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The book provides basic knowledge in mycorrhizal ecology, knitted with novel conceptual frameworks and contemporary perspectives, especially in the context of global change. In a fast changing world wherein anthropogenic climate change, biological invasions, deforestation, desertification, and frequent droughts have become routine hard realities, the contents of this book urge readers to rethink basic notions of setting and accomplishing objectives in mycorrhizal research to make sense vis-à-vis contemporary challenges. In this book, a global perspective of mycorrhizal diversity and distribution is provided, followed by some insights into the impact of various global change elements such as climate change, plant invasion, and extreme environmental conditions on mycorrhizas and the role of these mutualists in turn to help their host plants to withstand such novel selection pressures. Special attention here is given to the interesting, but largely neglected, topics such as the role of mycorrhizas in ecological restoration of degraded environments and mycorrhizal status of aquatic plants. The basic idea is to unify various topical areas in mycorrhizal science in an integrated framework. This book can be used by the undergraduate and graduate level students studying mycorrhizal symbioses in the context of current ecological applications. The materials in this book will benefit biological scientists actively involved in research on mycorrhizal ecology and global environmental change. Besides, the contents of the book could be of special interest to restoration ecologists and biodiversity managers.

Recent years have brought an upsurge of interest in the study of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, partly due to the realization that the effective utilization of these symbiotic soil fungi is likely to be essential in sustainable agriculture. Impressive progress has been made during the last decade in the study of this symbiosis largely as a result of increasing exploitation of molecular tools. Although early emphasis was placed on the use of molecular tools to study physiological processes triggered by the symbiosis, such as expression of symbiosis-specific polypeptides and modulation of host defences, other applications await. It was obvious to us that gathering leaders in the field to summarize these topics and point out research needs was necessary if we were to understand the physiology and function of AM fungi at a molecular level. In addition, we have taken the opportunity to present these reviews in a logical sequence of topics ranging from the initiation of the life cycle of the fungus to its functions in plant growth and in the below ground ecosystem. It was a challenge to limit this flood of information to the confines of one text. This is a very exciting time for mycorrhiza biologists and it is our hope that some of this excitement is conveyed to our readers.

This book is highly recommended on the basis of the following points: - The editors are highly regarded in the field of mycorrhizal biology and one is co-author of the most comprehensive textbook on mycorrhizas; - Chapters by international experts based on invited presentations at the 3rd International Conference on Mycorrhizas, supplemented by invited chapters on special topics; - Mycorrhizas are being increasingly recognised as ubiquitous plant/fungal symbioses, with the potential to influence the function and ecology of around 90% of all land plants; perhaps the most common and also ancient terrestrial symbioses in existence; - This book has a broad coverage of biology of symbioses between mycorrhizal fungi and plants, especially ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizas (other recent texts have focused mainly on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses); - Forward-looking review chapters by keynote speakers including an overview of research challenges for the future; - Up-to-date research focus; - Coverage includes: molecular diversity and detection of mycorrhizal fungi; cellular and molecular interactions between the symbionts; physiology of the interactions; implications of the symbioses for ecosystem processes, including agriculture; - Several complementary chapters on some topics, ensuring that different perspectives are presented (recent edited volumes have had a smaller group of authors and hence narrower focus); - Readership from advanced undergraduate students in biology (particularly plant science), postgraduate students and researchers in universities and government agencies.

The?rst 30 cm of the earth's surface represents a fragile and valuable ecos- tem, thanks to which terrestrial plants, and indirectly animals and humans, can live. The microbial activity occurring in soil is largely responsible for its physical and nutritional quality. Among the micro-organisms living in soil, the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a major role. They are present in all types of soil, everywhere on the planet, living in symbiotic association with the roots of most plant species. They have co-evolved with plants for 400 million years, improving their nutrition and resistance to v- ious types of stress. Present practices in conventional agriculture, which introduce great amounts of chemicals, have eliminated or underexploited the AM symbiosis. The rational exploitation of AM fungi in sustainable agriculture, to help minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, has been hampered by several biological characteristics of these mic- organisms: they cannot be grown in the absence of a plant host and their genetic structure is very complex. Despite these limitations, biologists have made important progress in understanding better the functioning of AM fungi. An in vitro technique has been developed using mycorrhizal root organ cultures, which made it possible to investigate the genetics, cell biology and physiology of AM fungi. We can now be objective enough to critically evaluate the impacts the in vitro technique has had to improve our knowledge on mycorrhizal symbiosis.

Mycorrhizal symbioses are central to the multitrophic interactions that impact plant productivity, competitiveness and survival. This book integrates present-day knowledge from well-known research groups on some of the topics which are at the forefront of mycorrhizal research. Topics include the cell programmes that drive mycorrhiza formation and function, the processes sustaining symbiotic mutualism, stress response mechanisms in mycorrhizal symbionts, and the diversity and ecological impacts of mycorrhizal systems. The efficient management of mycorrhizal systems has the potential to support the sustainable production of quality foods while ensuring environmental quality for future generations.

The present book highlights importance of mycorrhiza in soil genesis wherein it reflects mycorrhizal occurrence and diversity, various tools to characterize them and its impact on soil formation/health together with crop productivity. The edited compendium provides glimpses on the mycorrhizal fungi and their prominent role in nutrient transfer into host plants, and presenting view on application of mycorrhiza for crop biofortification. It focuses on the mechanisms involve in weathering process employed by mycorrhiza with highlighting the current and advanced molecular approaches for studying mycorrhizal diversity. Further, book emphasizes following aspects in details: significance of AMF in phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated sites, the role of mycorrhiza in soil genesis using scientometric approach, the concept of mycorrhizosphere, xenobiotic metabolism, molecular approaches for detoxifying the organic xenobiotics and the role of mycorrhizosphere in stabilizing the environment in an eco-friendly way. In addition, the book will be benign to researchers that involved in mycorrhiza characterization especially by deploying metagenomics/PCR based and non PCR based molecular techniques that may be utilized to study the microbial diversity and structure within the mycorrhizosphere.

Mycorrhiza will be the focus of research and study for the coming decade. Successful survival and maintenance of plant cover is mostly dependent on mycorrhization. During the last decade about ten books have appeared on various aspects of mycorrhiza, including two on methodology. The present book has been compiled to give a complete and comprehensive description of the topic to the students and researchers in botany, applied mycology, biotechnology, forestry and agriculture. The book will also be useful to planners dealing with biofertilizers and forestation. Besides topics of academic interest, the volume includes several aspects which are unique and are written about for the first time, e.g.: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal symbiosis - recognition and specificity; Mycorrhizal Integration and cellular compatibility between Endomycorrhizal symbionts; Cost - economics of existing methodology for inoculum production of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Mycorrhiza: Ecological Implications of Plant interactions; Outplanting performance of mycorrhizal inoculated seedlings; Fluorescence microscopy in mycorrhiza studies and Ectomycorrhizal fungi as experimental organism. Other aspects not mentioned above include most recent reviews concerning vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza and ectomycorrhizae. The different review chapters have been written by world authorities in their respective specialisations giving more up to date information than is provided anywhere else. This book deals with all major aspects of mycorrhiza, giving structure, ultrastructure, ecology and applications in agriculture and forestry.

