The cruciferous weed Arabidopsis thialiana has become a model system for the study of an unusually wide variety of aspects of plant biology. As a result, nearly all aspects of Arabidopsis biology are now under investigation, more scientists are involved, and plant science as a whole has been invigorated.

This book is the first comprehensive account of what is known about the organism. The information is presented in the context of plant biology in general, with the properties of Arabidopsis mutants and the insights derived from their analysis as a unifying theme. The book's scope includes genetics, growth and development, biochemistry, physiology, and responses to pathogens and environmental stress.

This unique volume, in the classic tradition of the Cold Spring Harbor Monograph Series, is a landmark in plant science, essential reading for investigators at graduate student level and beyond, and a work of reference that will serve the field for years to come.