism of Release from the Production Compartment.- 6. Intercellular Compartmentation, Metabolic Processing, and Divison of Labor in the Mesophyll Domain of “Symplasmic Loaders”.- a) Driving Forces of Intercellular Photosynthate Movement.- b) Intercellular Photosynthate Movement.- c) Retrieval Along the Mesophyll Trajectory.- d) Localization of the Galactosyl Oligosaccharide Synthesis in the Mesophyll Trajectory.- 7. The Consequences of the Spatial Cell Arrangement for Photoassimilate Trafficking in the Production Compartment.- a) Preferential Pathways Through the Production Compartment Towards the Collection Compartment?.- b) Differences in C-Processing Between Palisade and Spongy Parenchyma?.- 8. Concluding Remarks.- References.- B. Genetics.- I. DNA Replication and DNA Repair.- 1. Introduction and Some Impressive Numbers.- 2. General Reviews and Hot Topics.- 3. DNA Repair Mechanisms.- a) Photoreactivation.- b) Excision Repair.- c) Transcription-Coupled Repair.- d) Mismatch Repair (Postreplication Repair).- e) Telomeres.- 4. DNA Repair in Plants.- 5. News on DNA Amplification.- 6. Conclusions.- References.- II. Recombination: Novel Gene and Genome Combinations for Resistance Breeding by Hybridization and Genetic Transformation.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Introgression of Foreign Genes for Disease and Pest Resistance by Interspecific Hybridization.- a) Sexual Hybridization and Embryo Rescue.- b) Somatic Hybridization.- 3. Genetically Engineered Resistance.- a) Virus Resistance.- ?) Coat Protein-Mediated Resistance.- ?) Antisense RNA for Virus Resistance.- ?) Movement Proteins.- ?) Replicase-Mediated Resistance to Viruses.- b) Resistance to Bacterial Pathogens.- c) Resistance to Fungal Pathogens.- ?) Transgenic Expression of Antifungal Proteins.- ?) Phytoalexines.- 4. Interspecific Hybridization Versus Transformation.- 5. Conclusions and Future Prospects.- References.- III. Extranuclear Inheritance: Plastid Genetics.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Results of Sequencing the Plastid Genomes of a Gymnosperm and Two Algae.- a) Pinus thunbergii.- b) Euglena gracilis.- c) Porphyra purpurea.- 3. Plastome Mutants of Higher Plants and the Elucidation of Their Molecular Basis.- a) Herbicide Resistances.- b) Antibiotic Resistances.- c) Plastome Mutants of Higher Plants with Photosynthetic Deficiencies.- 4. RNA Editing in Plastids.- 5. Plastid Transformation: Advances and Applications.- a) Methodological Improvements.- b) Current Applications of Plastid Transformation in Higher Plants.- References.- IV. Molecular Cell Biology: Signal Transduction in Plants.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Cytosolic Ca2+ as Second Messenger.- 3. GTP-Binding Proteins: a Broad Protein Family.- 4. Nuclear Pores and Nuclear Transport of Proteins.- 5. Conclusions.- References.- V. Genetics of Phytopathogenic Fungi.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Molecular Diversity of Fungi.- 3. Genetic Analysis of Host-Pathogen Interaction.- a) Pathogenicity Genes.- b) Avirulence Genes.- 4. Perspectives.- References.- C. Taxonomy.- I. Flower Evolution.- 1. Introduction.- a) Interdisciplinary Meetings, Reports and Results.- b) Books.- 2. Molecular Genetics of Flower Development — Evolutionary Aspects.- a) Expansion of the “ABC Model”.- b) Floral Genes Used as Markers for Phylogenetic Reconstruction.- c) Floral Mutants Interesting from an Evolutionary Point of View.- d) Sex Expression.- 3. Phylogenetic Framework.- a) Relationship Among Anthophytes.- b) Relationships Among Basal Angiosperms.- c) Implications of Phylogenetic Models for the Origin of Angiosperm Flowers.- 4. Anthophytes.- 5. Angiosperms.- a) Paleoherbs (incl. Ceratophyllales).- b) Basal Monocots.- c) Laurales.- d) Magnoliales.- e) Winteroids.- f) Eudicots.- 6. Concluding Remarks.- References.