Actinobacteria: Diversity and Biotechnological Applications: New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering, a volume in the series New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering series, offers the latest on the biotechnology of Kingdom actinobacteria, covering unique niches like their endosphere, rhizospheric soil and contaminated sites, etc. The book also covers the bioactive secondary metabolites obtained from actinobacteria and describes the application of microorganism (Actinobacteria) in plant growth promotion and in environmental cleanup. Finally, the book describes the biocontrol aspects of actinobacteria and how they can control fungal phytopathogens and the production of secondary metabolites.

Approx.652 pages

Magnetic Nanoferrites and their Composites: Environmental and Biomedical Applications addresses recent developments in this important research field. The book covers the latest synthesis and fabrication techniques, properties, characterization and multifunctional biomedical and environmental applications. Chapters provide cutting-edge research while addressing the latest scenarios, recent developments, future aspects, and challenges and opportunities attributed to their excellent properties, including large surface-to-volume ratio, high chemical stability, low eddy losses, moderate values of saturation magnetization and coercivity, large adsorption, non-toxicity, bio-degradable and biocompatibility. This book will be a valuable reference resource for researchers, engineers and technologists working in this important research field. Magnetic nanoferrites and their composites are now utilized in a broad range of different application fields such as catalysis, biomedicine, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tissue targeting, drug delivery, sensors, environmental remediation, data storage, transformers, switching devices, high frequency and microwave devices.

Biogenic Sustainable Nanotechnology: Trends and Progress focuses on the green synthesis of nanomaterials with various biological systems, emphasizing the mechanisms of nanomaterial synthesis, spectroscopic characterizations, and applications in a variety of industrial sectors. Interest in developing eco-friendly, green, cost-effective, and facile methods for nanomaterials synthesis is rapidly growing. Green synthesis methods focus on a greener environment, minimizing generated waste, and implementing sustainable processes. As discussed in this book, green nanostructured materials often include phytochemical agent extracts, such as carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, proteins, amino acids, chromone, steroids, phytol, and terpenoids. These phytochemicals from plant extracts play a crucial role in improving the reduction rate, size, and stabilization, by acting as good reducers, surfactants, structure directors, and capping agents. This book is an essential reference source for materials scientists, bioengineers, and environmental scientists.

Next-Generation Antimicrobial Nanocoatings for Medical Devices and Implants provides a detailed, up-to-date overview of nano-based antimicrobial coatings used to combat medical device-related biofilms. An introduction to biofilms and how they infect medical devices is included, as well as strategies/modification techniques used to target these biofilms. This book evaluates the various antimicrobial coatings formed using nanomaterials such as silver, inorganic materials, organic materials, carbon dots, surfactants, and electrospun fibers, specifically for us on medical devices and implants. Numerous coating methods are discussed along with the biological characterizations of these coating materials, and their toxicological and environmental impact.Next-generation Antimicrobial Nanocoatings for Medical Devices and Implants is a useful reference for materials scientists, biomedical engineers, and those working on the development of novel biomaterials for use in medical devices and implants.

Abiotic Stress and Legumes: Tolerance and Management is the first book to focus on the ability of legume plants to adapt effectively to environmental challenges. Using the -omic approach, this book takes a targeted approach to understanding the methods and means of ensuring survival and maximizing the productivity of the legume plant by improving tolerance to environmental /abiotic stress factors including drought, temperature change, and other challenges. The book presents a comprehensive overview of the progress that has been made in identifying means of managing abiotic stress effects, specifically in legumes, including the development of several varieties which exhibit tolerance through high yield using transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic and ionomic approaches. Further, exogenous application of various stimulants such as plant hormones, nutrients, sugars, and polyamines has emerged as an alternative strategy to improve productivity under these environmental challenges. Abiotic Stress and Legumes: Tolerance and Management examines these emerging strategies and serves as an important resource for researchers, academicians and scientists, enhancing their knowledge and aiding further research.

Nanotechnological Aspects for Next-generation Wound Management provides detailed, up-to-date literature on nanotechnology's role in wound management and its applications using nanoparticles, nanocomposites, carbon-based nanostructures and nanomaterials. Scaffolds, three-dimensional approaches, skin tissue engineering, and polymer-based films are discussed to treat wounds. This one-of-a-kind reference is ideal for health practitioners, clinicians and researchers who will find the book to be excellent reference material for updates on recent trends in nanotechnology for wound management.

