MICROBIAL DIVERSITY AND FUNCTIONS: Since their very first appearance on this planet, the microorganisms have benefitted our society in many ways. They are supposed to be the simplest but most versatile and talented products of evolution. They thrive in habitats extremely hostile to human life and are infinitely more skilled than any human chemist in their synthetic activities. Their rich diversity and their functional aspects make them indispensable components of our ecosystems. This book has been published on the eve of 75th Birth Day of Prof. Sudhir Chandra, Former Head and Emeritus Professor, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, who is well known for his concern to the microbes and made significant contributions in exploring their beneficial activities in different ecosystems. The book contains 31 articles written by distinguished scientists of the country having expertise in dealing with the microbes and exploiting their potential for the benefits of mankind. The articles included in the book are thought provocating and deals with: o the topics of Taxonomy, Diversity and Applications of VAM fungi in different Ecosystems o Applications of Microbial Technology for Treatment of effluents of a Gelatine Factory, Biodiversity of Mycotoxigenic Fungi and Trichoderma, o Useful microbes of Mangrove Ecosystem, Extremophiles, PGPRs, Phytotoxins, Litter decomposition, Biopesticides, Botanical Pesticides, biofertilizers and so many others including major concerns about the Evolution and Conservation of Microbial Biodiversity. o All the articles written by the authors are original, timely and appropriate.

The book includes habit, habitat of the plant its components ailments Ayurveda properties and action of medication and is useful to everyone interested in the green health therapy. A number of valuable medicinal plants are threatened with extinction, because of unsustainable over exploitation and habitat destruction. Silent features of this book are to facilitate identification of plants line drawing of all plants with their characteristics botanical feature, vernacular name are presented. The present compilation is intended to be good ready reference work for teachers, students and research workers in medicine both traditional and Ayurvedic also in botany, agriculture, forestry and pharmacy.

Medicinal Plants as Anti-infectives: Current Knowledge and New Perspectives provides comprehensive and updated data on medicinal plants and plant-derived compounds used as antimicrobials in a range of locations (such as the Balkans, Colombia, India, Lebanon, Mali, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and West Africa). It also provides an overview on the most recent innovations and regulations in the field of drug discovery from ethnobotanical sources. This book will help readers to better appreciate the role of plants and phytomedicines as anti-infectives, to better assess the health benefits of plant-derived products, to help implement new methodologies for studying medicinal plants, and to guide future researchers in the field. Medicinal Plants as Anti-infectives: Current Knowledge and New Perspectives is a valuable resource for students, academic scientists, and researchers from the fields of ethnobotany, pharmacy, medicinal chemistry, and microbiology, as well as for professionals working in national or international health agencies, or in pharmaceutical industries.

Mendel's groundbreaking paper, which laid the foundation for further research upon heritage and genetics, is published here complete with the original illustrations and charts. When Mendel released this paper in 1865, it was after years of rigorous study and comparison in plant specimens and their offspring. His conclusion that variant traits were hereditary and could be determined, with a good degree of accuracy, through probability analysis were revolutionary in natural science at the time. Mendel's assertions regarding acquired characteristics, demonstrated through the comparison of peas and their seeds, would spark great interest in the nature and mechanisms behind heredity between generations of organisms. Seeking to gain high quality results, Mendel prefaces his explanations by noting that he artificially fertilized the plants described in the work.

The book has been written in a very simple and easily understandable language. The information given in this book is based on systematically and scientifically designed field and laboratory experiments conducted in various ecological zones. It is believed that this book will serve the scientific society in a variety of ways. Undergraduate and postgraduate students, professors, teachers, scientists and researchers having their interests in different fields of specialization will certainly be benefited. The book covers articles written by well known authorities in respective fields.

The volume covers recent research materials from countries like India, USA, Japan, European Union, UK etc. on vegetable Science, Fruit Science, Ornamentals, Spices, Plantation Crops and Postharvest Technology. Contributed by the best teachers and scientists in the field. The volumes expose the readers to the basics of Horticultural practices and phenomena with chapters on: 1. Geographical Indications in horticulture by Elsy, C.R. and Mridula N. 2. Emerging trends in bioinformatics by Keshavachandran, R., Reena, N. and Nancy Thomas. 3. Chemistry of Fragrance by Shamina Azeez. 4. Advances in development of salt and water stress tolerant plants by Vanaja T. 5. Physiology of dormancy by Passam, Harold C and Alexopoulos, Alexios A. 6. Principles of preservation and packing to improve quality and extend shelf life of fresh horticultural produce by Bakshi, A.K. and Aggarwal Poonam. 7. Graft incompatibility by Masayo Kawaguchi, David Backhouse, Acram Taji and Masayuki Oda. 8. Role and symptoms of deficiency of micronutrients in horticultural crops by Nirmala Devi, S. and Sadhan Kumar P.G. 9. History of bioinformatics by Keshavachandran R. and Nancy Thomas. 10. Entomology in India - a historical perspective by Sosamma Jacob. 11. Ecofriendly approaches for the management of pests and disease of horticultural crops by Nakkeeran S., Renuka Devi P and Marimuthu T. 12. HELO priming in vegetable crops by Krishna Kumar K. 13. Controlled atmosphere storage of fruits by Sudhakar Rao, D.V. Gopalakrishna Rao, K.P. and Narayana C.K. 14. Physiology of fruit ripening by Dhillon W.S. and Gill P.P.S. 15. Trade in floriculture by Sheela Jayagopan.

Traditional medicine and ethnobotanical research, particularly when the literature and field work data have been properly evaluated. India is one of the twelve mega biodiversity countries of the world having rich in vegetables with a wide variety of plants with medicinal value. In many countries, scientific investigations of medicinal plants have been initiated because of their contribution to healthcare. Herbal medicines have good values in treating many diseases including infectious diseases, hypertension, etc. That they can save lives of many particularly in the developing countries is undisputable. Even today many local and indigenous communities in the Asian countries meet their basic needs from the products they manufacture and sell based on their traditional knowledge. Herbal drugs obtained from plants are believed to be much safer, this has been proved in the treatment of various ailments. Rural communities, in particular scheduled caste tribes, depend on plant resources mainly herbal medicines, food, forage, construction of dwellings, making household implements, sleeping mats, and for fire and shade. Rural people not only depend on wild plants as sources of food, medicine, fodder and fuel, but have also developed methods of resource management, which may be fundamental to the conservation of some of the world's important habitats. The objective of this book is to popularize the ethno medicinal plants species used by the tribals in Kalahandi district of Orissa and the traditional medical practices of the local tribes. Such attempt will protect the traditional knowledge practices of indigenous peoples from disappearing of knowledge and helps in conservation of biological resources for sustainable use. jacket