Reaching for the Sun

John King is Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. He is a past President of the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists and in 2001 he was awarded their highest honour, the Gold Medal, 'in recognition of outstanding contributions to plant physiology in Canada'. The first edition of Reaching for the Sun (Cambridge University Press, 1997) was nominated for the Rhône-Poulenc (now Aventis) Prize for Science (General Category).

• Preface to the Second Edition; Preface to the First Edition; Part I. Plants and Energy: 1. Photosynthesis: the leitmotiv of life; 2. Plant respiration: breathing without lungs; References; Part II. Plant Nutrition: 3. Plants are cool, but why?; 4. Nutrition for the healthy lifestyle; 5. Nitrogen, nitrogen, everywhere ...; 6. Transport of delights; References; Part III. Growth and Development: 7. Growth: the long and the short of it; 8. The time of their lives; 9. A dash of seasoning; 10. Dormancy: a matter of survival; 11. Color, fragrance, and flavor; References; Part IV. Stress, Defense, and Decline: 12. Stressful tranquility; 13. Chemical warfare; 14. Senescence and death; References; Part V. Plants and the Environment: 15. Elemental cycles; 16. The human touch; Appendix. Genetic engineering in a rapidly changing world; References; Epilogue; Index.

'… one of the best-written, general accounts of plant biology that I know … if you are looking for a book to stress the significance of modern plant science/fascination of botany on young minds (or even not-so-young ones), look no further than the 2nd edition of John King's Reaching for the Sun!' Annals of Botany