This book offers a timely overview and synthesis of biogeographic patterns of plants and fungi and their mycorrhizal associations across geographic scales. Written by leading experts in the field, it provides an updated definition of mycorrhizal types and establishes the best practices of modern biogeographic analyses. Individual chapters address the basic processes and mechanisms driving community ecology, population biology and dispersal in mycorrhizal fungi, which differ greatly from these of prokaryotes, plants and animals. Other chapters review the state-of-the-art knowledge about the distribution, ecology and biogeography of all mycorrhizal types and the most important fungal groups involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis. The book argues that molecular methods have revolutionized our understanding of the ecology and biogeography of mycorrhizal symbiosis and that rapidly evolving high-throughput identification and genomics tools will provide unprecedented information about the structure and functioning of mycorrhizal symbiosis on a global scale. This volume appeals to scientists in the fields of plant and fungal ecology and biogeography.

Depuis la première édition de ce livre, en 2008, plus de 10 000 nouvelles contributions à la connaissance des mycorhizes ont été publiées. Voilà pourquoi cette nouvelle édition augmentée et mise à jour a paru nécessaire. Les mycorhizes sont formés par des champignons microscopiques qui font merveille en horticulture en travaillant en symbiose avec les racines des plantes. Les champignons aident les plantes à puiser des éléments nutritifs dans le sol et à s'adapter au milieu. En échange, les plantes fournissent aux champignons l'énergie qu'ils sont incapables de tirer eux-mêmes du soleil.Au cours des dernières années, une multitude de travaux ont clairement démontré l'intérêt scientifique et pratique de ces symbioses pour l'ensemble des végétaux du monde entier. Pourtant, en dépit de ces preuves répétées et irréfutables, un grand nombre de praticiens en horticulture, en agriculture, en foresterie et en environnement comprennent encore mal l'importance concrète de ce phénomène. C'est dans cet esprit que les auteurs ont préparé cette nouvelle édition qui vise à la fois à faire comprendre la biologie des mycorhizes dans ce qu'elle a de plus fascinant et à montrer comment en tirer profit dans de très nombreux aspects de la culture des plantes et de leur protection, tout en assurant le maintien des équilibres naturels.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are obligate root symbionts that impact plant growth, productivity and competitiveness. The book integrates key information about AMF concepts, structures and functions, and the new classification of Glomeromycota, including topics about AMF history and evolution, AMF families, genus and species description, as well as a compilation about several protocols to assess AMF and how to identify them. The focus is to provide readers enough information about AMF.

This book is intended to be a record of the Biotechnology-Assisted Re/Afforestation Project in the Asia-Pacific Region (BIO-REFOR) since 1992, conducted in coop­ eration with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (lUFRO). The purpose of the project is to promote exchanges of information of fundamental research on indigenous species in the Asia-Pacific Region in order to restore natural forests. The production, cultivation, and maintenance of forest tree species provide highly sustainable production systems that conserve soils, the microenvironment, and biodiversity The key technology for biomass production of forests is propagation via micropropagation or traditional propagation. However, there are many recalci­ trant species among useful forest trees to be propagated in large numbers. Recent advances in mycorrhizal technology and in vitro culture have made it possible to commercially propagate useful trees for re/afforestation. In this book, comprehensive information is provided on propagation, mycor­ rhizal inoculation, and reforestation of economically and environmentally impor­ tant forest trees, information that usually is available only in widely scattered re­ sources. Here, we include a wide area of the ecology and physiology of dipterocarps as a general overview, and then cover propagation techniques, mycorrhizal symbio­ sis, man-made forests, and biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Plant conservation is increasingly recognised as an outstanding global priority, yet despite considerable efforts over the last few decades, the number of threatened species continues to rise. The practice of plant conservation has for too long been a rather hit-or-miss mixture of methods. While microorganisms have been recognised as a crucial and essential element in supporting the lifecycles of plant species, there has been limited recognition of the relationships between macro level conservation facilitating ecosystem functioning at the micro level. This book addresses the role of microorganisms in conservation - both their support functions and deleterious roles in ecosystem processes and species survival. Importantly, a number of authors highlight how microbial diversity is, itself, now under threat from the many and pervasive influences of man. What is clear from this volume is that like many contemporary treatments of plant and animal conservation, the solution to mitigate the erosion of biodiversity is not simple. This book represents an attempt to bring to the fore the ecological underwriting provided by microorganisms.

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.

This new edition of Fungal Associations focuses on mycorrhizas, lichens and fungal-bacterial symbioses. It has been completely revised, updated and expanded. Renowned experts present thorough reviews and discuss the most recent findings on molecular interactions between fungi and plants or bacteria that lead to morphological alterations and novel properties in the symbionts. New insights into the beneficial impact of fungal associations on ecosystem health are provided and documented with striking examples.

In nature, the roots of most plants are colonized by symbiotic fungi to form mycorrhiza, which play a critical role in the capture of nutrients from the soil, and therefore in plant nutrition. Thirteen years have passed since the publication of the First Edition of Mycorrhizal Symbiosis, the book that has been generally acclaimed as the most definitive work on this fascinating topic. The Second Edition co-authored by Professor Sally Smith and Professor David Read has been completely rewritten to cover the significant advances in our understanding of this field.Key Features• Separate accounts of major mycorrhizal types, highlighting structure, development, physiology and ecology• Integrative treatment, covering nutrient transport, roles of mycorrhizas in ecology, applications in man-made environments, and interactions with pollutants• In depth treatment of evolutionary and developmental aspects, plus closer examination of external mycelium, and transport processes• Appreciation of diversity of form and function within major mycorrhizal types, and its importance in ecosystems

Volumes 23 and 24 of this highly acclaimed series focus on methods used for the study of both ectomycorrhiza and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza. Written by a team of international experts, these volumes comprise the most extensive compilation of methods available on this topic.

