Central Asia is a large and understudied region of varied geography, ranging from the high passes and mountains of Tian Shan, to the vast deserts of Kyzyl Kum, Taklamakan to the grassy treeles steppes. This region is faced with adverse conditions, as much of the land is too dry or rugged for farming. Additionally, the rich specific and intraspecific diversity of fruit trees and medicinal plants is threatened by overgrazing, oil and mineral extraction, and poaching. Countless species from the approximately 20 ecosystems and 6000 plant taxa are now rare and endangered. Traditional vegetation studies in this region are far from adequate to handle complex issues such as soil mass movement, soil sodicity and salinity, biodiversity conservation, and grazing management. However, data analysis using a Geographical Information System (GIS) tool provides new insights into the vegetation of this region and opens up new opportunities for long-term sustainable management. While vegetation planning can occur at a property scale, it is often necessary for certain factors, such as salinity, to be dealt with on a regional scale to ensure their effective management. GIS increases the effectiveness and accuracy of vegetation planning in a region. Such regional planning will also greatly increases biodiversity values. This book systematically explores these issues and discuses new applications and approaches for overcoming these issues, including the application of GIS techniques for sustainable management and planning. Professional researchers as well as students and teachers of agriculture and ecology will find this volume to be an integral resource for studying the vegetation of Central Asia.

Of the world's seven continents, Asia is the largest. Its physical landscapes, political units, and ethnic groups are both wide-ranging and many. Southwest, South and Middle Asia are highly populated regions which, as a whole, cover an extremely large area of varied geography. In total, this domain is unique in its plant diversity and large vegetation zones with different communities and biomes. It is rich in endemics, with specific and intraspecific diversity of fruit trees and medicinal plants, including a number of rare, high value, species. At the same time, much of the land in the region is too dry or too rugged, with many geographical extremes. Overgrazing, oil and mineral extraction, and poaching are the major threats in the area. This two-volume project focuses on the dynamic biodiversity of the region with in-depth analysis on phytosociology, plants, animals and agroecology. There are also chapters that explore new applications as well as approaches to overcome problems associated with climate change. Much of the research and analysis are presented here for the first time. We believe this work is a valuable resource for professionals and researchers working in the fields of plant diversity and vegetation, animal diversity and animal populations, and geo-diversity and sustainable land use, among others. The first volume guides our readers to West Asia and the Caucasus region, while volume two focuses on issues unique to South and Middle Asia.

This book describes the various applications of microorganisms in improving plant growth, health and the efficiency of phytochemical production. The chapters trace topics such as the role of PGPRs in improving salt stress and heavy metal tolerance in plants; the prevention and control of plant diseases; boosting soil fertility and agriculture productivity; the induction of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in medicinal and aromatic plants; the enhancement of phytochemical levels, and the action mechanisms, diversity and characterization of PGPRs. The reviews will be of interest for scientists in the fields of agriculture, microbiology, soil biology, plant breeding and herbal medicinal products.

This book provides insights into various aspects of medicinal plant-associated microbes, known to be a unique source of biological active compounds, including their biotechnological uses and their potential in pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications. Featuring review papers and original research by leading experts in the field, it discusses medicinal plants and their interactions with the environment; medicinal plants as a source of biologically active compounds; medicinal plant-associated microbes (diversity and metabolites); their pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications as well as their potential applications as plant growth stimulators and biocontrol agents. As such the book offers a valuable, up-to-date overview of the current research on medicinal plants, their ecology, biochemistry and associated biomes.

This book describes the various applications of microorganisms in improving plant growth, health and the efficiency of phytochemical production. The chapters trace topics such as the role of PGPRs in improving salt stress and heavy metal tolerance in plants; the prevention and control of plant diseases; boosting soil fertility and agriculture productivity; the induction of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in medicinal and aromatic plants; the enhancement of phytochemical levels, and the action mechanisms, diversity and characterization of PGPRs. The reviews will be of interest for scientists in the fields of agriculture, microbiology, soil biology, plant breeding and herbal medicinal products.

