Volatiles and Food Security: Role of Volatiles in Agro-ecosystems

This book presents research on volatiles produced by microbes and plants along with their biotechnological implications for sustainable agriculture. A greater understanding of how plants and microbes live together and benefit each other can provide new strategies to improve plant productivity, while at the same time helping to protect the environment and maintain global biodiversity. To date, the use of chemicals to enhance plant growth or induced resistance in plants has been limited due to the negative effects and the difficulty in determining the optimal concentrations to benefit the plant. The book discusses extensive studies on biological alternatives that avoid these problems, and the research presented suggests that these compounds could offer an environmentally sound means to better grow and protect plants under greenhouse or field conditions. To understand the nature of VOCs and gene expression profiling of plant genes responding against these compounds can be conducted. It is possible that VOCs produced by microbes while colonizing roots are generated at sufficient concentrations to trigger plant responses. In conclusion, positive or negative effects of VOCs on plant productivity will be dependent on upon specific VOCs microbial strain, plant genotype, and presence/absence of abiotic/biotic stresses

Dr. Devendra K. Choudhary has fifteen years of experience in Microbial Ecology and is currently working as an Associate Professor at Amity University, Noida. Dr. Choudhary has worked on GOI sponsored major projects as Principle Investigator. As an active researcher, Dr Choudhary has published more than 50 research and review articles along with several book chapters for reputed journals and edited books. Dr Choudhary has been recognized as Member of The National Academy of Sciences (MNASc).

Dr. Anil K. Sharma has completed his Ph.D. (1988) in the area mycrorrhiza and rhizosphere biology with special emphasis on basic and applied aspects in bioinoculants, composting and microalgae research. Upon completion of PhD he went to abroad for post doctoral research work as; Research Associate (11/92 – May 94) Department of Biological Sciences, Grambling State University, Lousiana, USA; Visiting Scientist (August 2003 – November 2003) Department of Botany, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Visiting Scientist (September, 2013) Department of Environment Sciences, University of Helsinki, Lahti, Finland. Dr. Sharma has worked on more than 10 international and GOI sponsored major projects as Principle Investigator. He has published more than 100 research reviews paper in reputed journals with impact factor.

Dr. Prachi Agarwal presently working (Since June 2012) as “Program Manager” with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, Govt of India Enterprise, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi. Dr. Agarwal has pursued PhD in Energy and Environment (2004-2009), from Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi; M.Sc. in Environmental Science (2002-2004) from University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. Dr. Agarwal has published more than 20 research and review articles along with several book chapters for reputed journals and edited books.

Dr. Narendra Tuteja presently acting as Director, Amity Institute of Microbial Technology (AIMT), Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP), Noida. Before joining AIMT he spent years as Group Leader & Senior Scientist, International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi. Based on his contribution to science & society he has been elected as Fellow for various science academies India/abroad; Fellow of "Third Word Academy of Sciences", Trieste, Italy (FTWAS), Fellow of “National Academy of Agricultural Sciences”, New Delhi (FNAAS), Fellow of “National Environmental Science Academy”, New Delhi (FNESA), Fellow of “Indian Academy of Sciences”, Bangalore (FASc.), Fellow of “Indian National Science Academy”, Fellow of “National Academy of Sciences”, Allahabad (FNASc.).