Advances in Soil Microbiology: Recent Trends and Future Prospects: Volume 2: Soil-Microbe-Plant Interaction (Microorganisms for Sustainability Book 4)

"This book presents a comprehensive collection of articles illustrating the importance of microbial community structure and function for ecosystem sustainability and environmental reclamation. It addresses a diverse range of topics, including microbial diversity, physiology, genomics, ecosystem function, interaction, metabolism, and the fruitful use of microbial communities for crop productivity and environmental remediation. In addition, the book explores issues ranging from general concepts on the diversity of microorganisms in soil, and ecosystem function, to the evolution and taxonomy of soil microbiota, with future prospects. It covers cutting-edge methods in soil microbial ecological studies, rhizosphere microflora, the role of organic matter in plant productivity, biological nitrogen fixation and its genetics, microbial transformation of plant nutrients in soil, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and organic matter transformation. The book also discusses the application of microbes in biodegradation of xenobiotic contaminants. It covers bio-fertilizers and their role in sustainable agriculture and soil health, biological control of insect pests and plant pathogens, and the latest tools of omics in soil microbiology, i.e. genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics, which offer pioneering approaches to the exploration of microbial structure and function."-- Back cover Cyanobacteria are a fascinating and versatile group of bacteria of immense biological importance. Thought to be amongst the first organisms to colonize the earth, these bacteria are the photosynthetic ancestors of chloroplasts in eukaryotes, such as plants and algae. In addition, they can fix nitrogen, survive in very hostile environments (e.g. down to -60-degreesC), are symbiotic, have circadian rhythms, exhibit gliding mobility, and can differentiate into specialized cell types called heterocysts. This makes them ideal model systems for studying fundamental processes, such as nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis. In addition, cyanobacteria produce an array of bioactive compounds, some of which could become novel anti-microbial agents, anti-cancer drugs, UV protectants, etc. The amazing versatility of cyanobacteria has attracted huge scientific interest in recent years. Given that 24 genomes sequences have been completed and many more projects are currently underway, the point has been reached where there is an urgent need to summarize and review the current molecular biology, genomics, and evolution of these important organisms. This volume brings together the expertise and enthusiasm of an international panel of leading cyanobacterial researchers to provide a state-of-the art overview of the field. Topics covered evolution, comparative genomics, gene transfer, molecular ecology and environmental genomics, stress responses, bioactive compounds, circadian clock, structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, membrane systems, carbon acquisition, nitrogen assimilation, C/N balance sensing, and much more. This book will be essential for anyone with an interest in cyanobacteria, bacterial photosynthesis, bacterial nitrogen fixation, and symbiosis. Cyanobacteria are a fascinating and versatile group of bacteria of immense biological importance. Thought to be amongst the first organisms to colonize the earth, these bacteria are the photosynthetic ancestors of chloroplasts in eukaryotes such as plants and algae. In addition they can fix nitrogen, survive in very hostile environments (e.g. down to -60°C), are symbiotic, have circadian rhythms, exhibit gliding mobility, and can differentiate into specialized cell types called heterocysts. This makes them ideal model systems for studying fundamental processes such as nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis. In addition cyanobacteria produce an array of bioactive compounds, some of which could become novel antimicrobial agents, anti-cancer drugs, UV protectants etc. The amazing versatility of cyanobacteria has attracted huge scientific interest in recent years. Given that 24 genomes sequences have been completed and many more projects are currently underway, the point has been reached where there is an urgent need to summarise and review the current molecular biology, genomics, and evolution of these important organisms. This volume brings together the expertise and enthusiasm of an international panel of leading cyanobacterial researchers to provide a state-of-the art overview of the field. Topics covered include: evolution, comparative genomics, gene transfer, molecular ecology and environmental genomics, stress responses, bioactive compounds, circadian clock, structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, membrane systems, carbon acquisition, nitrogen assimilation and C/N balance sensing and much more. Essential for anyone with an interest in cyanobacteria, bacterial photosynthesis, bacterial nitrogen fixation, and symbiosis. Front Matter ....Pages i-vii Soil Microbial Diversity: An Ecophysiological Study and Role in Plant Productivity (Bighneswar Baliyarsingh, Suraja Kumar Nayak, Bibhuti Bhusan Mishra)....Pages 1-17 Microbial Diversity and Soil Health in Tropical Agroecosystems (Dipanti Chourasiya, Mahaveer P. Sharma, Hemant S. Maheshwari, Aketi Ramesh, Sushil K. Sharma, Tapan Kumar Adhya)....Pages 19-35 Plant Growth-Promoting Microbes (PGPM) as Potential Microbial Bio-Agents for Eco-Friendly Agriculture (Madhurama Gangwar, Preeti Saini, Pooja Nikhanj, Sukhjinder Kaur)....Pages 37-55 Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria for Abiotic Stress Alleviation in Crops (Sangeeta Paul, Ajinath S. Dukare, Bandeppa, B. S. Manjunatha, K. Annapurna)....Pages 57-79 Phosphate-Solubilizing Microorganisms in Sustainable Agriculture: Genetic Mechanism and Application (A. Pradhan, A. Pahari, S. Mohapatra, Bibhuti Bhusan Mishra)....Pages 81-97 Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) for Sustainable Rice Production (P. Panneerselvam, Upendra Kumar, T. C. K. Sugitha, C. Parameswaran, Sowarnalisha Sahoo, A. K. Binodh et al.)....Pages 99-126 Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Cereals Crops: A Bacterial Perspective (S. Garcha, P. K. Maan)....Pages 127-151 Biological Control as a Tool for Eco-friendly Management of Plant Pathogens (Mamta Sharma, Avijit Tarafdar, Raju Ghosh, S. Gopalakrishanan)....Pages 153-188 Biological Control of Insect Pests for Sustainable Agriculture (Satyavir S. Sindhu, Anju Sehrawat, Ruchi Sharma, Aakanksha Khandelwal)....Pages 189-218 Soil Organic Matter and Microbial Role in Plant Productivity and Soil Fertility (Tapas Biswas, Subhas Chandra Kole)....Pages 219-238

cyanobacteria Are A Fascinating And Versatile Group Of Bacteria Of Immense Biological Importance. Thought To Be Ancient Colonizers Of The Earth, These Bacteria Are The Photosynthetic Ancestors Of Chloroplasts In Eukaryotes Such As Plants And Algae. In Addition They Can Fix Nitrogen, Survive In Very Hostile Environments, Can Be Symbiotic, Have Circadian Rhythms, Exhibit Gliding Mobility, And Can Differentiate Into Specialized Cell Types Called Heterocysts. This Makes Them Ideal Model Systems For Studying Fundamental Processes Such As Nitrogen Fixation And Photosynthesis. In Addition Cyanobacteria Produce An Array Of Bioactive Compounds, Some Of Which Could Become Novel Anti-microbial Agents, Anti-cancer Drugs, Uv Protectants Etc. The Amazing Versatility Of Cyanobacteria Has Attracted Huge Scientific Interest In Recent Years. Given That 24 Genome Sequences Have Been Completed And Many More Projects Are Currently Under Way, The Point Has Been Reached Where There Is An Urgent Need To Summarize And Review The Current Molecular Biology, Genomics, And Evolution Of These Important Organisms.