Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are obligate root symbionts that impact plant growth, productivity and competitiveness. The book integrates key information about AMF concepts, structures and functions, and the new classification of Glomeromycota, including topics about AMF history and evolution, AMF families, genus and species description, as well as a compilation about several protocols to assess AMF and how to identify them. The focus is to provide readers enough information about AMF.

Mycorrhiza - symbiotic associations between plant roots and fungi - play a major role in many fundamental plant functions such as mineral nutrition or stress resistance. As the link between plants and the soil, mycorrhiza are now of great interest for developing new strategies in sustainable agriculture. Since they allow a decreased use of fertilizer and pesticides, negative impacts on the environment can be minimized. With contributions from renowned international scientists, this manual offers a great variety of practical protocols for analyzing mycorrhiza, including the latest molecular, biochemical, genetical, and physiological techniques.

This is the first book describing in vitro cultivation of root organs. The text describes various biological aspects such as the physiology, biochemistry, biodiversity, and life cycles of fungi, as well as the effects of symbiosis on plant growth and development, including large-scale fungus production for biotechnological use. Detailed protocols allow the immediate application of the method to culture mycorrhizal fungi in vitro.

Sharply focused, up-to-date information on microbial biofertilizers—including emerging options such as Piriformospora indica and Matsutake The Handbook of Microbial Biofertilizers provides in-depth coverage of all major microbial biofertilizers (rhizobia, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and cyanobacteriaas well as new and emerging growth promoters (endophytes). It examines the role of microbes in growth promotion, bioprotectors, and bioremidiators, and presents protocols and practical strategies for using microbes in sustainable agriculture. An abundance of helpful charts, tables, and figures make complex information easy to access and understand. In this first-of-its-kind volume, contributors from 11 countries and several continents address important issues surrounding microbial biofertilizers, including: the rhizobium-host-arbuscular mycorrhizal tripartite relationship mycorrhiza as a disease suppresser and stress reducer mycorrhiza helping bacteria the impact of functional groups of soil microorganisms on nutrient turnover PBPRs as biofertilizers and biopesticides the potential of wild-legume rhizobia for use as a biofertilizers the expanding role of blue-green algae in sustainable agriculture the role of microbial fertilizers in sustainable plant production new and emerging endophytes the commercial potential of biofertilizers In this young century, the use of biofertilizers is already growing rapidly. It has been recognized that these environment-friendly bioprotectors, growth boosters, and remediators are essential for soil/plant health. The Handbook of Microbial Biofertilizers is designed to fit the expanding information needs of current and future biotechnologists, microbiologists, botanists, agronomists, environmentalists, and others whose work involves sustained agriculture.

An evolving, living organic/inorganic covering, soil is in dynamic equilibrium with the atmosphere above, the biosphere within, and the geology below. It acts as an anchor for roots, a purveyor of water and nutrients, a residence for a vast community of microorganisms and animals, a sanitizer of the environment, and a source of raw materials for co

Continuous discoveries in plant and crop physiology have resulted in an abundance of new information since the publication of the third edition of the Handbook of Plant and Crop Physiology. Following its predecessors, the fourth edition of this well-regarded handbook offers a unique, comprehensive, and complete collection of topics in the field of plant and crop physiology. Divided into eleven sections, for easy access of information, this edition contains more than 90 percent new material, substantial revisions, and two new sections. The handbook covers the physiology of plant and crop growth and development, cellular and molecular aspects, plant genetics and production processes. The book presents findings on plant and crop growth in response to climatic changes, and considers the potential for plants and crops adaptation, exploring the biotechnological aspects of plant and crop improvement. This content is used to plan, implement, and evaluate strategies for increasing plant growth and crop yield. Readers benefit from numerous tables, figures, case studies and illustrations, as well as thousands of index words, all of which increase the accessibility of the information contained in this important handbook. New to the Edition: Contains 37 new chapters and 13 extensively revised and expanded chapters from the third edition of this book. Includes new or modified sections on soil-plant-water-nutrients-microorganisms physiological relations; and on plant growth regulators, both promoters and inhibitors. Additional new and modified chapters cover the physiological responses of lower plants and vascular plants and crops to metal-based nanoparticles and agrichemicals; and the growth responses of plants and crops to climate change and environmental stresses. With contributions from 95 scientists from 20 countries, this book provides a comprehensive resource for research and for university courses, covering plant and crop physiological responses under normal and stressful conditions ranging from cellular aspects to whole plants.

