Plant Microbe Symbiosis

This book provides an overview of the latest advances concerning symbiotic relationships between plants and microbes, and their applications in plant productivity and agricultural sustainability.

Symbiosis is a living phenomenon including dynamic variations in the genome, metabolism and signaling network, and adopting a multidirectional perspective on their interactions is required when studying symbiotic organisms.

Although various plant-microbe symbiotic systems are covered in this book, it especially focuses on arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis and root nodule symbiosis, the two most prevalent systems. AM symbiosis involves the most extensive interaction between plants and microbes, in the context of phylogeny and ecology. As more than 90% of all known species of plants have the potential to form mycorrhizal associations, the productivity and species composition, as well as the diversity of natural ecosystems, are frequently dependent upon the presence and activity of mycorrhizas.

In turn, root nodule symbiosis includes morphogenesis and is formed by communication between plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The biotechnological application of plant-microbe symbiosis is expected to foster the production of agricultural and horticultural products while maintaining ecologically and economically sustainable production systems.

Designed as a hands-on guide, this book offers an essential resource for researchers and students in the areas of agri-biotechnology, soil biology and fungal biology.

Prof Dr Ajit Varma Professor Varma has completed his PhD at the age of 25 years from Allahabad University and Former Professor, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. Presently, he is the Distinguished Scientist & Professor of Eminence of Amity Institute of Microbial Technology; Pro-Vice Chancellor, Ritnand Balved Education Foundation, and Vice Chairman, Amity Science, Technology & Innovation Foundation Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India. He has published more than 314 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editor in Chief of Soil Biology Series, Springer Verlag Germany. Dr Varma is the Fellow of Alexander-von-Humboldt Society, Germany, elected Fellow of National Academy Agricultural Sciences and Fellow of Microbiology Society of India.

Dr Swati Tripathi: Assistant Professor at Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida, India. She is working on plant microbe interaction, and microbial biotechnology. Dr Tripathi has a number of research papers and review articles to her credit in the journals of international repute. She has her post doctoral experience from South Korea and has been awarded Early Career Research Award recently.

Dr Ram Prasad Assistant Professor at Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida, India. He is working on plant microbe interaction, nanobiotechnology, and microbial biotechnology. Dr Prasad has edited several books and has a number of research papers and review articles to his credit in the journals of international repute. During 2014, Dr Prasad has been awarded American Cancer Society UICC International Fellowship for Beginning Investigator, USA. Presently, he is working as Research Associate Professor at School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, China.