Exploitation of Microorganisms

Micro-organisms are involved in many aspects of decomposition, nutrient cycling and in fixing atmospheric nitrogen, the essential element of proteins. In many areas of applied biology, micro-organisms are being increasingly exploited by man. Each chapter of this book reviews the history, current state of the art and future possibilities for different areas of microbial exploitation. The book encompasses traditional areas, such as mushroom cultivation, as well as more recently developed areas such as the genetic engineering of micro-organisms to control weeds, insects and other pests. It includes chapters on the involvement of micro-organisms in fermentation, in the food industry and in the detoxification of industrial waste. The commercial importance of the exploitation of micro-organisms in agriculture to industry is also covered in a separate chapter.

Table of Contents:
1 Biological control of weeds with fungal plant pathogens.- 2 The use of Bacillus thuringiensis as an insecticide.- 3 Aspects of biocontrol of fungal plant pathogens.- 4 The use of microbial agents for the biological control of plant parasitic nematodes.- 5 Insect viruses as biocontrol agents.- 6 Cyanobacteria and Azolla.- 7 Mycorrhizal associations.- 8 Rhizobium inoculation of crop plants.- 9 The use of microorganisms in plant breeding.- 10 The mushroom industry.- 11 The exploitation of microorganisms in the processing of dairy products.- 12 The exploitation of microorganisms in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages.- 13 The exploitation of moulds in fermented foods.- 14 The exploitation of microorganisms in the developing countries of the tropics.- 15 Microorganisms and detoxification of industrial waste.- 16 Formulation of biological control agents.- 17 The commercial exploitation of microorganisms in agriculture.

Review :
17 papers which review the history, current state-of-the art and future possibilities for different areas of microbial exploitation. - Quarterly Journal of Forestry; The editor is to be commended on bringing together many of the leading exponents in these various fields, and producing a reference work which will be of immense value to those teaching applied microbiology courses ... this well-produces book deserves to find its way into the libraries of Departments of Microbiology world-wide, in both developed and developing countries - World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology; ...the quality of the contributions is uniformly high...the various chapters are written with the intention of being both interesting and informative...recommended with confidence to any student...both the Editor and Publisher are to be congratulated on a quite outstanding addition to the literature of microbiology. - Food Science and Technology Today; ...a most useful compilation of reviews which will provide final year undergraduates, postgraduates and other interested groups with source material on applied microbiology for some years to come. - Journal Chemical Technology and Biotechnology; ...this is an informative book that will appael to students and to many who might find textbooks of plant pathology or environmental microbiology much more forbidding. - Science in parliament Vol 51 No 3 june 1994; ...a very useful addition to the library bookshelf... - Experimental Agriculture; This is an informative book that will appeal to students and to many who might find textbooks of plant pathology or environmental microbiology much more forbidding...the volume [is] supplied with a helpfully comprehensive index - Science in Parliament