Plant Endophytes and Secondary Metabolites provides the latest insights into the essential roles of these beneficial elements in plant growth, development, stress tolerance and plant protection from soil-borne disease.The book provides a comprehensive guide, addressing the usefulness and utility of endophytes towards enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic or biotic stress. It identifies biomolecules with unique molecular architectures, novel enzymes of industrial importance and explores the ecology and community structure of endophytes associated with host plants and their potential. Plant Endophytes and Secondary Metabolites provides insights into the endophytic microbiomes that are associated with diverse environments and includes case studies and nano-techniques for exploring endophytic potential.The book addresses the needs of researchers and advanced level students in agriculture, plant sciences, and biochemistry, seeking to underestand plant and soil microbiome sustainable ecosystem services.

Microbiome Drivers of Ecosystem Function focuses on the advancements in microbial technologies towards harnessing the microbiome for improved crop productivity and health that are at the frontier of agricultural sciences. It provides insights into the diversity of endophytic microbiomes and their potential utility in agricultural production. Increased crop yield through chemical interventions have limit thresholds and alternative, natural and/or integrated approaches are increasingly needed. Microbial inoculants among the ways in which food production efficiency can be improved. Plant growth-promoting soil organisms increase net crop uptake of soil nutrients, resulting in larger crops and higher yields of harvested food. These and other symbiotic associations between plants and microbes can ultimately be exploited for the increased food production necessary to feed the world, in addition to creating safer farming techniques that minimize ecological disruption. As a volume in the Microbiome Research in Plants and Soil series, Microbiome Drivers of Ecosystem Function serves as an ideal reference for researchers and students in the fields of agricultural biotechnology, biochemistry, environmental science, plant biology, agricultural sciences, and agricultural engineering.

This second edition of the book entitled "Microbial Communities and Interactions in extreme environments" focus on thermophilic and halophilic extremophiles from various ecosystems, their biodiversity, interactions with other organisms and functions within their hostile environment. Biotechnology of extremophiles and their potential agricultural and industrial applications is the focus of this edition. However, extremophiles may cope with their challenging environments. Information on biodiversity of extremophiles and their interactions with the surrounding biomes helps in understanding their ecology and functions within their respective extreme environments. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, microbiologists, capacity builders and policymakers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, microbiology and environmental sciences.

This book provides insights into various aspects of medicinal plant-associated microbes, known to be a unique source of biological active compounds, including their biotechnological uses and their potential in pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications. Featuring review papers and original research by leading experts in the field, it discusses medicinal plants and their interactions with the environment; medicinal plants as a source of biologically active compounds; medicinal plant-associated microbes (diversity and metabolites); their pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications as well as their potential applications as plant growth stimulators and biocontrol agents. As such the book offers a valuable, up-to-date overview of the current research on medicinal plants, their ecology, biochemistry and associated biomes.

Biodiversity and Biomedicine: Our Future provides a new outlook on Earth's animal, plant, and fungi species as vital sources for human health treatments. While there are over 10 million various species on the planet, only 2 million have been discovered and named. This book identifies modern ways to incorporate Earth's species into biomedical practices and emphasizes the need for biodiversity conservation. Written by leading biodiversity and biomedical experts, the book begins with new insights on the benefits of biologically active compounds found in fungi and plants, including a chapter on the use of wild fruits as a treatment option. The book goes on to discuss the roles of animals, such as amphibians and reptiles, and how the threatened presence of these species must be reversed to conserve biodiversity. It also discusses marine organisms, including plants, animals, and microbes, as essential in contributing to human health. Biodiversity and Biomedicine: Our Future is a vital source for researchers and practitioners specializing in biodiversity and conservation studies. Students in natural medicine and biological conservation will also find this useful to learn of the world's most bio-rich communities and the molecular diversity of various species.

Rhizosphere: Ecology, Management and Application highlights the use of the rhizosphere microbiome to improve plant and soil health, including strengthening stress resistance and remediating negatively impacted soils. The book focuses on current developments and applications of related low input management strategies in high-value crops as well as non-food plants. Further sections provide insights into the ecology and functions of these interactions, including evidence that plant microbiota is vital for plant growth and stress resilience and health. It highlights fundamental microbiome research to help readers better understand the dynamics within microbial communities and their interactions with various plant hosts and the environment. Microbial-root associations are essential to assist plants under abiotic and biotic stresses and are necessary and beneficial to enhancing agricultural crop production. Numerous studies have enhanced our vision of the complex interactions between the plant, the associated microbial communities, and the environment. Further, microbe – microbe interactions allow the simulation microbial community interactions naturally, and is one of the many modern methods for the development of novel and effective metabolites.