This second volume of a two-volume work reviews beneficial bioactive compounds from various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, cyanobacteria in plant diseases management and the postharvest management of fruits using microbial antagonists. Furthermore, it reviews the impact of climate change on food security and addressed the legal aspects of microbial biocontrol applications. The two-volume work “Microbial Biocontrol” introduces to mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions and explores latest strategies of how microbes can be applied in biocontrol and management of plant pathogens, replacing chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The book covers different groups of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, but also the interplay of entire microbiomes, and reviews their specific benefits in crop growth promotion, in enhancing the plants’ tolerance against biotic and abiotic stress as well as in post-harvest management of various plant diseases. Novel tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 and microbe derived nanoparticles are also addressed besides the legal aspects of biocontrol applications. Today, rising global population and changing climatic conditions emerge as a major challenge for agronomist farmers and researchers in fulfilling the requirements of global food production. The conventional agricultural practices utilize undistributed use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to enhance growth and yield of agricultural products and fresh foods, but their extensive and continuous use have led to a range of negative consequences on the food quality and safety, to environment as well as to human and animal health. Microbial biocontrol applications are presented as a solution, paving the way to a sustainable agriculture in compliance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The book addresses researchers in academia and agriculture.

This book is exploring molecular insight of plant disease resistance, enhancing plant immunity as well as the latest omics or approaches in plant disease management. In the recent past, microbial strains or products frequently utilized to inhibit the growth of phytopathogen and disease management. However, it is well known that plants respond to numerous biotic and abiotic stresses by morphological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. But still there is much more to study about their molecular aspect of interaction between host- pathogens- biocontrol agents that will be helpful in formulation and applications of microbial antagonistic for effective management of phytopathogens. This book attempt to fill this gap in the literature. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, agronomist, horticulturalist scientists, capacity builders and policymakers. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, microbiology, environment science.

In modern crop cultivation, biological control is used primarily for controlling insect pests. The main advantages of bio control technology or biological control are that no artificial substances are added and that pathogens/animals that develop resistance against biological control agents are rare. This approach has no adverse effects on human health or the environment and is self-sustaining. This is a comprehensive, authentic, and standard book on advances in biological control pest management technology, divided in fifteen chapters which deal with significance and importance of biological control in insect pest management, history of biological control, and why do we need it. This book has been crafted to accomplish the needs of undergraduate and postgraduate students of global universities in integrated nematode pest management technology.

This edited volume is an inclusive collection of information on crop holobiome, their function and diversity, the plausible role of soil microbes in crop growth, protection from pathogens and stresses, the use of resilient microbiomes for changing climate, and the use of new technologies to study plant-insect-microbe molecular interactions in agricultural systems. Holobiomes provide information about both plants and their microbiomes, which gives a more comprehensive insight, particularly for changing climatic scenarios. By optimizing the crop holobime function crop productivity and plant health can be enhanced manifold. This book deep dives into the numerous ways in which holobiome supports the improving plant health, nutrient uptake, disease control, and stress resistance in major food crops. It helps researchers, academicians, agri-entrepreneurs, and technologists understand the structure and function of holobiomes in crop growth, health, stress tolerance under climatic changes, and holobiome diversity and evolution. The book is also helpful in designing new dimensions in the holobiome research and development of new products and technologies. This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.

This edited book volume aims to bringing out a comprehensive collection of latest information and developments on the management of biotic stresses by the use of rhizospheric microbes across the globe. The main focus of this book is to address the scientific and practical significance of rhizosphere microbes in biotic stress management. The microbial communities in the rhizosphere ecosystem play multitude of microbe-microbe, microbe-insect/pest and plant-microbe interactions and they have not yet been fully exploited to gain benefits in this field as well as to achieve sustainability in agriculture. Among the more recent strategies, stress tolerance/resistance induced by environment-friendly elicitors of microbial origin and/or rhizosphere microorganisms has emerged as a promising supplement in the approaches to crop protection. The proposed book entitled "Rhizosphere Microbes: Biotic Stress Management” is pertinent to rhizospheric microbe-mediated biotic stress management covering all spheres of biotic stress tolerance viz., bio-resources, diversity, ecology, and functioning of microbial bio-control agents, host–parasite interaction, strategies to characterize microbial bioinoculants, interactions of rhizosphere microbes by developing a fundamental understanding of the microbial communities, exploration of the diverse roles of microbes and microbial communities and their role in biotic stress tolerance, microbe-mediated mitigation of biotic stresses, quorum sensing, microbial signalling and cross-talk in the rhizosphere, biofilm formation, cell-to-cell communication, role of microorganisms in ecosystems functioning under various biotic stress conditions, application of microbial bio-pesticides, molecular studies using microbial systems, etc. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, crop protection scientists, capacity builders and policymakers. Also the book serves as additional reading material for under-graduate, post-graduate, and post-doctorate fellow of agriculture, forestry, ecology, life science, and environmental sciences. National and international agricultural scientists, policy makers will also find this to be a useful read.