This edited book covers the impact of stone mining activities on soil, water, air, agriculture, vegetation, and policy aspects. It provides information on rehabilitation and restoration measures for stone mine spoil areas and other associated adverse impacts on human health caused by mining activities. Additionally, the book covers information related to the impact of stone mining on the socio-economic conditions of mining area inhabitants and appropriate government policies and support to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals-15.3 (SDG-15.3) for degraded stone mine spoil sites toward Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The dumping of stone mine waste has many negative implications for the environment, soil, and natural resources. Although stone mining is the main source of livelihood for millions of people around the world and plays a crucial role in the economic development of many countries, it was estimated that nearly 4 million people die every year, especially in developing countries, due to environmental pollution from quarrying, sandblasting, and the emission of toxic gases. Mining leads to land degradation by the stacking of mine waste, loss of fertile topsoil and vegetation covers, abstraction and deterioration of the natural drainage system, deforestation, groundwater depletion, loss of plant and aquatic biodiversity, and public health issues. The book covers information about all aspects of dimensional stone mining activity and is a useful read for researchers, planners, capacity builders, scientists, and policymakers for achieving SDG 15.3. It would also be helpful for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental science disciplines.

This book comprehensively examines the complex relationship between forests and climate change from a biological perspective. It explores the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures, greenhouse gas emissions, changing rainfall patterns, droughts, and cold spells, on individual trees and forest ecosystems. It considers how climate change affects forest structure, function, composition, and biodiversity, and the adaptive strategies forests employ to cope with changing conditions. The book focuses on understanding the adaptive capacity of forests and explores different mechanisms at stand and ecosystem levels that enable forests to respond to changing climatic conditions. It discusses how forests acclimate and adapt to new climates by modulating growth rates, morphology, phenology, physiology, biochemistry, and species composition. The role of genetic diversity and evolutionary processes in shaping forest resilience and adaptation is also explored. The book also explores potential mitigation strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change. Besides, this book discusses the ecological principles and the involvement of local communities in conservation and restoration efforts as alternative strategies to enhance the resilience of forest ecosystems against climate change. The book provides practical recommendations for policy makers, forest managers, and conservation practitioners to develop effective climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in forest landscapes. This book serves as a valuable resource and a guide for researchers, students, and professionals in various fields to protect and sustainably manage vital ecosystems in a rapidly changing climate.

Medicinal herbs and trees are some of the most trusted sources of traditional cures for most common diseases, even in the present day. The onset of COVID- 19 has increased the popularity of medicinal and herbal plants as well as their products over modern medicines in several instances. There is a considerable gap between demand and supply as most of these plants are not conventionally cultivated and are collected from forests. Most of the knowledge of the identification and utilization of medicinal and herbal plants is orally passed on from one generation to another and only occasionally documented.Propagation to Pharmacopeia: Modern Approaches in Medicinal Plants explores various aspects of medicinal and herbal plants, including cultivation, biotechnological aspects, diversity, bioprospecting, sustainable utilization of medicinal plants, extension, ethnobotany/ modern and traditional uses, and conservation of medicinal plants. This book will serve the purpose of providing scientific information about medicinal plants and herbal plants, their uses, biotechnological aspects, chemical profiling, and conservation.Features: A systematic overview of trees and herbs with medicinal importance Outline of medicinal plants, formulations, and herbal medicines effective to treat SARS-CoV-2 Strategies for ameliorated production, extraction, and quantification of plant secondary metabolites Approaches for propagation, genetic transformation, and conservation of medicinal plant germplasms This book serves as a resource of helpful information for academicians, biotechnologists, foresters, agriculture practitioners, researchers, as well as those in industries manufacturing herbal drugs, nutraceuticals, and supplementary products. From this book, readers will gain extensive knowledge of widely used medicinal and herbal plants and a perspective on how they can be cultivated, commercialized, and sustainably utilized for the benefit of human health.

With our world torn by climate change, deforestation, land degradation, hunger, malnutrition, poverty, loss of wildlife habitat, zoonotic pandemics, illegal migration and social injustice, this book seeks to find a practical and pragmatic way forwards. Based on the author's extensive experience of tropical agriculture and forestry around the world, as well as his combination of practical and academic agricultural qualifications, the second edition of Living with the Trees of Life presents a unique and positive perspective on resolving these big global issues. It aims to identify principles, strategies, techniques, and skills to find a path through the maze of options for sustainable living in the tropics and subtropics. The book specifically draws heavily on a single case study which involved working to resolve the failure of tropical and subtropical agriculture to feed, sustain and support the needs of rural communities. To address the'big picture'facing society, the work identified the traditionally important indigenous trees of tropical ecosystems - the trees of life - as a missing component of farming systems. These trees are keystones of the natural environment. Their products and critical ecological and social services have been overlooked by modern agriculture and should be recognized as the natural capital of the environment providing the very many day-to-day needs of local people. Many of today's big problems can be traced back to the breakdown of the natural, social and human capital of farming systems. Hence, a focus on restoring the natural capital also has important benefits for the livelihoods of the rural population, as well as for the productivity of the agroecosystem. However, the real potential is to go much further and to build new natural capital in the form of new socially-modified tree crops producing a very wide range of food, medicinal and other non-food products for new local business enterprises. This then restores the degraded social and human capital and starts to create new physical and financial capitals much needed for employment and economic development. There is, however, a missing 6th capital - the political and social will to change the way we manage our world by re-booting tropical agriculture and putting the needs of local people at the forefront of farming systems. Drawing on the technologies from across the spectrum of current conventional approaches to agricultural production, Living with the Trees of Life seeks to promote the adoption of a new way ahead - described as Land Maxing - that also increases the returns on past investments in agriculture. The target readership of this book is a wide and diverse array of people engaged in advocating and/or adopting ways to address the issues affecting our divided and dysfunctional world, before it is too late. Written in an accessible and engaging style, this book tells the story of how a new area of crop science has emerged across the tropics to create highly nutritious crops which can enhance food security and start to address the big issues facing humanity. Thus, this book is a vital read for academics, policy makers, and the environmentally and socially aware public alike.

The effects of climate change on food safety and plant health represent a relatively new area of study. However, evidence from recent studies is clear: climate change contributes to increased and new food safety & plant health risks as one of several global change factors. This volume analyzes the scientific understanding of the relationship between climate change, food safety, plant pests, plant diseases, and trade. It identifies and discusses four key areas for future policy consideration: risk assessment, SPS capacity in developing countries, climate change resilience, and basic research challenges. We must effectively communicate the impacts of climate change on plant health and build the capacity of national plant protection organizations. More importantly, we need to mobilize resources that will help build stronger national phytosanitary systems that can prevent the spread of plant pests, thereby protecting our food sources and environment, and facilitating safe trade.The present volume is an asset for plant quarantine personnel working in the field, agricultural university students, plant health workers, farmers doing agriculture, plant & seed traders, and all those who use agricultural produce and products. The book is a useful resource for students and professional plant pathologists, entomologists, and plant breeders because it summarizes current knowledge and suggests new research directions. It is also suitable for ecologists & researchers working on crop protection, climate change, and pest control.

