Microbes for Legume Improvement comprises 21 chapters and provides comprehensive information on concepts of microbial technology for the improvement of legumes grown in different agro-ecosystems. The role of microbes including symbiotic nitrogen fixers, asymbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria (like Azospirillum), plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), phosphate-solubilizing microbes, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biocontrol agents in the improvement of both conventional and forage legumes growth is discussed. The role of bacterial biofilms in legume-Rhizobium interactions and metal tolerant microbes in the improvement of legumes is dealt separately. Furthermore, recent findings on the taxonomic status of rhizobia, various signal molecules affecting symbiosis, legume-pathogen and legume-rhizobial interactions and proteomic analysis of legume–microbe interactions are addressed. This volume gives a broad view of legume disease management using microbes and presents strategies for the management of cultivated legumes. It is therefore of special interest to both academics and professionals working in the field of microbiology, soil microbiology, environment microbiology, biotechnology and agronomy as well as plant protection sciences.

Global yields of legumes have been relatively stagnant for the last five decades, despite the adoption of conventional and molecular breeding approaches. The use of plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria for improving agricultural production, soil and plant health has become one of the most attractive strategies for developing sustainable agriculture. Actinomycetes are bacteria that play an important role in PGP and plant protection, produce secondary metabolites of commercial interest, and their use is well documented in wheat, rice, beans, chickpeas and peas. In order to promote legumes, the general assembly of the UN recently declared 2016 the “International Year of Pulses.” In view of this development, this book illustrates how PGP actinomycetes can improve grain yield and soil fertility, improve control of insect pests and phytopathogens, and enhance host-plant resistance. It also addresses special topics of current interest, e.g. the role of PGP actinomycetes in the biofortification of legume seeds and bioremediation of heavy metals.

With an ever-increasing human population, the demand placed upon the agriculture sector to supply more food is one of the greatest challenges for the agrarian community. In order to meet this challenge, environmentally unfriendly agroch- icals have played a key role in the green revolution and are even today commonly recommended to circumvent nutrient de?ciencies of the soils. The use of ag- chemicals is, though, a major factor for improvement of plant production; it causes a profound deteriorating effect on soil health (soil fertility) and in turn negatively affects the productivity and sustainability of crops. Concern over disturbance to the microbial diversity and consequently soil fertility (as these microbes are involved in biogeochemical processes), as well as economic constraints, have prompted fun- mental and applied research to look for new agro-biotechnologies that can ensure competitive yields by providing suf?ciently not only essential nutrients to the plants but also help to protect the health of soils by mitigating the toxic effects of certain pollutants. In this regard, the role of naturally abundant yet functionally fully unexplored microorganisms such as biofertilizers assume a special signi?cance in the context of supplementing plant nutrients, cost and environmental impact under both conventional practices and derelict environments. Therefore, current devel- ments in sustainability involve a rational exploitation of soil microbial communities and the use of inexpensive, though less bio-available, sources of plant nutrients, which may be made available to plants by microbially-mediated processes.

This book presents in-depth insights into strategies involving plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), including symbiotic/asymbiotic nitrogen fixers and associative/endophyte bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing microbes, as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their active biomolecules in legume production. It also examines the latest research findings on the taxonomic status of rhizobia and signal molecules affecting rhizobia-legume symbiosis to improve readers’ understanding of the cultivation of legumes in conventional and derelict soil. The agronomically important microflora broadly discussed have offered solutions to some of the problems associated with expensive fertilizers used in many production systems. This second edition provides an overview of metal toxicity to legumes and presents strategies for the abatement of metal toxicity to legumes. Aimed at professionals, practitioners, researchers and graduate students in microbiology, crop sciences, soil microbiology, biotechnology and environmental microbiology, the book focuses on the basic concepts and practical aspects of useful soil microbiota in legume production.

Molecular Aspects of Plant Beneficial Microbes in Agriculture explores their diverse interactions, including the pathogenic and symbiotic relationship which leads to either a decrease or increase in crop productivity. Focusing on these environmentally-friendly approaches, the book explores their potential in changing climatic conditions. It presents the exploration and regulation of beneficial microbes in offering sustainable and alternative solutions to the use of chemicals in agriculture. The beneficial microbes presented here are capable of contributing to nutrient balance, growth regulators, suppressing pathogens, orchestrating immune response and improving crop performance. The book also offers insights into the advancements in DNA technology and bioinformatic approaches which have provided in-depth knowledge about the molecular arsenal involved in mineral uptake, nitrogen fixation, growth promotion and biocontrol attributes.

During the past three decades there has been a large amount of research on biological nitrogen fixation, in part stimulated by increasing world prices of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and environmental concerns. In the last several years, research on plant--microbe interactions, and symbiotic and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation has become truly interdisciplinary in nature, stimulated to some degree by the use of modern genetic techniques. These methodologies have allowed us to make detailed analyses of plant and bacterial genes involved in symbiotic processes and to follow the growth and persistence of the root-nodule bacteria and free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soils. Through the efforts of a large number of researchers we now have a better understanding of the ecology of rhizobia, environmental parameters affecting the infection and nodulation process, the nature of specificity, the biochemistry of host plants and microsymbionts, and chemical signalling between symbiotic partners. This volume gives a summary of current research efforts and knowledge in the field of biological nitrogen fixation. Since the research field is diverse in nature, this book presents a collection of papers in the major research area of physiology and metabolism, genetics, evolution, taxonomy, ecology, and international programs.

In a sustainable agricultural system, legume crops are one of the essential components. However, improving the productivity of legume crops and improving their tolerance to adverse environments are essential tasks for plant biologists. This book includes nine comprehensive chapters addressing various aspects of legume crop biology, production and importance. There are several chapters on the adaptation of legumes to an adverse environment. Particular focus is provided on the sustainable production of legume crops under changing environments. This book will be useful for undergraduate and graduate students, teachers, and researchers, particularly from the field of Crop Science, Soil Science, Plant Breeding and Agronomy.