- II. Systematics and Evolution of the Algae: Endocytobiosis and Evolution of the Major Algal Lineages.- 1. General Aspects.- 2. Books and General Reviews.- 3. Molecular Phylogenetics.- 4. Plastid Phylogeny.- a) The Cyanobacterial Origin of Plastids (Phyletic Primary Endocytobiosis).- b) Origin of Plastids by Phyletic Secondary Endocytobioses.- 5. Phylogeny of the Major Algal Lineages.- 6. Conclusion.- References.- III. Lichenized and Lichenicolous Fungi 1993–1994.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Character Investigation.- a) Morphology Anatomy, and Ontogeny of the Mycobiont.- b) Chemotaxonomy.- c) Photobiont.- d) Molecular Biology.- e) Biology.- f) Phylogeny.- 3. Classification.- a) General.- b) Lichenized Ascomycetes.- ?) Discocarpous Orders — Lecanorales.- ?) Other Discocarpous Orders.- ?) Pyrenocarpous Orders.- c) Incertae sedis.- 4. Floristics.- a) General.- b) The Northern Extratropics.- ?) Europe.- ?) North America.- ?) Other Areas.- c) The Tropics.- d) The Southern Extratropics.- 5. Chorology.- a) Intercontinental Floristic Affinities.- 6. Ecology and Physiology.- a) Analysis of Vegetation Structures.- b) External Relations.- c) In Vitro Cultivation.- 7. Applied Aspects.- a) Pollution Monitoring.- b) Conservation.- 8. Lichenicolous Fungi.- References.- D. Geobotany.- I. Seed, Pollen, and Clonal Dispersal and Their Role in Structuring Plant Populations.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Seed Dispersal.- a) General Aspects.- b) Effects of Dispersal.- c) Implications for Nature Protection.- d) Dispersal Agents.- ?) Wind.- ?) Water.- ?) Ants.- ?) Vertebrates.- 3. Dispersal and Microevolutionary Change.- a) Population Subdivision, Gene Flow, and the Genetic Neighborhood Area.- b) Dispersal of Pollen and Seeds and Gene Flow.- c) Pollinator Flight Distances and Pollen Dispersal.- d) Variation in Pollen Dispersal Distances and Progeny Fitness.- e) Pollinator Behavior and its Effect on Pollen Dispersal.- f) Applied Aspects of Pollen Dispersal.- 4. Dispersal by Clonal Growth.- References.- E. Special Topics.- I. Phloem in Plant Tissue Cultures.- 1. General Introduction.- 2. Experimental Induction of Phloem In Vitro.- 3. The Structure of Phloem Formed In Vitro.- 4. Phloem Function in Cultured Tissues.- 5. Isolation of Sieve Elements from Callus Tissue.- 6. Monoclonal Antibody Production.- 7. Molecular Biology of the Phloem.- 8. Final Remark.- References.- IL Floral Ecology.- Report on the Years 1992 (1991) to 1994 (1995).- 1. Introduction.- 2. Functional Aspects of Flowers and Inflorescences, Flower Longevity, Movement, Metabolism, and Flower Mimesis.- 3. Means of Attraction, Rewards.- a) Pigmentation, Visual Patterns, and Color Vision.- b) Production of Scent and Heat.- c) Nectaries and Nectar; Oil Secretion and Oil Flowers.- d) Pollen and Pollen Presentation.- 4. Pollinator Behavior, Pollinator Efficiency, Flower Constancy, Foraging Strategies.- 5. Flower Classes and Their Evolution.- a) Zoophily.- ?) Evolution and Pollination of Early Angiosperms; Cantharophily; Flies, Thrips, and Gall Midges as Pollinators.- ?) Melittophily and Ant Pollination.- ?) Psychophily, Phalenophily, and Sphingophily.- ?) Ornithophily.- ?) Mammal Pollination.- b) Anemophily and Hydrophily.- 6. Pollination of Particular Groups; Flower Biological Radiation.- a) Differentiation of Various Angiosperms at the Species, Genus, and Family Level.- b) Ficus.- c) Orchids.- d) Economy of Pollination and Crop Plants.- 7. Breeding Systems and Gender Distribution.- a) Pollen-Pistil Interaction.- b) Incompatibility Versus Compatibility; Cleistogamy, Apomixis.- c) Heterostyly.- d) Sex Distribution; Monoecism Versus Dioecism, and the Costs and Benefits of Reproduction.- 8. Pollination Studies at the Community Level, Distribution of Flower Types, Flowering Phenology, and Nature Conservation.- References.