This book provides a comprehensive information on basic and applied concepts of microbesial strategies adopted for the improvement of vegetables grown in various production systems. The beneficial role of soil microbes including plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), nitrogen fixers, and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in the improvement of vegetables grown both in normal and contaminated soils is discussed. The role of PGPR in tomato production is dealt separately. The impact of heavy metals on different vegetables and abatement of metal toxicity following metal tolerant PGPR and their consequential impact on vegetables grown in metal polluted soil is discussed. Moreover, recent advances in the management of vegetable diseases employing PGPR are addressed. This volume is therefore of special interest to both academics, professionals and practitioners working in the field of vegetable farming/horticulture, microbiology and plant protection sciences.
Almas Zaidi, received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. (Agricultural Microbiology) from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India and currently serving as Guest teacher/Assistant Professor at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Dr. Zaidi has been teaching Microbiology at post graduate level for the last 12 years and has research experience of 16 years. She has published above 50 research papers, book chapters and review articles in journals of national and international repute. Dr. Zaidi has edited seven books published by the leading publishers. Her main focus of research is to address problems related with rhizo-microbiology, microbiology, environmental microbiology, and biofertilizer technology.
Mohammad Saghir Khan, Ph.D. is a Professor at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Dr. Khan received his M.Sc. from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India and his Ph.D. (Microbiology) from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, India. He has been teaching Microbiology to post-graduate students for the last 20 years and has research experience of 24 years. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Khan is engaged in guiding students for their doctoral degree in Microbiology. He has published over 100 scientific papers including, original research articles, review articles and book chapters in various national and international publication media. Dr. Khan has also edited nine books published by the leading publishers. Dr. Khan is deeply involved in research activities focusing mainly on rhizobiology, microbiology, environmental microbiology especially heavy metals-microbes-legume interaction, bioremediation, pesticide-PGPR-plant interaction, biofertilizers and rhizo-immunology.
