Plant Science & Botany

Microbiomes in Plants and Contaminated Soil Health in the Era of Climate Change
Editors: Krishan K. Verma, PhD
Xiu-Peng Song, PhD
Abhishek Joshi, PhD
Jaya Arora, PhD
Yang-Rui Li, PhD

Microbiomes in Plants and Contaminated Soil Health in the Era of Climate Change

In production
Pub Date: Forthcoming June 2026
Hardback Price: $200 USD | $150 UK
Hard ISBN: 9781779644336
E-Book ISBN: 9781779644350
Pages: est. 332pp w index
Binding Type: Hardback / ebook
Notes: 9 color and 11 b/w illustrations

Soil is one of the most dynamic and vital components of our ecosystem, serving as a foundation for plant growth and habitat for countless organisms. Among these organisms, soil microbes play an indispensable role in maintaining soil health and efficiency, supporting plant development and sustaining agricultural productivity. As we face increasing challenges, such as climate change, soil degradation, and food security-safety, understanding the intricate relationships between soil microbes and plants has never been more critical. This new book, Microbiomes in Plants and Contaminated Soil Health in the Era of Climate Change, provides a comprehensive overview of the complex interactions that occur within the soil ecosystem. It explores the diverse characteristics of soil microbes, including their taxonomy, metabolic functions, and ecological roles. More importantly, it delves into the ways in which these microorganisms interact with plants, influencing their growth, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and resistance to diseases.

Each chapter highlights the latest research findings and methodologies in the field, offering insights from experts across various disciplines. Covering a range of topics, from the fundamental physiology of soil microbes to their application in sustainable agriculture, the book highlights the ecological importance of soil microbes and their potential as biotechnological tools for enhancing agricultural practices.

The volume discusses characteristics and plant responses of soil microbes, how plant microbes respond to stress tolerance efficiency, microbes for stress mitigation, leveraging soil microbes against soil contamination and climate change impacts, influence of abiotic stresses and soil-plant microbes, and more.

This volume will help to equip researchers, students, and practitioners with the knowledge necessary to harness the power of soil microbes in promoting sustainable land management and enhancing food security and safety. By exploring the multifaceted roles of soil microbes, the volume should stimulate further research and encourage innovative solutions to the pressing challenges faced by global agriculture.

CONTENTS:
Preface

1. Soil Microbes: Characteristics and Plant Responses
Krishan K. Verma, Xiu-Peng Song, Qiang Liang, Abhishek Joshi, Dong-Mei Li, Guang-Feng Liang, and Yang-Rui Li

2. How Plant Microbes Respond to Stress Tolerance Efficiency
Prasann Kumar, Krishan K. Verma, Aradhna Kumari, and Rajan Bhatt

3. Microbes on the Field Crops: A Solution for Stress Mitigation
Prajna Priyadarshini Das, Mohammad Imran Mir, Perla Madhu, and Irfan Ahmad Ghazi

4. Impact of Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions
Prasann Kumar, Krishan K. Verma, Aradhna Kumari, and Rajan Bhatt

5. Leveraging Soil Microbes Against Soil Contamination and Climate Change Impacts
Ayan Sarkar, Abhijit Mandal, Atanu Sarkar, Joydeep Karan, Sagnik Chanda, Bhaskar Ghosh, Indrajit Mondal, Sahin Aktar Munshi, and Bikram Barman

6. Unveiling Microbiota as a Key Stress Reliever for Plant Health in the Era of Climate Change
Atanu Sarkar, Joydeep Karan, Ayan Sarkar, Abhijit Mandal, Sagnik Chanda, Bhaskar Ghosh, Bikram Barman, Indrajit Mondal, and Sahin Aktar Munshi

7. Influence of Abiotic Stresses and Soil-Plant Microbes on Agro-Ecosystems
Prasann Kumar, Amit Raj, Mastu Patel, Krishan K. Verma, and Aradhna Kumari

8. Direct and Indirect Influence of Climate Change and Soil Microbial Activities on Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security, and Safety
Abhijit Mandal, Ayan Sarkar, Atanu Sarkar, Bhaskar Ghosh, and Bikram Barman

Index


About the Authors / Editors:
Editors: Krishan K. Verma, PhD
Foreign Expert, Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China

