Plant-Microbe Interaction and Stress Management

This book provides a comprehensive view for plant microbe interactions towards stress management and microbiome-assisted approaches in sustainable agriculture. It is divided into four major sections. The book gives insights into the increasing threat of abiotic and biotic stresses and the accompanying challenges to modern agriculture. Through different chapters, the book shows how various microorganisms  could ameliorate abiotic and biotic stress, and contribute towards food sustainability and restore ecosystem functioning. It provides a deep understanding of soil microbiome and its interaction with plants, to enhance food security. It further talks about metagenomic approaches for methodological tool for studying the soil microbiome. Separate sections on stress, talk at length about the various abiotic and biotic stresses that plants are faced it. The book culminates with an exciting section on microbiome-assisted approaches for combating stress. It talks about the different microbiomes such as rhizosphere, soil, phyllosphere and endophytic microbiome.

The book would be beneficial to students, researchers and course instructors in microbiology, botany, plant pathology and agriculture.

Dr. Puneet Singh Chauhan is a Senior Principal Scientist in Microbial Technology Division at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India. He completed his Ph.D. from CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow and was awarded with Postdoctoral Research fellowship from Brain Korea 21 project, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea. His main research interests include Plant Microbe Interactions, Microbial Ecology, and Soil Metagenomics. Dr. Chauhan is a member of the editorial board of several leading scientific journals, has published more than 100 SCI research and review articles, authored 20 book chapters. He has been awarded with Biotech Research Excellence Award from Biotech Research Society, and The Society of Life Sciences, and Innovative Young Scientist Award from Asian PGPR Society for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad, India. He has undertaken many research projects funded by different agencies like Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, etc.

Dr. Shri Krishna Tewari is Chief Scientist and Professor, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India. Dr. Tewari is Head of Botanic Garden & Plant Conservation & Agrotechnology Divisions of the institute. Having completed his Ph.D. from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, he joined CSIR-NBRI and worked in the research areas of conservation, propagation and agro-technology of economically important plants. His research interests include amelioration and management of sodic soil, non-traditional economic plants, bio-composting, and extension of green technologies for rural development. He has received several national awards, including the “CAIRD-2011” award from CSIR. Dr. Tewari has published over 100 research papers in reputed journals, 10 books, 11 review articles, 25 chapters in books, 22 extension bulletins and >100 popular articles.

Dr. Sankalp Misra is an Assistant Professor at Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University (SRMU), Uttar Pradesh, India. He completed his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, and was awarded by the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). He has qualified for CSIR-UGC NET and has been awarded a Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) and Research Associateship (RA) from ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), New Delhi, India. He has been felicitated with the Young Researcher Award from the Institute of Scholars and SRMU. Dr. Misra has also received Best Poster Awards at international and national conferences. He holds a Life membership of “The Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI)”. He has published more than 15 SCI research articles and authored more than 10 book chapters. He has received research grants from different funding agencies including ICMR, UPCST, and SRMU. His research interests include Sustainable Agriculture, Abiotic Stress Resilient Agriculture, and Biofertilizer-based technologies for improving soil fertility and crop productivity.