detection and management of new and emerging mystery plant virus sources

Plant virus infections are estimated to cost billions of dollars in economic losses. Despite intensive efforts to manage and prevent plant viruses and their potential vectors in crop production processes, the threat posed by newly emerging or re-emerging viruses is becoming more common and poses potential threats even in previously uninfected areas. In this new volume, the editors review the progress made and the challenges ahead to address the hidden world of plant viruses, their impact on agriculture and food security, and the need for new detection systems and management strategies.

Alireza Golnaraghi, PhD, is currently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Protection, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University. He is also a researcher in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmosphere Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and in the Department of Biodiversity, BoomZista Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His PhD focused on biological, serological, and molecular characteristics of a Tospovirus isolated from potato and its detection through modern techniques, i.e., antibody microarrays. Dr. Golnaraghi has made significant efforts and contributions on viruses and endophytic microbes, especially in wild plants in natural ecosystems. He has published over 50 national/international papers, authored several books, contributed in writing two book chapters, and presented more than 65 papers in national and international conferences. In 2017, he joined a famous environmental microbiology/virology group at the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmosphere Sciences (University of British Columbia, Canada) and, since then, has been working on algal viruses together with a well-known scientist (Prof. Curtis Suttle). With the help of international researchers and talented students, he established a not-for-profit corporation in Canada in 2020 (BoomZista Institute; boomzista.org) that focuses on various issues of the planet in an effort to disseminate nature-based sciences to people all over the world, especially kids and youth.

Rajarshi Kumar Gaur, PhD, is currently working as Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is handling many national and international grants and collaborative projects on plant viruses and disease management. He received a MASHAV fellowship of the Israeli government for his postdoctoral studies and joined The Volcani Centre, Israel, and Ben-Gurion University, Negev, Israel. In 2007, he received a visiting scientist fellowship from the Swedish Institute to work at Umeå University, Sweden. He also received a postdoctoral fellowship from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Italy, in 2008. He has made significant contributions on sugarcane viruses and published 130 national and international papers, authored 20 edited books, and presented about 50 papers at national and international conferences. He is a fellow of many associations, including Linnean Society, Royal Society of Biology, Society of Plant Research, Society of Applied Biology, and International Society of Biotechnology. He has received many awards, including the Prof. B.M. Johri Memorial Award; Society of Plant Research (SPR); Excellent Teaching Award from Astha Foundation, Meerut; UGC-Research Teacher Award, Young Scientist Award-2012 in Biotechnology from the Society of Plant Research (SPR), Meerut; and a Scientific & Applied Research Centre Gold Medal Award-2011 for outstanding contribution in the field of biotechnology. He has visited several laboratories of USA, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Thailand, Sweden, and Italy. His PhD was on molecular characterization of sugarcane viruses, viz., mosaic, streak mosaic and yellow luteovirus.

Rakesh Kumar Verma, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Biosciences, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Mody University of Science and Technology, Lakshmangarh, Sikar, Rajasthan, India. He is a life member of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), World Society of Virology (WSV), and The Association of Microbiologists of India. He has received several young scientist awards at several national conferences. During his PhD program, he worked on molecular resolution of genetic variability in different potyviruses of India. He made a significant contribution to the diagnosis, management, and phylogeny of potyviruses and begomoviruses by using various molecular and bioinformatic tools. He is currently working on the molecular characterization of endophytes isolated from Thar Desert and their plant growth promotion potential under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. He has published more than 25 research papers in journals of international repute and 10 book chapters and presented numerous papers at international and national conferences. Currently, he is handling two projects on endophytes and their involvement in biotic and abiotic stress management.