This book provides an in-depth exploration of microbial biodiversity and its crucial role in diverse biotechnological and industrial sectors. It covers topics such as the integration of molecular approaches for identifying industrially significant strains, omics roles in the production of bioproducts, and modern genetic engineering techniques. It discusses biostatistical investigations and the impact of microbial biotechnology on healthcare and emerging contaminants. It highlights the significance of food microbiology, fermentation, and the latest technologies in improving human health. Additionally, the book delves into emerging trends in oligosaccharide production, biobased approaches for a sustainable future, and the importance of microbial biomolecules and secondary metabolites. It also explores the identification and production of industrially significant biocatalysts/enzymes, the valorization of agro-industrial waste using microorganisms for green energy generation, and the development of bioreactor systems for the biobased economy. The book covers advancements in solid-gaseous biofuels production, impact assessment of synthetic microfiber pollution, sustainable management strategies for waste management, and the impact of emerging technologies in medical microbiology. The book also discusses the development of healthcare products using nano-biotechnological advancements, the impact of novel remediation technology, and the utilization of microbial products in biomaterial development. It further explores microbial regulatory systems, gene expression studies, and the significance of mutations in microbial technology. This book serves as a great reference for researchers, environmentalists, microbiologists, biotechnologists, and graduate, post-graduate students, and doctoral students working on microbial biotechnology and industrial microbiology.

Bio-organic Amendments for Heavy Metal Remediation: Water, soil and plant focuses on these core continuum media to explore remediation options using microbial, organic and combined approached. A volume in the Plant Biology, Sustainability and Climate Change series, this book offers a comprehensive view of techniques and approaches for addressing contamination by heavy metals.As anthropogenic activities increasingly negatively impact natural resources, there has been significant disturbance of water, soil, and plant continuum due to the accumulation of heavy metals. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the food chain could pose life-threatening effects on plants as well as humans, and there is need to find effective and sustainable remediation options. The application of bio-organic amendments could serve as a sustainable solution to this problem.Employing microbial, organic and combined approaches to reduce the accumulation of heavy metals in the food chain ultimately would lead to the production of safe food for humans.This book provides a comprehensive view of the challenge with a focus on the bioremediation of heavy metals contamination using ecotechnological approaches to protecting the soil, water and plant continuum.Highlights remediation techniques/approaches for heavy metals under water, soil and plant continuumsPresents case-studies for real-world insights as well as current practicesIncludes regulatory aspects for ensuring safe implementation

Microbiome Nano-Cross-Talk presents a comprehensive overview of the functional aspects of multiphasic microbial and nanotechnological interactions within and between plants and their ecosystem. Recognizing that beneficial microbes are involved in plant growth promotion, this book highlights their mechanism and regulation to enhance plant's yield and development even under stressed conditions. The merging of nanotechnology with microbiology is an essential aspect of this book. Various nanomaterials, their synthesis approaches as well as applications in agriculture have been studied extensively in past years. However, there is still a lack of information available on the synergism between nanomaterials and microbes towards increased plant growth as well as reducing stress. Microbiome Nano-Cross-Talk, provides detailed insights into these environmental and agricultural perspectives of plant-microbe-nano interaction. With a focus on focus the morphological, anatomical, biochemical, molecular and gene expression levels of plant growth promotion, the book is the first of its kind to enable scientists to unravel the different pathways and signaling cascades involved in response to this interaction and to understanding how nanomaterials regulate the plant-microbe associations. It critically examines the role of beneficial microbes in conjunction with nanoparticles in plants and the mechanisms adopted by the plants at the biochemical and molecular levels to enhance plant growth and mitigate various stresses. Presents a logistic approach to nanotechnology and microbiology in the plant sciencesExplores multiple nanomaterials and their interactions for improved plant health and yieldEnables the reader to devise strategies for engineering stress-tolerant plants and increased plant productivity

Macrofungi have significant importance in human health, particularly in nutrition, medicine, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and industries. They occupy a variety of ecosystems such as terrestrial (agricultural lands, forests and deserts), freshwater (bogs and marshes) and maritime (mangroves and coastal sand dunes) habitats. Their ecosystem services like nutrition (humans and animals), medicinal pursuits (antibiotics and pharmaceuticals) and bioremediation (degradation of xenobiotics and insect control) potential are dependent on their diversity and ecological conditions. Macrofungal ecology serves as the basis for nutraceutical values, agricultural benefits, plant productivity, environmental protection and industrially valued biocomposites. This book focuses on various aspects of macrofungal distribution in diverse habitats, participation in organic matter decomposition, ectomycorrhizal associations and participation in biogeochemical cycles. This book reviews the current developments in macrofungal ecology in different habitats and their benefits. Due to the topics dealt with on macrofungal diversity, distribution, dynamics, lifestyles, ecosystem or substrate preferences and ecosystem services, this book is valuable to mycologists, botanists, zoologists, ecologists, foresters, geneticists, agronomists and field biologists.

Relying upon extensive global and multidisciplinary research, this book analyzes the perils of market-driven scenarios and peeps into the possibilities responsible for the failure of traditional approaches. It helps in identifying the goals and approaches amenable to sustainable development reflecting upon an ecologically and inclusively sustainable global future. It enriches knowledge base of all research scholars and professionals as well as paves the way for bravely facing the challenges to the sustainability. The book also sheds light on the current and future trends in the domain of sustainability in terms of scenarios, strategies to be adopted, anticipated transitions in climate, and evolution and adoption of best sustainable practices for the common good.Academicians and researchers and professionals from across universities, research, governmental, and private organizations have made their invaluable contributions. The perspectives contributed are drawn from Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. They cover a spectrum of topics, covering the philosophy underlying sustainable development, organizations, ethics, belief systems, cultures, use of resources, energy, models, cost-benefit analysis, international trade, financial aid, forestry, wildlife, land rights, fisheries, and more. Irrespective of the reader's interest on sustainable development, this book embodies meaningful and productive intent and content. The chapters present well-known topics but with different perspectives, suggesting ways to enhance the present practices and proposing new avenues in furthering the work. The book is intended to cover a wide range of audiences, catering to the needs of a diverse readership. The value of this book is quantified in terms of new concepts and terminology it generates and works as a reference source.

This edited volume is an inclusive collection of information on crop holobiome, their function and diversity, the plausible role of soil microbes in crop growth, protection from pathogens and stresses, the use of resilient microbiomes for changing climate, and the use of new technologies to study plant-insect-microbe molecular interactions in agricultural systems. Holobiomes provide information about both plants and their microbiomes, which gives a more comprehensive insight, particularly for changing climatic scenarios. By optimizing the crop holobime function crop productivity and plant health can be enhanced manifold. This book deep dives into the numerous ways in which holobiome supports the improving plant health, nutrient uptake, disease control, and stress resistance in major food crops. It helps researchers, academicians, agri-entrepreneurs, and technologists understand the structure and function of holobiomes in crop growth, health, stress tolerance under climatic changes, and holobiome diversity and evolution. The book is also helpful in designing new dimensions in the holobiome research and development of new products and technologies. This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.

