Preface
It is 6 years since the third edition of the Arabidopsis Protocols book appeared. During this
time, the field of Plant Molecular Biology has expanded remarkably as reflected by the
increasing amount of plant science articles published in the most prestigious general journals. This expansion has been due, not to a small degree, to the development of novel
experimental procedures, which now allow intransigent plant material to be examined with a
similar degree of sophistication as bacteria, yeasts, or animal cells. Relevant also for such
expansion has been the use of Arabidopsis thaliana, which continues to be the most
important model system for plant scientists. The mature Arabidopsis research community
has developed a large array of new methodologies and biological tools, leading to the
generation of a vast amount of original data that have significantly contributed to a better
understanding of how plants grow, develop, and reproduce in their environments. At this
stage, we considered that a new edition of the book could be useful both to update some
protocols already described in previous editions and to describe the newly arisen ones.
When preparing this fourth edition, we have maintained our initial aim of relying on the
experience of a significant group of leading experts in the methodologies described, to
provide a collection of step-by-step Arabidopsis protocols that can become an instructive
and valuable laboratory companion. In this edition, the protocols have been grouped into
four different classes, the first one being dedicated to guiding the access to available public
resources. The second class is devoted to genetic techniques and the third class covers
different molecular and cell biological techniques. The last class of the book is dedicated
to biochemical and physiological techniques. As in previous editions, we have included in all
classes both methodologies that are widely used and those novel ones likely to open new
avenues of knowledge and intense work in the near future.
We hope that the protocols presented in this new edition will continue to help alike
experienced researchers and students in the field of plant biology by clearly describing both
new and up-to-date techniques. Once more, we are extremely grateful to our colleagues
who with their contributions have made this book possible, for their efforts, patience, and
understanding.
Madrid, Spain
Jose J. Sanchez-Serrano
Julio Salinas
v
It is 6 years since the third edition of the Arabidopsis Protocols book appeared. During this
time, the field of Plant Molecular Biology has expanded remarkably as reflected by the
increasing amount of plant science articles published in the most prestigious general journals. This expansion has been due, not to a small degree, to the development of novel
experimental procedures, which now allow intransigent plant material to be examined with a
similar degree of sophistication as bacteria, yeasts, or animal cells. Relevant also for such
expansion has been the use of Arabidopsis thaliana, which continues to be the most
important model system for plant scientists. The mature Arabidopsis research community
has developed a large array of new methodologies and biological tools, leading to the
generation of a vast amount of original data that have significantly contributed to a better
understanding of how plants grow, develop, and reproduce in their environments. At this
stage, we considered that a new edition of the book could be useful both to update some
protocols already described in previous editions and to describe the newly arisen ones.
When preparing this fourth edition, we have maintained our initial aim of relying on the
experience of a significant group of leading experts in the methodologies described, to
provide a collection of step-by-step Arabidopsis protocols that can become an instructive
and valuable laboratory companion. In this edition, the protocols have been grouped into
four different classes, the first one being dedicated to guiding the access to available public
resources. The second class is devoted to genetic techniques and the third class covers
different molecular and cell biological techniques. The last class of the book is dedicated
to biochemical and physiological techniques. As in previous editions, we have included in all
classes both methodologies that are widely used and those novel ones likely to open new
avenues of knowledge and intense work in the near future.
We hope that the protocols presented in this new edition will continue to help alike
experienced researchers and students in the field of plant biology by clearly describing both
new and up-to-date techniques. Once more, we are extremely grateful to our colleagues
who with their contributions have made this book possible, for their efforts, patience, and
understanding.
Madrid, Spain
Jose J. Sanchez-Serrano
Julio Salinas
v