This edited volume is the first book that explicitly explains the link between the extraordinarily small-scale microbial processes and the growth and yield attributes of millet crops. This book includes chapters emphasizing on the effects of rhizosphere biology on long-term millet crop management. Millets are a collection of small-grained cereal grasses that are grown for human carbohydrate needs. They are among the oldest crops, mainly divided into two groups: major and small millets based on seed size. Major millets are composed of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum); while small millets are composed of six species that includes finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.)), little millet (Panicum sumatrense), kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum (L.)), foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.)), barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (L.)), and proso millet (Panicum miliaceum (L.). These crops are earlier considered as orphan crops, but recently due to their nutritional values it is gaining the importance. Various reports are published based on role of rhizosphere on growth and health of these crops. The rhizosphere being a dynamic interface among the plant roots and soil microbes provides a number of advantages to the millets too. The soil properties in rhizospheric region are also different as compared to the bulk soil. This book discovers the functional attributes of rhizosphere in promoting the healthy growth of millet crop and achieving higher yield during the changing climatic condition. This book is of interest to university teachers, scientists working in the millets, and policymakers in agricultural departments. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, biotechnology, microbiology, genetics, and soil science.

Plants create a dynamic micro-biosphere in the soil, around the roots, called as ‘rhizosphere’, which harbors diverse number of microorganisms for sustaining their growth and development. A soil with diverse and multi-traits microbial communities is considered healthy to enhance crop productivity. In the last decades, rhizosphere biology has gained attention due to unraveling of new mechanisms, processes and molecules in the rhizosphere that contributes towards the promotion of plant productivity. The rhizospheric microbes and associated processes are being utilized for harnessing potential of soils in effective and sustainable functioning in the agro-ecosystems. Broadly, the book discusses rhizospheric microbes and their role in modulating functions of soil and crop plant. Specifically, it highlights conventional and modern aspects of rhizosphere microbes such as – microbiome in the rhizosphere, microbes as an indicator and promoter of soil health, rhizosphere microbes as biofertilizer, biostimulator and biofortifyer, microbial signaling in the rhizosphere, recent tools in deciphering rhizobiome, and regulatory mechanisms for commercialization of biofertilizer, biopesticide and biostimulator. The book is useful for agriculture scientist, biotechnologist, plant pathologist, mycologist, and microbiologist, farming community, scientist of R&D organization, as well as teaching community, researcher and student and policy maker.

The Plant Root and the Rhizosphere was a major topical feature of the first International Symposium on Factors Determining the Behavior of Plant Pathogens in Soil held at the University of California, Berkeley in 1963. The symposium was edited by K. F. Baker and W. C. Snyder and published under the title Ecology of Soil-Borne Plant Pathogens. Since that time, several other international efforts, either on the root-soil interface specifically or on topics relating to the root environment, have provided"a wealth of valuable information basic to promoting the culture of healthier, more productive plants. For the writing of this book, inspiration has come, in large part, from 10 years of cooperative rhizosphere research in association with leading scientists participating in a regional effort within the southern United States. We have attempted to bring together in this work the major aspects of rhizosphere research and the principles of rhizosphere ecology for the benefit of developing young scientists and technologists, as well as for the established professional researcher and teacher. A prime objective and hope is that this volume might generate ideas that will bring forth new approaches and methodology leading to further advances in our understanding of rhizosphere interactions and their implications for agriculture. ' Because of the enormous complexity of the chemical, physical, and microbiological environment of roots, the methods used by various workers are rarely standardized, but must be devised or modified for each experiment.

The use of biocontrol agents and beneficial organisms for management of plant and pest diseases appears as an environment-friendly and economic procedure. However, this option is not always available, depending on the lack of knowledge on the mechanisms of natural regulation, locally effective. In this view, this eBook considers studies and experimental works illustrating a range of problems and solutions based on microbial resources, suitable for management of biotic stress factors. These examples show how detailed data and knowledge on the organisms involved are of paramount importance to achieve a sustainable and durable management capability.

Microbes are ubiquitous in nature, and plant-microbe interactions are a key strategy for colonizing diverse habitats. The plant microbiome (epiphytic, endophytic and rhizospheric) plays an important role in plant growth and development and soil health. Further, rhizospheric soil is a valuable natural resource, hosting hotspots of microbes, and is vital in the maintenance of global nutrient balance and ecosystem function. The term endophytic microbes refers to those microorganisms that colonize the interior the plants. The phyllosphere is a common niche for synergism between microbes and plants and includes the leaf surface. The diverse group of microbes are key components of soil-plant systems, and where they are engaged in an extensive network of interactions in the rhizosphere/endophytic/phyllospheric they have emerged as an important and promising tool for sustainable agriculture. Plant microbiomes help to directly or indirectly promote plant growth using plant growth promoting attributes, and could potentially be used as biofertilizers/bioinoculants in place of chemical fertilizers. This book allows readers to gain an understanding of microbial diversity associated with plant systems and their role in plant growth, and soil health. Offering an overview of the state of the art in plant microbiomes and their potential biotechnological applications in agriculture and allied sectors, it is a valuable resource for scientists, researchers and students in the field of microbiology, biotechnology, agriculture, molecular biology, environmental biology and related subjects.