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This volume examines the interactions between plants and microorganisms located on plant surfaces, exploring their possible biotechnological applications. Interactions of microbial communities with plants are illustrated by experimental studies of typical symbiosis. Topics include signaling within a symbiosis, molecular differences between symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms, and the role of microorganisms in the development of plants.
Sustainability has a major part to play in the global challenge of continued development of regions, countries, and continents all around the World and biological nitrogen fixation has a key role in this process. This volume begins with chapters specifically addressing crops of major global importance, such as soybeans, rice, and sugar cane. It continues with a second important focus, agroforestry, and describes the use and promise of both legume trees with their rhizobial symbionts and other nitrogen-fixing trees with their actinorhizal colonization. An over-arching theme of all chapters is the interaction of the plants and trees with microbes and this theme allows other aspects of soil microbiology, such as interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the impact of soil-stress factors on biological nitrogen fixation, to be addressed. Furthermore, a link to basic science occurs through the inclusion of chapters describing the biogeochemically important nitrogen cycle and its key relationships among nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification. The volume then provides an up-to-date view of the production of microbial inocula, especially those for legume crops.
Mycorrhizal symbioses are central to the multitrophic interactions that impact plant productivity, competitiveness and survival. This book integrates present-day knowledge from well-known research groups on some of the topics which are at the forefront of mycorrhizal research. Topics include the cell programmes that drive mycorrhiza formation and function, the processes sustaining symbiotic mutualism, stress response mechanisms in mycorrhizal symbionts, and the diversity and ecological impacts of mycorrhizal systems. The efficient management of mycorrhizal systems has the potential to support the sustainable production of quality foods while ensuring environmental quality for future generations.
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) is the most common mycorrhizal type involved in agricultural systems, and the most widespread plant root symbiosis. The fungi involved (Glomales) are known to promote plant growth and health by acting as biofertilizers, bioprotectors and bioregulators. The main aim of this book is to provide readers with theoretical and applied knowledge essential for the use of AM fungi in improving plant health and fitness, production of high quality food and in conservation of natural resources. The different chapters target understanding the role of AM fungi in sustainable crop production, discussing ways to improve biological equilibria between microorganisms in the mycorrhizosphere, analysing genetic, physiological, cellular and molecular bases of AM functioning and establishing technologies for inoculum production, according to the regulatory guidelines for application.
The use of microbial plant protection products is growing and their importance will strongly increase due to political and public pressure. World population is growing and the amount of food needed by 2050 will be double of what is produced now whereas the area of agricultural land is decreasing. We must increase crop yield in a sustainable way. Chemical plant growth promoters must be replaced by microbiological products. Also here, the use of microbial products is growing and their importance will strongly increase. A growing area of agricultural land is salinated. Global warming will increase this process. Plants growth is inhibited by salt or even made impossible and farmers tend to disuse the most salinated lands. Microbes have been very successfully used to alleviate salt stress of plants. Chemical pollution of land can make plant growth difficult and crops grown are often polluted and not suitable for consumption. Microbes have been used to degrade these chemical pollutants.
Fungal Biotechnology: Industrial Applications and Market Potential provides a comprehensive and holistic review on the uses of filamentous fungi in food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries. In addition to genetic and metabolic engineering approaches for heterologous proteins production in fungi, the book focuses on fungi as a source of bioactive compounds like enzymes, polysaccharides, alkaloids, glycoproteins, and phytohormones. It describes recent trends in the use of fungi for solid waste management and its subsequent conversion into value added products. As a complete guide on the broad uses of microfungi in different industrial sectors while maintaining a sustainable environment...
This book presents in-depth insights into strategies involving plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), including symbiotic/asymbiotic nitrogen fixers and associative/endophyte bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing microbes, as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their active biomolecules in legume production. It also examines the latest research findings on the taxonomic status of rhizobia and signal molecules affecting rhizobia-legume symbiosis to improve readers’ understanding of the cultivation of legumes in conventional and derelict soil. The agronomically important microflora broadly discussed have offered solutions to some of the problems associated with expensive fertilizers used in many production systems. This second edition provides an overview of metal toxicity to legumes and presents strategies for the abatement of metal toxicity to legumes. Aimed at professionals, practitioners, researchers and graduate students in microbiology, crop sciences, soil microbiology, biotechnology and environmental microbiology, the book focuses on the basic concepts and practical aspects of useful soil microbiota in legume production.
The book is a comprehensive compilation of the most recent advances in the practical approach of the use of microbial probiotics for agriculture. Unlike the rest of the publications about biofertilizers, this book bridges the gap between the lab studies (molecular, physiological, omics, etc.) and the agronomic application.
Microbes for Legume Improvement comprises 21 chapters and provides comprehensive information on concepts of microbial technology for the improvement of legumes grown in different agro-ecosystems. The role of microbes including symbiotic nitrogen fixers, asymbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria (like Azospirillum), plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), phosphate-solubilizing microbes, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biocontrol agents in the improvement of both conventional and forage legumes growth is discussed. The role of bacterial biofilms in legume-Rhizobium interactions and metal tolerant microbes in the improvement of legumes is dealt separately. Furthermore, recent findings on the t...
Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth. It is as phosphate that plants take up P from the soil solution. Since little phosphate is available to plants in most soils, plants have evolved a range of mechanisms to acquire and use P efficiently – including the development of symbiotic relationships that help them access sources of phosphorus beyond the plant’s own range. At the same time, in agricultural systems, applications of inorganic phosphate fertilizers aimed at overcoming phosphate limitation are unsustainable and can cause pollution. This latest volume in Springer’s Plant Ecophysiology series takes an in-depth look at these diverse plant-phosphorus interacti...