Extremophiles for Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Health Improvement

This volume presents recent biotechnological advances in the application of extremophiles in sustainable agricultural production, plant health and soil remediation. It highlights the physiology and biochemistry of extremophiles to ensure their survival and adaptation under stressful agricultural conditions, as well as their ecological diversity and taxonomical attributes that allow them to be useful in improving abiotic and biotic tolerance among crops. The chapters cover genomic, metagenomic and metabolomic approaches for improving crop production, biocontrol, nutrient solubilization and soil health to ensure food and nutrition security in a sustainable manner in difficult growing environments. The book will be useful for students and researchers studying soil and plant management, sustainable agriculture, microbiology and biochemistry.

1 Extremophile.- 2 Survival Strategies of Extremophiles.- 3 Microbial Adaptation in Different Extreme Environmental Conditions and Its Usefulness in Differently Polluted Soil.- 4 Extremophiles Adaptation and Its Utilization in Mitigating Abiotic Stress in Crops.- 5 Exploration of Extremophiles.- 6 Bioactive Compounds/Metabolites from Extremophiles for Biocontrol and Plant Disease Management.- 7 Bioactive Molecules Derived from Extremophilic Fungi and Their Agro-Biotechnological Application.- 8 Metallotolerant Microbes for Improving the Health of Heavily Polluted Soil.- 9 Remediation of Soil Organic Pollutants by Microbes from Extreme Environment.- 10 Functional Insights of Nutrients Solubilizing Extremophiles for Potential Agriculture Application.- 11 Extremophiles and Their Genetic Aspects of Potential Bioactive/Metabolites Beneficial for Promoting Plant Health and Soil Fertility.- 12 Biotechnology and Genomics Exploration of Halotolerant Microbes.- 13 Biotechnological Insights into Cold-Stressed, Adapted Microorganisms for Plant Health and Soil Improvement.- 14 Thermophiles And Their Diverse Function in Agricultural and Biotechnological Applications.- 15 Thermophilic Microbes.- 16 Biotechnology of Promising Genes from Extremophiles to Produce Stress-Resilient Plants and Microbes for Sustainable Agriculture.- 17 Insight into Soil Nutrient Management in Agriculture by Acidophilus Microbes.- 18 Omics Technology in Food and Nutritional Security of Agricultural Crops.- 19 Genomic and Metagenomic Prospecting of Extremophiles to Support Sustainable Development.- 20 Nanotechnology and Extremophiles.- 21 Nanoparticles Synthesis Using Extremophilic Microbes and Their Potential Agricultural Applications.

Dr Anuj Ranjan is a Leading Researcher and Post-Doc Fellow at Southern Federal University, Russia. His area of work includes beneficial microbes for the environment and health, bioactive compounds, and Environment Toxicology. His expertise is in genomics, structural bioinformatics, target characterization, molecular docking and simulation. He has published over 70 publications that include over 45 peer-reviewed articles and 25 book chapters/conference proceedings/abstracts along with one authored book. He has also reviewed over 55 research/review articles, books and grants. He has received awards from CSIR, Govt. of India, and the American Chemical Society (2016), and has presented his work at North American Chemical residue workshops (NACRW) (2017) in Naples, Florida, USA. He has also been a scientific member of the 34th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica for Polar Environment Monitoring program of the Government of India. Dr. Ranjan is also an active member of Society of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, USA and International Network on Soil Pollution (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation). 

 

Dr. Vishnu D. Rajput working as Head of ‘Soil Health Lab’ at Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia. His ongoing research is based on the investigation of effective remediation approaches using biochar/nano-biochar based sorbents and nanomaterials. With long experience and experimental work, Dr. Rajput comprehensively detailed the state of research in environmental science in regard to “how nanoparticles/heavy metals interact with plants, soil, microbial community, and the larger environment as well as possible remediation technology using nanoparticles/nano-biochar. Recently he is working nano-enhanced remediation of soil and water system. He has published 346 scientific publications, 88 chapters, 28 books, H-Index: 39. He is an internationally recognized reviewer, received an Outstanding Reviewing Certificate by Elsevier and Springer. He is an editorial board member of various high-impacted journals such biochar. He is holding national and international projects including Mega-Grant, BRICS. Dr. Rajput has received “Certificate for Appreciation 2019" 2021, “Certificate of Honor 2020", Diploma Award 2021 & 2022, Letter of Gratitude 2022 and 2023 by Southern Federal University, Russia, for outstanding contribution in academic, creative research, and publication activities. He has also received “Highly Qualified Specialist” status by Russian government. In year 2023, he is included in the list of 2% worlds potential scientists by Elsevier BV publishing house.

 

Dr. Abhishek Chauhan is Ph.D. in Microbiology from Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar (Uttarakhand), India. He is currently working as a Senior Scientist at Amity University, Noida (Uttar Pradesh), India and formerly worked as a Scientist ‘C’ and Head, Department of Microbiology, Shriram Institute for Industrial Research (SRI), Delhi, India. He has strong analytical and supervision ability and have done over 25 Industry sponsored projects. While working at SRI, Delhi. He has developed and validated several microbiological methods related to food, water, drugs and pharmaceutical. He has a total 18 years of rich experience and has guided over 10 postgraduate and 3 Ph. D. on emerging issues of Microbiology and Biotechnology. He has authored a research book on key aspects of “Antibacterial Activity of Cyanobacteria” and edited a book on “Plants and Microbes: An Innovative approach”. He has delivered various plenary lectures and invited talk at several national and international symposium / conferences and has been a key speaker of teleconferencing talk on “Food and Diet” under EduSAT network, Vigyan Prasar, DST, Govt. of India. He has been a reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals and published more than 45 research papers and honored with prestigious awards such as ‘Young Scientist Award’ (2013); STOX-Appreciation Award (2016); NCEEBR-Certificate of Excellence for Oral Presentation; Best Presentation Award (IIPA-DST Govt. of India) 2012. Dr. Chauhan has also participated in 35th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica and 10th Indian Southern Ocean Expedition, scientific ventures of Ministry of Earth Science, Govt. of India. He has also been certified on various quality certification and Accreditations such as ISO: 17025 (Laboratory Quality Management System), ISO: 17043 (Proficiency Testing), ISO: 22000, ISO:9001, ISO:14001. He is an active member of the Indian Science Congress Association, Society for Plant Research and Association of Microbiologists of India.

 

Dr. Evgeniya V. Prazdnova is the Head of The Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Microbial Consortia in the D. I. Ivanovsky Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, and Senior researcher in Agrobiotechnology Center, Don State Technical U