Fungi are associated with a wide variety of other organisms. Ecologist Peter Price has said, “mutualism facilitates adaptive radiation,” and many biologists attribute Earth's great fungal diversity to such associations. The 3rd edition of The Mycota, Vol. 9: Fungal Associations, has been revised to provide entirely new coverage of fungi and associated organisms in fourteen informative discussions that take advantage of today's large public databases and modern molecular and data analysis methods. The editors have a keen interest in fungal associations in their own research, and their perspectives from different generations have resulted in an interesting treatment of the subject. Fungal Associations includes updates of classic topics, but also introduces less frequently discussed associations and broader reflections on the nature of fungi and their associates. The volume begins with a look at more than abillion years of fungal evolution and associations through the lens of immunology. Can fungi involved in obligate symbioses be cultivated apart from the host? Genomes help to answer the question. The ultimate intimacy between fungi and certain unrelated organisms has resulted in DNA exchange that can be traced in extant genomes. Fungi and bacteria use volatile compounds to lure participants into interactions. Some viruses modify the phenotype of their fungal hosts and affect host fitness. Details of interactions between classical examples of fungus—plant symbioses (lichens, several types of mycorrhizae, and toxic endophytes) benefit from advanced microscopic and molecular techniques.Discussions of fungi associated with insects (entomopathogens, a Drosophila model to study entomopathogens), nematode-trappingfungi and their prey, and a group of termite-associated fungi that produce secondary metabolites with potential uses as pharmaceuticals, complete the volume. Fungal Associations is a well-illustrated, thought-provoking resource for specialists and generalists, including researchers, lecturers, and students interested in ecology, evolution, microbiology, and mycology. The volume would be an excellent text for a seminar course for advanced undergraduate or graduate students.

The Routledge Handbook of Forest Ecology is an essential resource covering all aspects of forest ecology from a global perspective.This new edition has been fully revised and updated throughout to reflect the profound and unprecedented changes in both forests and climates since the publication of the first edition in 2015. The handbook reflects key developments in the field of forest dynamics and large-scale processes, as well as the changes that are now manifesting in different types of forests across the globe as a result of climate change. It covers both natural and managed forests, from boreal, temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world. In this second edition, the breadth of the handbook has been expanded with new chapters on mountain forests, monodominance, pathogens and invertebrate pests and amphibians and reptiles in forest ecosystems. Original author teams are complemented by the addition of new authors to offer fresh perspectives, and the second edition places greater emphasis on the applicability of each topic at a global level. The handbook is divided into seven parts:• Part I: The forest• Part II: Forest dynamics• Part III: Forest flora and fauna• Part IV: Energy and nutrients• Part V: Forest conservation and management• Part VI: Forest and climate change• Part VII: Human ecologyThe Routledge Handbook of Forest Ecology is an essential reference text for a wide range of students and scholars of ecology, environmental science, forestry, geography and natural resource management.

This book is an outcome of collaborative efforts of a multidisciplinary team of scientists. The core objective of this book is to provide cross-sectoral information on the different aspects of the terrestrial environment and ecosystems of Kuwait. The book will be considered as a ready source of information for those seeking information on the terrestrial environment and ecosystems, assessment and restoration, as well as sustainable uses and management. In spite of Kuwait's hyper-arid environment, it is rich in natural resources including a wide range of native plants, animal species, different habitats, protected areas, diversified soils and water and oil resources. While the desert of Kuwait constitutes various features, such as sand sheet, sand dunes, nebkhas, inland and coastal sabkhas, rock outcrop, wadis and farming areas, it is rich in flora and fauna (native plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, etc.). Due to changing climate, deserts of Kuwait as well as other countries are under severe threat of degradation and the degradation may be irreversible. To realize these impacts, an effort is being made to provide a ready source of information to highlight the potential threats to the terrestrial ecosystems and formulate adaptation and mitigation strategies for long-term ecosystems services in Kuwait as well as other countries located in a desert environment, such as Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, Africa and countries in the Arab region. The book includes sixteen chapters covering multidiscipline subjects (such as natural resources, climate and climate change, geographical features, terrestrial habitats, ecosystems and threats, water and soil resources, agriculture, food security, water-energy-food-climate nexus, green-grey-blue water footprints of various crops, etc.). Thus, this book is a unique resource that provides the latest scientific information in a single volume.

Essential Minerals in Plant-Soil Systems: Coordination, Signaling and Interaction Under Adverse Conditions is the first book to encompass these key aspects of plant science, biochemistry, soil science and fertilizer development in a single volume. Describing the micro- and macronutrients in the plant-soil system with the help of suitable illustrations, the book connects all the pieces enabling comprehensive and connected understanding. Terrestrial plants are sessile in nature. They face various adverse environmental conditions including soil nutrient-deficiency signals, which influence overall plant growth and development. Some of the essential nutrients are unreachable to roots due to their low solubility and relative immobilization. Thus, the soil-plant system has evolved signaling, communication and coordination responses for survival under multiple adverse situations. By evolving highly sophisticated mechanisms at the cellular as well as whole-plant scale, these plants have developed ways to co-regulate these stresses in order to maintain homeostasis. Essential Minerals in Plant-Soil Systems covers recent advances in the understanding of how plants coordinate the acquisition, transport, signaling, and interaction, cross-talks between macro- and micro-nutrients in adverse environmental situations. These points are key to understanding the significance of essential, as well as beneficial, elements for sustainable plant growth and production. This book is a valuable reference for those putting research into practice in addressing stress situations, as well as providing important foundational insights for further research.Provides a comprehensive overview of micro- and macronutrients and their interaction with phytohormones under stress conditionsExplores proteomic and genomic research into deficiencies and toxicities in plant systemsHighlights the use of nanobiotechnology for controlled release of micro- and macronutrients in the plant-soil systems

This book provides information about plant–environment studies and challenges for plant improvement to achieve food security. Plants face a wide range of environmental challenges, which are expected to become more intense as a result of global climate change. Plant–environment interactions play an important role in the functioning of ecosystems. There are habitats throughout the world that present challenges to crop plants, such as through a lack of water and excessive, or toxic, salts in the soil. Soil properties represent a strong selection pressure for plant diversity and influence the structure of plant communities and participate to the generation and maintenance of biodiversity. Plant communities selected by environment grow by modifying soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, with consequent effects on survival and growth of plants. The complexity of plant–environment interactions has recently been studied by developing a trait-based approach in which responses and effects of plants on environment were quantified and modeled. This fundamental research on plant–environment interaction in ecosystems is essential to transpose knowledges of functional ecology to environmental management. Plants have adapted to an incredible range of environment, and extensive researches on ecological and environmental plant physiology have provided mechanistic understanding of the survival, distribution, productivity, and abundance of plant species across the diverse climates of our planet. Ecophysiological techniques have greatly advanced our understanding of photosynthesis, respiration, plant water relations, and plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses, from instantaneous to evolutionary timescales. Ecophysiological studies also provide the basis for scaling plant physiological processes from the tissue to the canopy, ecosystem, region, and to a large extent, the entire globe. Given the above, the author proposes to bring forth a comprehensive book, “New Frontiers in Plant-Environment Interactions”, highlighting the various emerging techniques and applications that are currently being used in plant–environment interaction research and its future prospects. The author is sure that this book caters the need of all those who are working or have interest in the above topic.