Improving Cereal Productivity through Climate Smart Practices is based on the presentations of the 4th International Group Meeting on "Wheat productivity enhancement through climate smart practices," and moves beyond the presentations to provide additional depth and breadth on this important topic. Focused specifically on wheat, and with chapters contributed by globally renowned pioneers in the field of cereal science, the book helps readers understand climate change and its effects on different aspects of wheat production in different parts of the world. This book will be important for those in research and industry seeking to contribute to the effective feeding of the world's population.

Nanobiotechnology for Bioremediation: Fundamentals and Mechanisms provides detailed information on nanomaterial applications for the bioremediation of a heavily contaminated environment. Relevant information is provided on the application of nanofibers, nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), nanocomposites, carbon nanotubes for rejuvenation of a heavy environment from different pollutants, such as heavy metals, chlorinated compounds, organic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbon, and hydrocarbons. The book also explores the application of nanomaterials as a sustainable green solution that help prevent various high levels of contamination in the environment. Each chapter addresses the application of nanomaterials as a sustainable tool for managing innumerable environmental challenges. This helps readers translate their research findings into sustainable innovations to resolve their immediate environmental challenges.

Plant Life under Changing Environment: Responses and Management presents the latest insights, reflecting the significant progress that has been made in understanding plant responses to various changing environmental impacts, as well as strategies for alleviating their adverse effects, including abiotic stresses. Growing from a focus on plants and their ability to respond, adapt, and survive, Plant Life under Changing Environment: Responses and Management addresses options for mitigating those responses to ensure maximum health and growth. Researchers and advanced students in environmental sciences, plant ecophysiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, nano-pollution climate change, and soil pollution will find this an important foundational resource.

New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Microbial Biofilms is divided into three sections: microbial adhesion/biofilms in medical settings, microbial adhesion/biofilms in agriculture, and microbial adhesion/biofilm in the environment and industry. Chapters cover adhesion and biofilm formation by pathogenic microbes on tissue and on indwelling medical devices, including sections on human infections, microbial communication during biofilm mode of growth, host defense and antimicrobial resistance, and more. Other sections cover the biofilms of agriculturally important and environmental friendly microbes, including biofilm formation on plants, in soil, and in aquatic environments. Finally, the latest scientific research on microbial adhesion and biofilm formation in the environment and in industry is covered.

Microbial Endophytes and Plant Growth: Beneficial Interactions and Applications explains how modern molecular tools can unlock the plant's microbial network, building the bridge between plant and environment. Chapters describe the usefulness of the endophytic microbiome of different crops, including cereals, vegetables and horticulture, and delve into the latest research surrounding the applications of plant-microbe interactions in improving plant growth. Other topics discussed include root endophytes and their role in plant fitness, seed associated endophytes and their functions, and microbial endophytes and nanotechnology. This is a one-stop resource for scientists wanting access to the latest research in plant microbiology. The book also provides advanced techniques for using multi-omics approaches to study plant-microbe interactions, providing readers with a practical approach.

There are many factors to be considered when examining the current state of environmental problems in the modern world. By addressing these causes, the preservation of ecosystems and environmental resources can be maintained. Environmental Issues Surrounding Human Overpopulation is an authoritative reference source for the latest scholarly research on the depletion of natural resources due to overpopulation and presents insights on how these environmental threats can be addressed. Highlighting technological, economic, and social perspectives, this book is ideally designed for policymakers, researchers, academics, students, and practitioners interested in better understanding the current state of the global environment.

Microbial Syntrophy-Mediated Eco-enterprising summarizes and reviews possible microbial applications for eco-industrial sustainability. The book emphasizes a wide spectrum of experimental and theoretical contributions from eminent researchers in the field. In 13 chapters, there is a focus on the microbial intrusions for remediating sites by accumulated pesticides, heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and other industrial effluents. Moreover, the potentiality and key mechanisms used by microorganisms for sustainable environmental management and their prospects are also considered in this new release. The term syntrophy for nutritional interdependence is often used in microbiology to describe the symbiotic relationship between bacterial species. Understanding such interactions can be of considerable interest when we come to manipulate microbes to our own benefit, such as by disrupting pathogenic communities with antibiotics or by promoting efficiency in communities that produce energy or break down waste.