This practical handbook describes sampling and laboratory assessment methods for the biodiversity of a number of key functional groups of soil organisms, including insects, earthworms, nematodes, fungi and bacteria. The methods have been assembled and the protocols drafted by a number of scientists associated with the UNEP-GEF funded Conservation and Sustainable Management of Below-Ground Biodiversity Project, executed by the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF) Institute of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). The methods provide a standardized basis for characterizing soil biodiversity and current land uses in terrestrial natural, semi-natural and agroecosystems in tropical forests and at forest margins. The aim is to assess soil biodiversity against current and historic land use practices both at plot and landscape scales and, further, to identify opportunities for improved sustainable land management through the introduction, management or remediation of soil biota, thus reducing the need for external inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. The book also contains extensive advice on the handling of specimens and the allocation of organisms to strain or functional group type. Published with TSBF-CIAT, CTA, UNEP and GEF

This first volume in a new series emphasizes the role of fungi in the fertility of soil and plant yield, covering such topics as biodegradation of plant litter and pesticides, microbial interactions, mycorrhizal symbionts, and mathematical modeling of diseases. Major sections treat mycorrhizae and e

Plant Science, like the biological sciences in general, has undergone seismic shifts in the last thirty or so years. Of course science is always changing and metamorphosing, but these shifts have meant that modern plant science has moved away from its previous more agricultural and botanical context, to become a core biological discipline in its own right. However the sheer amount of information that is accumulating about plant science, and the difficulty of grasping it all, understanding it and evaluating it intelligently, has never been harder for the new generation of plant scientists or, for that matter, established scientists. And that is precisely why this Handbook of Plant Science has been put together. Discover modern, molecular plant sciences as they link traditional disciplines! Derived from the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Life Sciences! Thorough reference of up-to-the minute, reliable, self-contained, peer-reviewed articles – cross-referenced throughout! Contains 255 articles and 48 full-colour pages, written by top scientists in each field! The Handbook of Plant Science is an authoritative source of up-to-date, practical information for all teachers, students and researchers working in the field of plant science, botany, plant biotechnology, agriculture and horticulture.

This book, prepared by participants of the European network COST ACTION 810 (1989-93) is the outcome of a meeting held in Switzerland (Einsiedeln, September 29 to October 2, 1993) on the "Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizas on sustainable agriculture and natural ecosystems". COST(Cooperation Scientifique et Technique) Networks were created in 1971 by the Commission of European Communities, and later enlarged to include non-European Member States, to promote pre-competitive scientific and technical research in fields of common interest. During the eighties, COST ACTIONS were launched in bio technological fields, including the network on arbuscular mycorrhizas. Arbuscular mycorrhizas are a universally found symbiosis between plants and certain soil fungi and essential components of soil-plant systems. They act as a major inter face by influencing or regulating resource allocation between abiotic and biotic components of the soil-plant system. Arbuscular mycorrhizas are involved in many key ecosystem processes including nutrient cycling and conservation of soil struc ture, and have been shown to improve plant health through increased protection against abiotic and biotic stresses. Sustainability can be defined as the successful management of resources to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environ ment and conserving resources. Increasing environmental degradation and instability, due to anthropogenic activities and in particular the increasing fragility of the soil resource, has led to an increased awareness of the need to develop practices resulting in more sustainable natural and agroecosystems.