Decoding Plant-Environment-Microbiome Interactions in Stress-Resilient Agriculture

Decoding Plant–Environment–Microbiome Interactions in Stress-Resilient Agriculture delivers both foundational understanding and forward-looking perspectives on the rapidly advancing field of phytomicrobiome research. Showcasing the unique advantages of microbial partnerships in stressed soils, the book explores how optimizing plant–microbiome interactions can transform crop productivity and sustainability. Focusing on the phytomicrobiome’s diverse components—including root-associated microbiota, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, endophytes, phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and actinomycetes—the volume reveals how these microbial networks enhance plant stress tolerance, rehabilitate degraded or contaminated soils, and sustain yields under adverse conditions. Harnessing these natural bioresources effectively requires an integrated understanding of the complex crosstalk between plants and their associated microbes, from molecular signaling to ecological mechanisms. Drawing on insights from internationally recognized scientists and leading academicians, this book consolidates cutting-edge research and emerging innovations, providing readers with the knowledge needed to advance stress-resilient and environmentally sustainable agriculture.

Table of Contents:
Section A: Phytomicrobiome and abiotic stresses 1. Heavy metal–rhizobiome interactions: abundance, composition, and physiological functions 2. Salt stress–soil microbiome interactions: structure, diversity, and physiological functions 3. Drought stress effects on soil microbial diversity and function: an integrative review 4. Effect of extreme temperatures on microbial growth and associated activities 5. Abiotic stress–plant interactions: morphoanatomical features and physiological functions 6. Genotoxic effects of different types of stresses on microbiome and plants 7. Phytochemicals under abiotic stress: production and their role in plant defense 8. Importance of proline in alleviation of abiotic stress in plants: recent advances 9. Development of stress resilience in the rhizobiome: an overview 10. Rhizosphere engineering for optimizing bioremediation potential: recent advances Section B: Phytomicrobiomes as biotools in agriculture resilience under stress conditions 11. Phytomicrobiome: ecology, physiology, and emerging trends in microbial applications 12. The plant holobiont: root exudates, rhizosphere interactions, and biotechnological applications 13. Plant endophytic microbiome: importance in crop production 14. Importance of bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) in mitigation of abiotic stress 15. Siderophilic microbes and their role in abatement of abiotic stress in plants 16. Remediation of stressed soils using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: recent developments 17. Phytoremediation: basic concepts and real success stories 18. Stress-tolerant rhizosphere microbiome and their interactions with plants: significance for crop production 19 Role of “omics” in designing biofertilizers to enhance plant resilience under stressful conditions 20. Bacterial biosorbents: an effective microbial strategy for metal detoxification 21. Stress-tolerant endophytes: importance in crop yield optimization 22. Performance of food crops in problem soils influenced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi 23. Actinomycetota: suitable microbiological agents for bioremediation and crop production 24. A broad host spectrum fungus, Piriformospora indica: a promising candidate for crop improvement in stressed environments 25. Bio-based nanoremediation of inorganic pollutants: concepts and applications Section C: Human health implications and food safety 26. Phytomicrobiome for promoting sustainable agriculture and food security: opportunities, challenges, and solutions 27. Human health risks and regulatory guidelines associated with consumption of contaminated/poor-quality foods 28. "A SWOT” analysis of the transfer of knowledge from the lab to the field: regulatory issues, developmental constraints, and opportunities

About the Author :
Asfa Rizvi specializes in environmental microbiology and bioremediation, with a PhD in Agricultural Microbiology from Aligarh Muslim University, India. She has received two gold medals at the postgraduate level and has extensive experience in biotic/abiotic stress, heavy metals–microbes–plants interactions, and environmental microbiology. She has completed a prestigious national postdoctoral fellowship, as a principal investigator, awarded by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India, where she investigated rhizobacteria-mediated disease management in cereal crops using high-throughput proteomics. Dr. Rizvi is a prolific author and also a reviewer and editorial contributor for journals like Chemosphere and Frontiers in Plant Science. With expertise in microbe–plant interactions, nanotoxicology, and biofertilizers, she brings a strong scientific and editorial vision to the field of microbial and environmental sciences. Currently serving as a professor, Mohammad Saghir Khan has approximately 30 years of teaching and research experience in environmental microbiology, nanotechnology, biofertilizer technology, soil pollution, bioremediation technology, immunology, soil microbiology, and food crop production. A prolific book author and editor for reputed publishers worldwide, he also serves as an associate editor for different international journals and has served in the past as an associate guest editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and Molecules. Dr. Khan has also completed numerous national and international projects. Eloisa Pajuelo, professor of microbiology at the University of Seville, Spain, has 26 years of experience in plant–microbe interactions and abiotic stresses like salinity, drought, and low/high temperature. Designing biofertilizers for application under stressed environments is the focus of her research, specializing in soil bacteria dynamics, endophytes, PGPR, phytoremediation, etc. A prolific researcher and author, Dr. Pajuelo has served as a guest editor in Frontiers in Microbiology on a special issue titled “Rhizospheric Microbiota–Plant Interactions: A Bioremediation Strategy for Inorganic Pollutants.” Khalid Oufdou is a full Professor (grade C) at the Cadi Ayyad University, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Morocco. He has developed more than 20 research projects in collaboration with Spain, France, Germany, Tunisia, Portugal, Sweden, and the European Union. He was awarded a DAAD fellowship and has accrued significant research experience in plant–microbe interactions, stress management of contaminated environments, plant biotechnology, microbial ecology, and antibacterials, which has resulted in numerous research publications. He is also a reviewer for several international journals: Journal of Advanced Research, Journal of Environmental Management, Applied Soil Ecology, Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, Pedosphere, and Frontiers in Microbiology. Bilal Ahmed is a multidisciplinary researcher and academic currently serving as a research scientist at Purdue University, United States. He holds a PhD in microbiology with a focus on environmental nanotoxicology from Aligarh Muslim University, India. His research bridges microbiology, nanotechnology, and molecular diagnostics, with a particular emphasis on sustainable agriculture and biosensor development. He has received three gold medals at the postgraduate level. Dr. Ahmed has teaching experience as a foreign faculty member and research experience in the School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, South Korea, where he also won a research grant from the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea. He also worked as a research assistant for 3 years on a project funded by CST, U.P., Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. His scholarly achievements have earned him recognition among the World's Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier. Dr. Ahmed has also served as a guest editor for two special issues in Molecules. Recently, he has edited a book titled “Nano-Biofortification for Human and Environmental Health” published by Springer, Switzerland. Currently, he serves as a reviewer and member of the editorial board for different journals.