Nitric Oxide in Plant Biology: An Ancient Molecule with Emerging Roles is an extensive volume which provides a broad and detailed overview of Nitric Oxide (NO) in plant biology. The book covers the entirety of the crucial role NO plays in the plant lifecycle, from the regulation of seed germination and growth to synthesis, nitrogen fixation and stress response. Beginning with NO production and NO homeostasis, Nitric Oxide in Plant Biology goes on to cover a variety of NO roles, with a focus on NO signalling, crosstalk and stress responses. Edited by leading experts in the field and featuring the latest research from laboratories from across the globe, it is a comprehensive resource of interest to students and researchers working in plant physiology, agriculture, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Hydrogen Sulfide in Plant Biology: Past and Present includes 17 chapters, with topics from cross-talk and lateral root development under stress, to post-translational modifications and disease resistance. With emerging research on the different roles and applications of H2S, this title compiles the latest advances of this key signaling molecule. The development of a plant requires complex signaling of various molecules like H2S in order to achieve regulated and proper development, hence hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has emerged as an important signaling molecule that regulates nearly each and every stage of a plant's lifecycle. Edited by leading experts in the field, this is a must-read for scientists and researchers interested in plant physiology, biochemistry and ecology.

World population is growing at an alarming rate and may exceed 9.7 billion by 2050, whereas agricultural productivity has been negatively affected due to yield limiting factors such as biotic and abiotic stresses as a result of global climate change. Wheat is a staple crop for ~20% of the world population and its yield needs be augmented correspondingly in order to satisfy the demands of our increasing world population. "Green revolution", the introduction of semi-dwarf, high yielding wheat varieties along with improved agronomic management practices, gave rise to a substantial increase in wheat production and self-sufficiency in developing countries that include Mexico, India and other south Asian countries. Since the late 1980's, however, wheat yield is at a standoff with little fluctuation. The current trend is thus insufficient to meet the demands of an increasing world population. Therefore, while conventional breeding has had a great impact on wheat yield, with climate change becoming a reality, newer molecular breeding and management tools are needed to meet the goal of improving wheat yield for the future. With the advance in our understanding of the wheat genome and more importantly, the role of environmental interactions on productivity, the idea of genomic selection has been proposed to select for multi-genic quantitative traits early in the breeding cycle. Accordingly genomic selection may remodel wheat breeding with gain that is predicted to be 3 to 5 times that of crossbreeding. Phenomics (high-throughput phenotyping) is another fairly recent advancement using contemporary sensors for wheat germplasm screening and as a selection tool. Lastly, CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein mediated genome editing technology has been successfully utilized for efficient and specific genome editing of hexaploid bread wheat. In summary, there has been exciting progresses in the development of non-GM wheat plants resistant to biotic and abiotic stress and/or wheat with improved nutritional quality. We believe it is important to highlight these novel research accomplishments for a broader audience, with the hope that our readers will ultimately adopt these powerful technologies for crops improvement in order to meet the demands of an expanding world population.

Fungal growths affect both human and animal well-being. Many natural pathogens of laboratory animals alter host physiology, rendering the host unsuitable for experimental uses. While the number and prevalence of few pathogens have declined considerably, many still turn up in laboratory animals and represent unwanted variables in research. Investigators using laboratory animals in biomedical experimentation should be aware of the profound effects that many of these agents can have on research. What does the future hold regarding the natural pathogens of laboratory animals? The selection of an animal model must carefully address issues of the type of human disease to mimic, the parameters to follow, and the collection of the appropriate data to answer those questions being asked. Overall, animal models of fungal infection will continue to deepen our understanding of how these infections occur. This book provides a valuable source of information to biological and biomedical scientists and to clinical and doctoral researchers working in the area of fungal infections and diseases of laboratory animal species.

