Using Microbes to Improve Crop Yields

This book will address all the major mechanisms by which microbiomes are thought to impact plant growth and health. A unique aspect of this publication is that it is multidisciplinary, covering plant microbiology, plant physiology, fungal and bacterial endophytes, plant biochemistry, and genomics. Just as research on the mammalian microbiome has demonstrated its importance for overall health of the host, the plant microbiota is essential for plant health in natural environments. Endophytes, the microorganisms living fully within plants, can provide a multitude of benefits to the host including N-fixation, P solubilization, increased photosynthetic efficiency and water use efficiency, stress tolerance, pathogen resistance, and overall increased growth and health. A variety of culturable endophytes have been isolated and shown to be mutualistic symbionts with a broad range of plant species. These studies point to the functional importance of the microbiota of plants and suggest the potential for tailoring plant microbiota for improved vigor and yields with reduced inputs. This book will cover the major benefits of microbial endophytes to plants and discusses the implications of using symbiosis as an alternative to chemical inputs for agriculture, forestry, and bioenergy. Key Features Many books only focus on few aspects of plant microbe interaction and missed the microbial genomics and omics. They also miss the recent advances in microbial ecology under stressful environment. Courses taught in universities from basics to advanced level in field of plant breeding, molecular genetics and agronomy this book will be used Our book covers many of the aspects of microbial ecology including omics, genomics and sequencing techniques in the current era of climate change. Our book emphasizes the use of modern molecular tools such as smart delivery systems for microbial inoculation, next-generation sequencing and genome mapping Discusses the crop microbiome, nutrient cycling microbes, endophytes, mycorrhizae, and various pests and diseases, and their roles in sustainable farming

Table of Contents:
ch. 1 Functional role of plant associated microbiomes under climatic extremes: Recent advances and insights Ayesha Imran, Noor Fatima, Fatima Malik, Mahnoor Malik, Khadija Amjad, Salman Rasool, Aqsa Akram, Shanza Kiran and Zeeshan Khan ch. 2 Mycorrhizae for Steering Environmental Stresses Fayaz Ali, Nazish Huma Khan, Amjad Ur Rehman, Nida Gul, Muhammad Ilyas ch. 3 Engineering Fungal Endophytes as a Future Tool for Climate-Resilient Plants Tehsin Fatma, Danish Ilyas Baig, Oushna Fajer, Isra Farooq, Laiba Amin, Nabia Khan, Muhammad Faraz Bhatti ch. 4 Artificial selection of microbial communities for engineering abiotic stresses in plants Tariq Shah, Zeeshan Khan, Fozia Saeed, Fazal Munsif, Roberto D’amato ch. 5 Chemical communication in the rhizosphere: Phytohormone perspective Wiqar Ahmad, Jaya Nepal ch. 6 Microbial Genomics in Crop Improvement and Soil Health Faiz Ullah, Nisar Ahmad, Najla Khadim, Fazal Akbar, Nisar Ahmad, Muhammad Rizwan, Mohammad Ali, Haji Khan, Muhammad Nazir Uddin, Ishtiaq Hassan ch. 7 Biotic interaction in the rhizosphere Tariq Shah, Zeeshan Khan, Fozia Saeed ch. 8 Omics Tools for Developing Climate Smart Crops: Current Status and Future Prospects Muhammad Kamran, Hina Javed ch. 9 Root Exudates and their feedback effect on plant microbiome Bushra, Shafia Maryam ch. 10 The Role of Nutrient Input in Shaping Soil Microbial Functional Profiles: A Comprehensive Review Aqsa Akram, Shah Rukh khan, Noor Fatima, Mahnoor Malik, Fatima Malik, Khadija Amjad, Ayesha Imran, Salman Rasool, Rida Naseer, Nimra Qureshi, and Zeeshan Khan ch. 11 Transgenic plants and microbial dynamics Zulqarnain Haider, Hina Javed, Awais Riaz ch. 12 Phyllosphere microbiome: recent prospectus and application Zeeshan Khan, Ayesha Imran, Aqsa Akram, Khadija Amjad, Salman Rasool and Shanza Kiran ch. 13 Cover crops: Role in soil biogeochemistry and interaction with microbes Jaya Nepal, Wiqar Ahmad ch. 14 Biochar Augmentation Response and Soil Microbiome: A Sustainable Approach Fatima Malik, Nimra Qureshi, Rida Naseer, Aqsa Akram, Shah Rukh khan, Mahnoor Malik, Ayesha Imran, Noor Fatima, Zeeshan Khan, Khadija Amjad, and Salman Rasool