Ecological restoration, although a relatively new endeavour compared to other disciplines, has gained significant momentum during the last decade as accelerating global change becomes more apparent. It is now widely accepted by the scientific community that to avoid further devastating effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, humanity must determinedly move more to protect and restore natural ecosystems. Many restoration efforts of the past have been ad hoc, site and situation-specific and have often failed to achieve desired outcomes, but over the last decade, many countries are allocating increasingly significant amounts of financial investment towards restoration with the goal of achieving more systematic and predictable outcomes. Today, activities related to restoring ecosystems, natural assets and biodiversity are a global focus. This book covers a wide range of topics related to ecological restoration including for grasslands, wetlands, temperate and tropical forests and arid zones. Importantly, it also focuses on ecological restoration in human-disturbed landscapes such as for urban areas, farmlands, mine sites and transport corridors. It highlights the necessity for evidence-based approaches that are both nuanced and complementary with prescriptions for people-based restoration, that is socially inclusive and cognisant of historic and current community sentiment. Ambitious landscape and continental scale targets for ecological restoration have been set across the globe. However, without practical guidelines developed from restoration evaluations from the recent past to follow, future efforts are unlikely to be successful, nor -expected targets met. To that end, this book reviews and highlights a large number and variety of restoration stories from around the world. Most are presented as reader-friendly case studies, that feature innovative and systematic techniques for undertaking species-rich ecological restoration.Together they provide inspiration for current and future professionals and offer unique glimpses into state-of-the-art practice for this critically important discipline

Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment describes the relationship of agriculture, society, nature and the environment, sustainable agriculture and sustainable development goals, management of biophysical resources for sustainable food and environment, traditional knowledge and innovative options, and social and policy aspects of sustainable agriculture. The book presents both environmental and economic principles, helping readers in the development and application of robust policy and good institutional systems that execute on sustainable agriculture practices for a healthy environment and to combat climate resilience. Includes case studies that provide real-world insights Relates traditional knowledge and innovation, maximizing the potential from both Reinforces our understanding of the role of sustainable agriculture in developing environmentally sustainable and profitable food systems

Under ongoing climate change, natural and cultivated habitats of major food crops are being continuously disturbed. Such condition accelerates to impose stress effects like abiotic and biotic stressors. Drought, salinity, flood, cold, heat, heavy metals, metalloids, oxidants, irradiation etc. are important abiotic stresses; and diseases and infections caused by plant pathogens viz. fungal agents, bacteria and viruses are major biotic stresses. As a result, these harsh environments affect crop productivity and its biology in multiple complex paradigms. As stresses become the limiting factors for agricultural productivity and exert detrimental role on growth and yield of the crops, scientists and researchers are challenged to maintain global food security for a rising world population.This two-volume work highlights the fast-moving agricultural research on crop improvement through the stress mitigation strategies, with specific focuses on crop biology and their response to climatic instabilities. Together with'Climate Resilient Agriculture, Vol 2: Agro-Biotechnological Advancement for Crop Production', it covers a wide range of topics under environmental challenges, agronomy and agriculture processes, and biotechnological approaches, uniquely suitable for scientists, researchers and students working in the fields of agriculture, plant science, environmental biology and biotechnology.

Under ongoing climate change, natural and cultivated habitats of major food crops are being continuously disturbed. Such condition accelerates to impose stress effects like abiotic and biotic stressors. Drought, salinity, flood, cold, heat, heavy metals, metalloids, oxidants, irradiation etc. are important abiotic stresses; and diseases and infections caused by plant pathogens viz. fungal agents, bacteria and viruses are major biotic stresses. As a result, these harsh environments affect crop productivity and its biology in multiple complex paradigms. As stresses become the limiting factors for agricultural productivity and exert detrimental role on growth and yield of the crops, scientists and researchers are challenged to maintain global food security for a rising world population.This two-volume work highlights the fast-moving agricultural research on crop improvement through the stress mitigation strategies, with specific focuses on crop biology and their response to climatic instabilities. Together with'Climate Resilient Agriculture, Vol 1: Crop Responses and Agroecological Perspectives', it covers a wide range of topics under environmental challenges, agronomy and agriculture processes, and biotechnological approaches, uniquely suitable for scientists, researchers and students working in the fields of agriculture, plant science, environmental biology and biotechnology.

This open access book richly illustrates the first, and comprehensive, account of the country's biomes and ecoregions, the driving forces that account for their diversity and vulnerability, and the ecological principles that provide an understanding of the patterns and processes that have shaped landscapes, ecoregions, and ecosystems. Angola encompasses the greatest diversity of terrestrial biomes and is the second richest in terms of ecoregions, of any African country. Yet its biodiversity and the structure and functioning of its ecosystems are largely undocumented. The author draws on personal field observations from over 50 years of involvement in ecological and conservation studies in Angola and across Southern Africa. The vast recent literature published by researchers in neighboring, better resourced countries provides depth to the accounts of ecological principles and processes relevant to Angola and thus contributing to the understanding and sustainable management of its natural resources.

The edited book highlights comprehensive studies on plant diversity dynamics, ecosystem processes, and best conservation practices from the interdisciplinary perspectives such as the botanists, ecologists, conservation biologists, geneticists, cell biologists, molecular biotechnologists, and social scientists. The main focus of the book is to address biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse amidst the escalating climate change problems, aggravated by anthropogenic activities in biocultural landscapes. The book describes the biocultural landscape of today, ecology of plant diversity, botany of keystone and other rare species of economic and pharmaceutical significance, ecosystem processes, conservation, and emerging frameworks to sustain biocultural landscapes in the Anthropocene. Biocultural landscapes are tracks of land in many parts of the world, shaped by unique human-nature interactions. Many of these landscapes are populated with indigenous peoples with a unique way of life including their interaction with plants and the environment. The relationship between humans and nature in biocultural landscapes used to be harmonious. However, as the human population surges, much pressure has been experienced by the landscape, hence, the loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystem services that cascade to agricultural systems. The book is of interest to teachers, professors, policymakers, researchers, and advocates in the fields of botany, ecology, taxonomy, biodiversity conservation, environmental science, molecular biology and genomics, molecular ecology, agriculture, and Agri-tourism, forestry, social science, and climate change professionals. Also, the book serves as a good reference and additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students.