Plant endophytes are a potential source for the production of bioactive compounds that can fight against devastating diseases in both plants and humans. Among these endophytic microorganisms, endophytic fungi are one of the dominant group of microorganisms with a potential role in plant growth promotion and the discovery of noble bioactive natural products. Endophytic fungi possess several bioactivities like anticancer, antimicrobial, insecticidal, plant growth stimulants, crop protection, phytoremediation, etc. Presence of modular biosynthetic genes clusters like PKS and NRPS in several endophytic fungi underscores the need to understand and explore such organisms. This volume presents and demonstrates the applied aspects of endophytic fungi. Practical applications of such endophytes are discussed in detail, including studies in pharmaceutical development and agricultural management of important microbial diseases. The beneficial effects that endophytic fungi provide to host plants-enhancing growth, increasing fitness, strengthening tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses through secondary metabolites-are also discussed. The reader is provided with a comprehensive and detailed understanding of such relationships between endophytic fungi and their host.

The population of the world continues to increase at an alarming rate. The trouble linked with overpopulation ranges from food and water scarcity to inadequacy of space for organisms. Overpopulation is also linked with several other demographic hazards, for instance, population blooming will not only result in exhaustion of natural repositories, but it will also induce intense pressure on the world economy. Today nanotechnology is often discussed as a key discipline of research but it has positive and negative aspects. Also, due to industrialization and ever-increasing population, nano-pollution has been an emerging topic among scientists for investigation and debate. Nanotechnology measures any substance on a macromolecular scale, molecular scale, and even atomic scale. More importantly, nanotechnology deals with the manipulation and control of any matter at the dimension of a single nanometer. Nanotechnology and nanoparticles (NPs) play important roles in sustainable development and environmental challenges as well. NPs possess both harmful and beneficial effects on the environment and its harboring components, such as microbes, plants, and humans. There are many beneficial impacts exerted by nanoparticles, however, including their role in the management of waste water and soil treatment, cosmetics, food packaging, agriculture, biomedicines, pharmaceuticals, renewable energies, and environmental remedies. Conversely, NPs also show some toxic effects on microbes, plants, as well as human beings. It has been reported that use of nanotechnological products leads to the more accumulation of NPs in soil and aquatic ecosystems, which may be detrimental for living organisms. Further, toxic effects of NPs on microbes, invertebrates, and aquatic organisms including algae, has been measured. Scientists have also reported on the negative impact of NPs on plants by discussing the delivery of NPs in plants. Additionally, scientists have also showed that NPs interact with plant cells, which results in alterations in growth, biological function, gene expression, and development. Thus, there has been much investigated and reported on NPs and plant interactions in the last decade. This book discusses the most recent work on NPs and plant interaction, which should be useful for scientists working in nanotechnology across a wide variety of disciplines.

Pulses have played a major role in human diet and are considered a rich source of proteins. But, the major constraints in achieving the yield of pulses are the occurrences of various diseases and pests. Hence, there is a need to understand major fungal pathogens and their management strategies for sustainable agriculture. The major pulse crops in India and other Asian countries are bengal gram, pigeon pea, black gram, green gram, lentil and peas, which are attacked by several pathogens that cause considerable crop damage. Bengal gram is affected mainly by wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri), blight (Mycosphaerella pinodes) and rust (Uromyces ciceris-arietini). The main diseases of pigeon pea are wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) and Phytophtora stem blight (Phytophthora drechsleri f. sp. cajani). Powdery mildew (Erysiphe polygoni) and rust (Uromyces vicia-fabae) are the most important diseases affecting the production of pea. This volume offers details like symptoms, distribution, pathogens associated, predisposing factors and epidemiology, sources of resistance and holistic management of diseases with particular reference to those of economic importance. Several minor diseases of lentil, green gram and of black gram are discussed with their detailed and updated information. This volume provides pooled information regarding the management of major fungal phytopathogens affecting pulses.

A critical part of ensuring that systems are advancing alongside technology without complications is problem solving. Practical applications of problem-solving theories can model conflict and cooperation and aid in creating solutions to real-world problems. Soft-Computing-Based Nonlinear Control Systems Design is a critical scholarly publication that examines the practical applications of control theory and its applications in problem solving to fields including economics, environmental management, and financial modelling. Featuring a wide range of topics, such as fuzzy logic, nature-inspired algorithms, and cloud computing, this book is geared toward academicians, researchers, and students seeking relevant research on control theory and its practical applications.