Microbiome Stimulants for Crops

Mechanisms and Applications

2 Edición - 1 de enero de 2027
Última edición
Editores: James F. White, Ajay Kumar
Idioma: Inglés

Early work on the plant microbiome focused on establishing what it could do — cataloguing endophytes, tracing their effects in individual crops, and testing bio-based inputs one m… Leer más

Descripción

Early work on the plant microbiome focused on establishing what it could do — cataloguing endophytes, tracing their effects in individual crops, and testing bio-based inputs one mechanism at a time. Microbiome Stimulants for Crops: Mechanisms and Applications, Second Edition reflects how far the discipline has since matured. The underlying biology is still here, updated throughout, but the center of gravity has shifted toward what happens after discovery: how microbial knowledge is engineered into stable preparations, scaled for commercial release, and evaluated for the risks it introduces alongside its benefits.
That shift changes who the book speaks to and how. A grower needs confidence that a product performs consistently across seasons and soils. A manufacturer needs formulations that survive storage, transport, and regulatory scrutiny. A policymaker needs evidence weighed against cost and environmental tradeoffs before any of it reaches a field at scale. Rather than treating these as separate conversations, the volume folds them into a single account of the microbiome as both a natural system and an emerging industry — one where scientific insight only matters once it becomes usable, repeatable, and safe.

Puntos claves

Examines the biological foundations of the plant microbiome, from endophyte diversity and evolution to the signaling role of root exudates in microbial community assembly
Sets out the physiological processes behind microbial biostimulant action, including abiotic stress tolerance and the distinct contributions of cyanobacteria and beneficial fungi
Introduces circular-economy strategies for biostimulant development, including valorization of agro-industrial residues and organic waste, and the use of compost, biochar, and green manures as microbiome-modulating soil amendments
Explores extremophile bioprospecting as a frontier for agricultural innovation, with relevance extending to marginal environments and space biotechnology
Details the design and optimization of multi-organism microbial consortia, addressing stability and performance challenges of real-world deployment
Covers the application of omics technologies, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to inoculant study, formulation, and endophyte characterization
Identifies current gaps in the field, orienting future investigation efforts toward the questions with the greatest bearing on the sector’s continued growth

De interès para

Researchers and advanced students in plant microbiology, biostimulants, and biocontrol; agronomists, plant pathologists, and environmental technologists; and industry professionals working with microbial agricultural technologies.

Índice

PART I — Foundations: The Plant Microbiome

1. Microbial Endophytes: Evolution, Diversity, Community Functions, and Regulation

2. Plant Microbiome: Diversity, Distribution, and Functional Relevance in Crop Improvement and Sustainable Agriculture

3. Influence of Root Exudates on Rhizosphere Microbial Structure and Dynamics

4. Deciphering the Role of Root Exudates in Rhizosphere Microbial Assembly and Function

5. Molecular and Genetic Factors Influencing Interactions Between Host and Pathogen

PART II — Biostimulants: Mechanisms and Crop Benefits

6. Redefining Crop Productivity: Microbial Biostimulants and Their Role in Modern Agriculture

7. Role of Biostimulant Application in Improving Crop Growth, Physiological Performance, and Stress Tolerance Under Abiotic Stress Conditions

8. Cyanobacteria as Biostimulants for Crops

9. Role of Beneficial Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture

PART III — Waste Valorization and Circular Inputs

10. Biostimulant Development from Waste-Derived Microbiome Stimulants: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Prospects

11. Circular Utilization of Agro-Industrial Residues for Plant Microbiome Modulation

12. Microbiome-Targeted Biostimulants from Agro-Industrial Residues: Valorization Strategies and Agricultural Applications

13. Organic Amendments and Soil Microbial Interactions: Roles of Compost, Biochar, and Green Manures

14. Current Research on Biochar and Its Impact on Plant–Microbe Interactions

15. Bioprospecting Extremophiles for Sustainable Agriculture and the Future of Space Biotechnology

PART IV — Design, Formulation, and Field Application

16. Microbial Consortia: Designing and Optimizing Synergistic Communities for Sustainable Agriculture

17. Microbial Biocontrol Formulations for Commercial Applications

18. Precision Agriculture Revolution: Microbes in Integrated Farming

19. Microbes and Food Security: A Holistic Approach to Alleviating Hunger

PART V — Innovation, Commercialization, and Safety

20. Cutting-Edge Technologies: Microbial Innovations in Agriculture

21. Integrating Omics Approaches and Next-Generation Technologies in Microbial Biostimulant Research

22. The Endophytic Microbiome in Sustainable Agriculture: Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

23. Development and Commercialization of Microbiome-Based Stimulants: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Prospects

24. Microbial Inoculants as Plant Biostimulants: Assessing Risks and Safety Considerations

Detalles del producto

Edición: 2
Última edición
Publicado: 1 de enero de 2027
Idioma: Inglés

Sobre los editores

James F. White

James F. White is professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States. He received his BS and MS degrees in Botany and Plant Pathology/Mycology from Auburn University, Alabama, and completed his PhD in Botany at the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. Dr. White is internationally recognized for his research on symbiosis, with a focus on endophytic microorganisms. He has authored numerous scientific articles and has written or edited several influential reference books on the biology, taxonomy, and phylogeny of microbial endophytes. He and his research group currently investigate the diversity of endophytic and biostimulant microbes and their functional impacts on host plants, contributing foundational knowledge to plant–microbe interaction biology and sustainable agricultural innovation.

Afiliaciones y experiencia

Professor, Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, School of Environmental & Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

Ajay Kumar

Dr. Ajay Kumar is currently working as an assistant professor at Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India. Dr. Kumar recently completed his tenure as a visiting scientist from Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel. He has published more than 200 research, review articles, and book chapters in international and national journals. He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiology, BMC Microbiology and as guest editor for various journals such as Plants, Microorganisms, and Sustainability. Dr. Kumar has also edited more than 40 books with the leading publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley. Dr. Kumar’s research experience is in the field of plant–microbe interactions, postharvest management, cyanobacterial biology, and so on