Metabolic Sustainability of Endophytes: Current Status, Challenges and Potential

This book describes the diversity and functional roles of fungal endophytes. It explains their beneficial impacts along with the practical applications in crop production. The endophytes are an important possibility for research on future medications and biopesticides in view of the production of secondary metabolites. In the context of agriculture, the book chapters delve into the biostimulant properties of endophytic fungi, offering sustainable solutions for crop production. This extends to their relationships with medicinal plants, paving the way for potential breakthroughs in medicine and agriculture alike. The book encompasses the adaptability and potential of endophytic fungi, emphasizing their future role as biostimulants for the viable bioprospecting of high-value secondary metabolites. Molecular mechanisms governing future host-endophyte interactions is discussed to provide a deeper understanding of signaling pathways.

This book is an important asset for future students, researchers in plant science, and professionals across diverse industries, fostering a nuanced comprehension of fungal endophytes and their multifaceted roles in the pursuit of future metabolic sustainability.

Dr. Mukesh Meena completed his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Botany from the Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, India. He is currently serving as an assistant professor in the Department of Botany at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, India. Dr. Meena previously worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Hamdard, India. He is well-versed in a range of analytical tools relevant to mycopathological research. Dr. Meena has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications, including research articles, review articles, and book chapters. Additionally, he has published six books with international publishers. He has been recognized in the "World Ranking of Top 2% Scientists" database, released by Stanford University, USA.

Dr. Andleeb Zehra has completed her Ph.D. from Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University, India. She is a visiting lecturer in Mianz International College. She has extensive research experience in plant-microbe interaction, fungal biology, biological control and plant growth promoting microbes. She has published more than 40 national and international articles and delivered numerous oral and poster presentations in several national and international conferences.

Dr. Prashant Swapnil graduated from Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University and post-graduated from the Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, India. Dr. Swapnil did his Ph.D. from the Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University. Currently, he is working as an assistant professor in the Department of Botany, Central University of Punjab, India. He has more than 20 peer-reviewed international publications and more than 12 book chapters published. Dr. Swapnil has expertise in cyanobacterial stress physiology as well as plant pathogen interaction.

Dr. Chandra Shekhar Seth is an associate professor at the Department of Botany, University of Delhi, India. He obtained his M.Sc. degree in botany from Banaras Hindu University and Ph.D. degree in botany from University of Lucknow, India. His major research interest’s area includes how various phytohormones mitigate the heavy metals and salinity induce toxicity in plants, photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism under abiotic stress, and role of nanomaterials in mitigating the HMs and salt stresses in plants. He has published many peer-reviewed research papers, review papers, and several book and book chapters related to this field.