Food Security and Plant Disease Management offers a comprehensive exploration of biocontrol, the latest technologies being used in plant health assurance, and resulting impacts on crop production and food security. Discussing both theoretical and practical topics, the book examines basic and advanced applications of biosensor and nano-technologies, introduces plant disease, including modes of action and their transmission in host plants, then covers factors contributing to plant disease and various means of addressing those diseases. This volume is part of the Microorganisms in Agriculture and the Environment series and provides important information for developing new effective plant protection practices. The direct or indirect applications of beneficial microbes in the treatment of plant disease is termed "microbial control and these methods have increasingly been identified as important options for plant health management. The beneficial microbes as well as recent omic and nano-technologies also reveal important mechanisms that can be utilized in disease management strategies. - Explores the impact of climate change on plant diseases and new methods of resolution - Includes information on gene expression during crop disease management - Presents insights into the legal and commercial aspects of microbial control

Microbial Biostimulants for Plant Growth, Development and Abiotic Stress Amelioration provides readers with insights into the major role of biostimulants in plant growth and development while under abiotic stress. The term biostimulants is broadly used to reference a group of diverse substances and microorganisms that stimulate life or that promote favorable plant responses. They stimulate natural processes to enhance/benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and crop quality. Many biostimulants improve nutrition and they do so regardless of their own nutrient contents. Further, recently microbe-based biostimulants have emerged as important plant protectors under a range of adverse conditions. Microbial Biostimulants for Plant Growth, Development and Abiotic Stress Amelioration is the latest volume in the Biostimulants and Protective Biochemical Agents series. Presents the potential for more environmentally sustainable interventions against abiotic stresses Highlights the variety of applications for which biostimulants are proving effective Includes coverage of commercialization and role in addressing Sustainability Development Goals

The need for sustainable advancement in agriculture practices continues to press. Achieving optimum yields of crops has traditionally meant farmers continuously using large amounts of chemical fertilizers or pesticides but the indiscriminate use of these pesticides has adversely affected the environment, non- target microorganisms, soil textures and human health. Sustainable Agricultural Practices, a volume in the Plant and Soil Microbiome series, presents foundational information into the successful utilization of different biocontrol agents (especially bacteria and fungi actinomycetes) under field conditions which can help relieve the pressure of overexploitation of synthetic pesticides in agriculture. As many of the microorganisms including nitrogen fixing bacteria and cyanobacteria can be used as bio inoculants, they offer opportunities to not only to enhance the crop productivity but also for maintaining the natural properties of agricultural soils. The volume explores the multifaceted benefits derived from varieties of microorganisms existing in different components of ecosystem, many of which could potentially be employed as probiotics for improved human and livestock health. Researchers seeking to expand their understanding of related fields, and students seeking foundational concept coverage will find this volume valuable. - Includes summaries, case studies, and applications to provide real-world insights - Provides accessible, informative illustrations of current trends in microbial biotechnology - Presents data through tables and figures for effective communication - Suggests future research avenues in the field of microbial biotechnology for sustainable development

Plant Endophytes and Secondary Metabolites provides the latest insights into the essential roles of these beneficial elements in plant growth, development, stress tolerance and plant protection from soil-borne disease.The book provides a comprehensive guide, addressing the usefulness and utility of endophytes towards enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic or biotic stress. It identifies biomolecules with unique molecular architectures, novel enzymes of industrial importance and explores the ecology and community structure of endophytes associated with host plants and their potential. Plant Endophytes and Secondary Metabolites provides insights into the endophytic microbiomes that are associated with diverse environments and includes case studies and nano-techniques for exploring endophytic potential.The book addresses the needs of researchers and advanced level students in agriculture, plant sciences, and biochemistry, seeking to underestand plant and soil microbiome sustainable ecosystem services. - Covers all characteristic features of endophytes - Considers all aspects surrounding the role of endophytes for ameliorating biotic and abiotic stress - Explores potential usage of endophytes for industrial applications from variable resources - Presents the scope and importance of endophytic nanotechnology

The book entitled ‘Nanophytopathology’ discusses the need for alternative technologies particularly smart nanotechnological tools including nanobiosensor in the detection of plant diseases, delivery of fungicides/pesticides, and therapy for the diseases caused by plant pathogens and pests. The use of nanomaterials will minimize the huge amount of application of pesticides and fungicides thereby reducing environmental pollution. This technology is eco-friendly, economically viable, and useful for sustainable crop production. The book encompasses chapters written by experienced experts in respective fields, which provide up-to-date knowledge about pathogen/pest control using nanotechnology. It will be essential reading for post-graduate students and researchers, agriculture scientists, nanotechnologists, microbiologists, green chemistry experts, and biotechnologists.