The roles of microbes in agriculture, industry and environment have been the point of interest since long time for their potential exploitation. Although only a fraction of microbial diversity was accessed by microbiologists earlier for harnessing them owing to limited techniques available. The molecular techniques have opened new vistas to access the wide field of the unexplored microbes and their exploitation for useful genes and novel metabolites. Sincere efforts have been made in biotechnology using microbes leading to improve our life with respect to agriculture and people health. This comprehensive volume covers different aspects of microbial biotechnology and its management in sustainable agriculture for food security and improved human health. The book comprises four sections: Endophytes and Mycorrhizae, Microbial Diversity and Plant Protection, Microbial Functions and Biotechnology, and Microbes and the Environment, which contain 53 chapters. The book examines the aspects on endophytes and mycorrhizae, bioactive compounds, growth promoting microorganisms, disease management with emphasis on biocontrol, genetics of disease resistance, microbial enzymes, advances in potential of microbes and their industrial as well as pharmaceutical applications. In addition, the use of botanicals, and the etiology and management of medicinal and aromatic plants in the post harvest management have been reviewed in greater depth for the benefit of teaching and research community.   The biotechnological developments using microbe potential have enabled us combat the environment and human health problems worldwide in ecofriendly manner. We are sure that this volume will be highly useful to all those concerned with fungi, bacteria, viruses and their biology, including environmental and public health officers and professionals in the field of interest. The volume is an exhaustive coverage of almost all the aspects of microbial biology and biotechnology.

The roles of microbes in agriculture, industry and environment have been the point of interest since long time for their potential exploitation. Although only a fraction of microbial diversity was accessed by microbiologists earlier for harnessing them owing to limited techniques available. The molecular techniques have opened new vistas to access the wide field of the unexplored microbes and their exploitation for useful genes and novel metabolites. Sincere efforts have been made in biotechnology using microbes leading to improve our life with respect to agriculture and people health.

This comprehensive volume covers different aspects of microbial biotechnology and its management in sustainable agriculture for food security and improved human health. The book comprises four sections: Endophytes and Mycorrhizae, Microbial Diversity and Plant Protection, Microbial Functions and Biotechnology, and Microbes and the Environment, which contain 53 chapters.

The book examines the aspects on endophytes and mycorrhizae, bioactive compounds, growth promoting microorganisms, disease management with emphasis on biocontrol, genetics of disease resistance, microbial enzymes, advances in potential of microbes and their industrial as well as pharmaceutical applications. In addition, the use of botanicals, and the etiology and management of medicinal and aromatic plants in the post harvest management have been reviewed in greater depth for the benefit of teaching and research community.

The biotechnological developments using microbe potential have enabled us combat the environment and human health problems worldwide in ecofriendly manner. We are sure that this volume will be highly useful to all those concerned with fungi, bacteria, viruses and their biology, including environmental and public health officers and professionals in the field of interest. The volume is an exhaustive coverage of almost all the aspects of microbial biology and biotechnology.

We wish to place on record a heartfelt thanks to all the contributors of the present endeavor. We thank Mr. Vijay Kumar Sharma, research scholar of RN Kharwar, for his untiring support. Last but not the least, we owe a special thank to Springer for publishing this book."

Microbial technology plays an integral role in the biotechnology, bioengineering, biomedicine/biopharmaceuticals and agriculture sector. This book provides a detailed compendium of the methods, biotechnological routes, and processes used to investigate different aspects of microbial resources and applications. It covers the fundamental and applied aspects of microorganisms in the health, industry, agriculture and environmental sectors, reviewing subjects as varied and topical as pest control, health and industrial developments and animal feed.

"Biotechnology and Biology of Trichoderma" serves as a comprehensive reference on the chemistry and biochemistry of one of the most important microbial agents, Trichoderma, and its use in an increased number of industrial bioprocesses for the synthesis of many biochemicals such as pharmaceuticals and biofuels. This book provides individuals working in the field of Trichoderma, especially biochemical engineers, biochemists and biotechnologists, important information on how these valuable fungi can contribute to the production of a wide range of products of commercial and ecological interest.
Provides a detailed and comprehensive coverage of the chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology of Trichoderma, fungi present in soil and plantsIncludes most important current and potential applications of Trichoderma in bioengineering, bioprocess technology including bioenergy & biofuels, biopharmaceuticals, secondary metabolites and protein engineeringIncludes the most recent research advancements made on Trichoderma applications in plant biotechnology and ecologyand environment"

The book deals with biological control of Pythium aphanidermatum causing damping-off disease of mustard by Trichoderma species. Damping-off disease of mustard occurs worldwide resulting in great loss to this crop. Trichoderma species have been widely exploited for plant growth promotion as well as in biological control of plant pathogens. Chemical fungicides are the main commercially available option for control of the disease. However, fungicides no more remain as an option for plant disease control due to their poisonous nature. Therefore, biological control is an attractive alternative. Our future agriculture must be based on organic farming where Trichoderma species are the most favored ones. They are omnipresent in agricultural and natural soils throughout the world and have a rapid growth rate, persistent conidia and a broad spectrum of substrate utilization that makes them very efficient in the competition for nutrients and living space. The book will be of great value for researchers as well as for people of industry.

The book deals with chitanse production by actinomycetes by solid state fermentation. Actinomycetes have been widely exploited group of microorganisms in the production of secondary metabolites and enzymes of commercial importance. Chitinases have received attention as they have been widely used as biocontrol agents for suppression of pathogenic fungi, mosquito control, mycolytic enzyme preparation, fungal protoplast technology, preparation of chito-oligosaccharides, glucosamine, and, cytochemical localization of chitin/chitosan using chitinase-chitosanase-gold complexes, production of single-cell protein, estimation of fungal biomass, morphogenesis, medical application, control of plant pathogenic fungi and degradation of fish wastes, etc. Solid state fermentation (SSF) holds tremendous potential for the production of chitinases specially in those processes where the crude fermented products may be used directly as the enzyme source. SSF could be the system of choice for microbial enrichment of agriculture residues and the production of enzymes and other extracellular metabolites. The book will be of great value for researchers as well as for people of industry.