The Australian wildfires of 2019–20 (Black Summer) were devastating and unprecedented. These megafires burnt more than 10 million hectares, mostly of forests in southern and eastern Australia. Many of the fires were uncontrollable. These megafires affected many of Australia's most important conservation areas and severely impacted threatened species and ecological communities. They were a consequence of climate change – and offered a glimpse of how this is likely to continue to affect our future. Australia's Megafires includes contributions by more than 200 researchers and managers with direct involvement in the management and conservation of the biodiversity affected by the Black Summer wildfires. It provides a comprehensive review of the impacts of these fires on all components of biodiversity, and on Indigenous cultural values. These fires also triggered an extraordinary and highly collaborative response by governments, NGOs, Indigenous groups, scientists, landholders and others, seeking to recover the fire-affected species and environments – to restore Country. This book documents that response. It draws lessons that should be heeded to sustain that recovery and to be better prepared for the inevitable future comparable catastrophes. Such lessons are of global relevance, for wildfires increasingly threaten biodiversity and livelihoods across the globe.

This book offers an overview of the most important research and developments in silvopastoral systems of the northern part of South America and Central America, including the most common silvopastoral arrangements in each country and their characteristics in terms of productivity, and environmental and socioeconomic aspects. Featuring a compilation of original research articles, country overviews and reviews of the contribution of silvopastoral systems to different topics, it summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding various aspects of silvopastoral systems in this region.

Climate change and human activities are impacting the environment around the world and there is a great need to update our knowledge of natural resources in order to sustain the livelihoods of rural communities and urban dwellers. Educational tools help people to understand the ecology, and the management of natural resources and to participate in actions to protect the environment. This book has a multipurpose focus regarding biodiversity, management, and conservation of the natural resources as species are linked in nutritional webs in the ecosystems. Ecology, diversity, conservation, and management practices such as plant species, native fish, edible mushrooms, and woody species are important for improving people livelihoods and incomes. It is expected that readers will learn to apply similar multipurpose approaches to natural resources in other parts of the world when their environments are affected by climate change or human activities. This book introduces the importance of the sustainable management of natural resources to a wide audience, including policy decision makers, but also researchers.

With contributions from a wide range of thematic areas, this book provides a diverse perspective on the contemporary environmental challenges of Brazilian agriculture. Assessing existing experiences of governance interventions, implementation of inclusive and sustainable production practices, as well as technical innovations, this edited volume presents the reader with a nuanced perspective on sustainable future pathways for Brazilian agriculture. In many cases, actors within the agricultural sector stand in a key position to address environmental concerns, which often has generated important breakthroughs and improvement of production practices. Drawing on contributions from authors within a variety of fields, this contribution presents a trans-disciplinary perspective on the problems and pathways through which multi-level interventions can lead to sustainable solutions within the Brazilian agricultural and livestock sector. This book hereby constitutes an informed and timely contribution to the important debates about Brazil's potential role in confronting environmental problems. More broadly, this volume also sheds light on the process of agricultural transitions in the Global South, and how food security concerns may be reconciled with sustainable production.

The book provides an overview relevant to various biological mechanisms that regulate carbon exchanges between the major components and their response to climate change. Climate change has a significant impact on people's lives, energy demand, food security, etc. The soil microbial ecology is vital for assessing terrestrial and aquatic carbon cycles and climate feedback. However, the primary concern is the complexity of the soil microbial community and its severely affected functions due to the climate and other global changes. Global warming comprises an assessment of the dynamic interactions and feedback between microbes, plants, and their physical environment due to climate change. The book will address the need to use a multifactor experimental approach to understand how soil microorganisms and their activities adapt to climate change and the implications of carbon cycle feedback. The most pressing concern is a clearer understanding of the biological factors that regulate carbon exchanges between land, oceans, and the atmosphere and how these exchanges will respond to climate change via climate–ecosystem feedbacks, which could augment or quell regional and global climate change. Terrestrial ecosystems play an important role in climate feedback as they produce and absorb greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides. They also strongly contribute to storing enormous amounts of carbon in living vegetation and soils, rendering them a significant global carbon sink. If climate change projections are realistic, such a rapid increase in carbon loss from soil could exacerbate the soil carbon cycle feedback. The book will determine the role of microbial feedback in regulating soil-land-atmosphere carbon exchange under changing climatic conditions at the regional and global levels. The current book will also focus on recent research designed to use beneficial microbes such as plant growth-promoting microorganisms, fungi, endophytic microbes, and others to improve understanding of the interaction and their potential role in promoting advanced management for sustainable agricultural solutions. Understanding the influence on the native microbiome, such as the distribution of methanogens and methanotrophs, nutritional content, microbial biomass, and other factors, is becoming increasingly crucial to establishing climate-resilient agriculture.

Plant mycobiome represents a diverse array of plant-associated communities of endophytic and epiphytic fungi. These communities fundamentally affect plant health, development, adaptation, and communication with the surrounding ecosystem. Furthermore, they have key roles in the establishment, diversification, productivity, and sustainability of different natural ecosystems. However, some of these communities are pathogenic for the plant itself or dangerous for the consumers, due to the production of mycotoxins. In other words, plant mycobiome represents two faces of a coin. This book aimed to explore contributions of the plant mycobiome in plant-environment interactions from different perspectives. Chapters of this book address numerous themes covering the recent advances in roles, diversity, and dynamics of these fungi as biocontrol agents, biofertilizers, growth promoters, and their secondary metabolites in the area of crop improvement for sustainability and biotechnology, aswell as the plant pathogenic and toxigenic fungi. This book will be useful to postgraduate students, botanists, mycologists, ecologists, plant pathologists, and physiologists.

