Bioinoculants for Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry

This book forms the proceedings of National Symposium and covers different aspects of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. The contributions are from the leading microbiologists in their respective fields. The book presents a holistic picture of role of microorganisms in plant growth and development on one hand and plant protection on the other. An up-date information is provided in this book. Role of biofertilizers in integrated nutrient management was highlighted and similarly the need of transgenic microbial inoculants for sustainable agriculture was emphasized. A role of ectomycorrhizae in heavy metal tolerance and in reclaiming wastelands was also discussed. Structure and importance of VAM fungi in growth and development of medicinal plants, tomato, sugarcane and millets was elucidated by different workers. A critical review on actinorrhizae was also included. Azospirillum plant association in stress tolerance was elaborated. Need of cyanobacterial biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture is also detailed. Phosphate solubilizing microbes and other microorganisms and plant productivity are dealt in two different chapters. Beneficial effect of Rhizobium on black gram was also given. Management of pests through microbial pathogens including viruses, and VAM fungi was discussed. Management of mites through fungi formed the last two chapters.