Krishan K. Verma, PhD, is a Foreign Expert at the Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Sugarcane Research Center, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement/Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in China. He has 14 years of research experience in the field of biotic and abiotic stresses, such as environmental toxicology, plant physiology, bioengineering, and nanobioscience. His research focuses on environmental toxicology, bioengineering modeling, plant physiology, and molecular biology, and their impacts on growth and physiological and molecular adaptation strategies of plants to stressful environments and how they affect plant structure. He has published more than 120 scientific research articles/reviews, 15 books, and 15 book chapters. He is an internationally recognized reviewer. He received an Award of Excellence–2021 for his contribution to agricultural science from the Sugarcane Society of Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Science, China. He has also been elected as a Fellow of the Society for Sugarcane Research & Promotion (FSSRP-2024) for his contribution to sugarcane crop production. In the year 2023, he was included in the list of 2% of the worlds top scientists by Elsevier BV. He is also Regional Editor of the journal Fluoride, published by the International Society for Fluoride Research Inc., New Zealand. He has been serving as an editorial board member of various peer-reviewed journals.

Xiu-Peng Song, PhD
Associate Professor, Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China

Xiu-Peng Song, PhD, is working as an Associate Professor at the Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement/Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi) of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China. His ongoing research focuses on plant physiology and biochemistry of stress resistance, occurrence mechanisms, and comprehensive control of diseases and insect pests in sugarcane. He has presided over four funded projects, such as by the National Natural Science Foundation, China, and participated in 16 projects that involved national and international cooperation. He has won six awards, including a Guangxi Science and Technology Progress Award. He has published over 65 scientific publications, three book chapters, and three books (one from Springer and two from Apple Academic Press). He received his masters and PhD degrees (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) from Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.

Abhishek Joshi, PhD
Doctoral Researcher, Laboratory of Biomolecular Technology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Rajasthan, India

Abhishek Joshi, PhD, is a distinguished and committed researcher in the field of plant biology. He is a Doctoral Researcher at the Laboratory of Biomolecular Technology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Rajasthan, India. Through his rigorous investigations, he made substantial contributions to the understanding of plant responses to abiotic stress conditions, particularly salinity and heavy metal stress. Dr. Joshis work has been published in several prestigious scientific journals. He has also published a book and 11 book chapters with internationally recognized publishers. Additionally, he has reviewed numerous manuscripts for journals and magazines of international repute. Apart from his academic achievements, Dr. Joshi participates in fieldwork and expeditions of various saline habitats across India. These experiences have broadened his understanding of the ecological significance of saline plants and their potential applications in sustainable agriculture and land reclamation efforts. He holds a masters degree in Botany and earned his PhD from Mohanlal Sukhadia University Udaipur, India. His doctoral research focused on uncovering the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that enable halophyte plants to thrive under challenging conditions.

Jaya Arora, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, India

Jaya Arora, PhD, is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, India, since 2012. She has been working for the past 13 years on production of useful polyphenolic metabolites from medicinal plants using biotechnological methods, bioactive peptides of medicinal plants and their use against pathological hallmarks, along with biochemistry and ecophysiology of halophytes and their responses to salt stress. Dr. Arora has published 35 research and review papers in journals of international repute, edited books from Springer, and a textbook. She has one e-book on the halophyte Suaeda and other publications on various aspects of halophytes.

Yang-Rui Li, PhD
Professor (life-time) & Director, Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Chief-Expert, National Joint Research Program for Elite Sugarcane Variety Development, China

Yang-Rui Li, PhD, is a life-time professor and has been serving as Director of the Sugarcane Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences since September 2007. He is also Chief Expert of the National Joint Research Program for Elite Sugarcane Variety Development in China. He worked in various capacities including as Professor in the Department of Agronomy, Guangxi Agricultural University; Vice-President of Guangxi University; President of the Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, etc. He is the President of the International Association for Professionals of Sugar and Integrated Technologies; Vice-President of the Society for Sugar Research and Promotion; and President of the Chinese Sugarcane Industry Association for Technological Innovation. His research interests include sugarcane physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, sugarcane genetics, breeding and cultivation, and chemical regulation of growth and development of sugarcane. He has published 16 books and more than 1000 papers and received 23 scientific research achievement awards from the Chinese government to date as well as 14 awards from international organizations, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Sugar Research and Promotion (2011), Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Professionals in Sugar and Integrated Technologies (2014), and Leadership Excellence Award from the Thailand Society of Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists (2018). He earned his BA degree at the Department of Agronomy, Guangxi Agricultural University, China, and MSc and PhD degrees from the Department of Agronomy, Fujian Agricultural University, China, respectively.




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