Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 55, No. 400, pp. iv, May 1, 2004
© 2004 Oxford University Press
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Photosynthesis has been studied, both extensively and intensively, for many years and we now have a very good understanding of the major processes and components involved in both the membrane-bound, light-driven reactions and the biochemical steps of the carbon fixation cycle in the stroma. The advent of plant molecular biology in the 1980s enabled genes encoding proteins associated with the photosynthetic apparatus to be isolated and characterized. The production of transgenic plants with altered photosynthetic characteristics then followed. More recently the complete sequencing of the Arabidopsis and rice genomes has provided an even wider range of tools to investigate photosynthesis. In addition, the development of imaging technologies has also played a major role in furthering our understanding of heterogeneity of photosynthetic processes at the levels of the chloroplast, cell, leaf, and canopy. However, the complexity of the photosynthetic processes precludes the possibility that every hypothesis could be tested experimentally and, for this reason, modelling approaches continue to play an invaluable role. Despite the significant advances that have been made to date, many questions remain regarding the regulation of photosynthetic processes in intact plants growing in both controlled and natural environments. In order to make progress with solving such demanding questions of control, integrated, holisitic approaches involving advanced methodologies and techniques, will be required.
It was with this in mind that a meeting entitled `Novel Approaches to Understanding Photosynthetic Performance' was held at Essex University in September 2003. The overarching theme for this meeting was the application of new technologies and methodologies to address current issues relating to photosynthetic research. Over 70 scientists from 17 countries attended this meeting and the papers in this special issue represent the spread of topics covered during the meeting.
We would like to thank Bill Davies and the editorial board of the Journal of Experimental Botany for providing support for the meeting and Mary Traynor for her encouragement and help in bringing to fruition this publication. Thanks are also extended to the Gatsby Charitable foundation and the Society for Experimental Biology for generous support. Finally, the success of the meeting was down to the contributions made by the speakers and all of the attendees, and we would like to thank them for making the meeting informative and enjoyable.
Christine Raines
Neil Baker
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