This book brings together comprehensive multi-disciplinary knowledge on diverse aspects of the Himalayan treeline ecotone which is considered one of the most sensitive ecosystems to climate change. The contents of this book are based on the results of extensive research and provide a holistic understanding of the treeline ecotone in Himalaya. The book will serve as an important reference manual and a textbook on treeline ecology. The book is unique in the sense that it provides an engaging account of almost all the aspects of the treeline ecotone, such as taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic species diversity, temperature lapse rates, tree phenology, water relations, and stress physiology, tree ring width chronology, and climate relationships and the role of treeline ecotone in human sustenance in the Indian Himalayan region The treelines in the Himalaya, being the highest in the Northern Hemisphere (up to 4900 m), are among the least investigated systems and hence this book is timely and fills all-important knowledge gaps vis-à-vis treeline shifts, physiognomic, structural, and functional changes in mountain landscapes and ecosystems, particularly under the changing climate This book, for the first time, summarizes evidence-based knowledge about various aspects of treeline ecotone in Himalaya that was largely generated through a well-coordinated a team science approach. The book will be of interest to ecologists, climatologists, dendrochronologists, foresters, plant physiologists and resource managers and policy planners for a better understanding of the organization and dynamics of this fragile ecosystem in relation to climate change and other anthropogenic stresses that are rampant in the Himalaya. The book lays a solid foundation for further investigation of the ecology and dynamics of the treeline ecotone in the Himalayas and provides a rationale for pursuing a team science approach for macroecological investigations.

This book provides new insights into the mechanisms of plant hormone-mediated growth regulation and stress tolerance covering the most recent biochemical, physiological, genetic, and molecular studies. It also highlights the potential implications of plant hormones in ensuring food security in the face of climate change. Each chapter covers particular abiotic stress (heat stress, cold, drought, flooding, soil acidity, ozone, heavy metals, elevated CO2, acid rain, and photooxidative stress) and the versatile role of plant hormones in stress perception, signal transduction, and subsequent stress tolerance in the context of climate change. Some chapters also discuss hormonal crosstalk or interaction in plant stress adaptation and highlight convergence points of crosstalk between plant hormones and environmental signals such as light, which are considered recent breakthrough studies in plant hormone research. As exogenous application or genetic manipulation of hormones can alter crop yield under favorable and/or unfavorable environmental conditions, the utilization of plant hormones in modern agriculture is of great significance in the context of global climate change. Thus, it is important to further explore how hormone manipulation can secure a good harvest under challenging environmental conditions. This volume is dedicated to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 13. The volume is suitable for plant science-related courses, such as plant stress physiology, plant growth regulators, and physiology and biochemistry of phytohormones for undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students at colleges and universities. The book can be a useful reference for academicians and scientists involved in research related to plant hormones and stress tolerance.

This reference highlights the significance of marine ecosystems, encompassing seaweed beds, seagrasses, coral reefs, mangroves, estuaries, and protected areas, as a remarkable gateway to overcoming healthcare challenges and unlocking a rich trove of bioactive compounds for drug discovery.One of the key highlights of this book is its exploration of the development of marine bio-drugs, a field that demands collaboration among scientists from both academic and industrial fronts. The editors also include a prospective review on marine environments, emphasizing the necessity for big data, collective knowledge sharing, financial support, and streamlined administrative processes, all of which contribute to enhancing innovation in the drug discovery process. Another feature includes reference lists that allow researchers to explore topics of interest in depth.With twelve comprehensive chapters, this book extensively covers marine ecosystem biodiversity, productivity, protected areas, and the intricate interplay of biotic and abiotic factors that shape these ecosystems. Readers will learn about important bioactive compounds within marine organisms and how to use this knowledge to outline a strategy for bio-drug discovery.The book caters to a diverse audience of researchers, students, ecologists, microbiologists, pharmacologists, and biotechnologists who are engaged in studying the dynamic components of marine environments. By providing the latest insights and strategies in the realm of bio-drug discovery from marine resources, this book serves as an invaluable resource for scholars and professionals seeking to tap into the potential of these unique ecosystems.

This contributed volume provides a comprehensive, in-depth and subject-based reviews on the current status of active ingredients, sustainable use, biodiversity and conservation of certain endangered medicinal plants. The book also explores conventional and non-conventional biotechnological interventions for their biodiversity conservation. Medicinal plants have been used in worldwide as a major source of raw material for the traditional herbal healthcare practices as well as for drug discovery and development in pharmaceutical industry. The cumulative consequences of various human activities and environmental factors cause decline in the biodiversity of medicinal plants at an unprecedented rate worldwide. Thus, the overall understanding of ecology, species and genetic diversity along with assessment of the status of different threats and their impact on medicinal plants is crucial to sustain existing biodiversity, its utilization and conservation. All the latest advancements in the biotechnological approaches for the conservation research of endangered medicinal plants and the future perspectives have been described. This book provides comprehensive reviews spreading over about 25 chapters divided in three sections. The chapters of this book are written by recognized scientists in their respective fields which are useful to students, academicians, researchers, botanists, biotechnologists, policy makers, conservationists and industries interested in biodiversity conservation and medicinal plant research for the production of secondary metabolites.

In this interdisciplinary textbook, which bridges the gap between the natural and social sciences both, the scientific principles of restoration ecology and practical aspects of ecosystem restoration are comprehensively presented. The diversity of land-use types with a focus on Central Europe is highlighted and case studies of practical restoration projects are presented. The textbook offers students who deal with the environment as well as scientists and practitioners a profound and up-to-date, but also critical overview of the state of knowledge. This book opens up the broad spectrum of degraded ecosystems of Central European natural and cultural landscapes. In further chapters, marine ecosystems and their restoration as well as development potentials and the limits of restoration are discussed in more detail. The ecological fundamentals are expanded through an interdisciplinary perspective taking into account environmental ethics, sociology, anthropology, and economics. In additionto an up-to-date overview of the various areas and fields of activity in restoration ecology and ecosystem restoration, the textbook provides a valuable basis for studies, science, and practice. The students also receive assistance in searching for literature and critical fact analysis, and the lecturers on teaching formats and interdisciplinary approaches to discussion in restoration ecology.

This book gives insight into several aspects of the microbiology, biotechnology, and ecosystem sustainability of special and under-explored regions, that captivate human beings by their natural richness, their extensive biodiversity, the extraordinary forms of adaptation of the living beings that they inhabit, and even that keep living secrets as is the very origin of life. The chapters emphasize all aspects of biological diversity-its description, analysis, and conservation, and its controlled rational use by humankind. Also, the book is elaborated from a wide and multidisciplinary point of view. It presents reviews, research papers, comments, and research notes on biodiversity, ethnobiology, geoscience, chemistry, biological conservation, biotechnology, and ecosystem sustainability Two hotspots are the reference for this enriching book that describes details of extraordinary areas of the planet, from Cuatrociénegas, Coahuila (Mexico) to the Southern WesternGhats (India). The book will contribute to dealing with the practicalities of conservation management, economic, social, and political issues. It provides a forum for examining conflicts between sustainable development and human dependence on biodiversity in agriculture, environmental management, and biotechnology, and encourages contributions from developing countries to promote broad global perspectives on matters of biodiversity and conservation.