The Role Of Photosynthetic Microbes In Agriculture And Industry

The photosynthetic microbes including microalgae and cyanobacteria are the most widespread photosynthetic organisms on Earth. These organisms thrive successfully in a wide range of ecological habitats, ranging from marine and freshwater to terrestrial environments. The short generation time and capability to fix the atmospheric N2 and cosmopolitan distribution make these organisms unique. Photosynthetic microbes such as cyanobacteria are used as biofertilizer for rice paddy and their application improves soil physico-chemical characteristics and the mineral nutrient status of the soil. However, in recent times they have been exploited for the production of several fine chemicals and biofuel. Due to their simple cellular organization, the bare minimum requirement of nutrients and ease of cultivation, recently the microalgae have been exploited and accompanied by the capacity to produce bio-energy, especially bio-diesel. Use of photosynthetic microbes in wastewater treatment has also generated considerable interest in the scientific community and industry at large. Bioremediation using photosynthetic microbes is an emerging area of research and the organisms accumulate or degrade several environmental contaminants and heavy metals. Because of the antagonistic properties, they are also a potential source of various bioactive compounds. In brief, the potential of photosynthetic microbes could be harnessed for economic viability and sustainability of agro-ecosystems. This book attempts to highlight the potential and prospects of the photosynthetic microbes for the welfare of mankind in view of the anticipated population explosion and global climate change.

A comprehensive, edited volume pulling together research on manipulation of the crop microbiome for climate resilient agriculture Microbes for Climate Resilient Agriculture provides a unique collection of data and a holistic view of the subject with quantitative assessment of how agricultural systems will be transformed in coming decades using hidden treasure of microbes. Authored by leaders in the field and edited to ensure conciseness and clarity, it covers a broad range of agriculturally important crops, discusses the impact of climate change on crops, and examines biotechnologically and environmentally relevant microbes. The book encapsulates the understanding of microbial mediated stress management at field level, and will serve as a springboard for novel research findings and new applications in the field. Chapter coverage includes: the role of the phytomicrobiome in maintaining biofuel crop production in a changing climate; the impact of agriculture on soil microbial community composition and diversity in southeast Asia; climate change impact on plant diseases; microalgae; photosynthetic microorganisms and bioenergy prospects; amelioration of abiotic stresses in plants through multi-faceted beneficial microorganisms; role of methylotrophic bacteria in climate change mitigation; conservation agriculture for climate change resilience; archaeal community structure; mycorrhiza-helping plants to navigate environmental stresses; endophytic microorganisms; bacillus thuringiensis; and microbial nanotechnology for climate resilient agriculture. Clear and succinct chapters contributed and edited by leaders in the field Covers microbes' beneficial and detrimental roles in the microbiome, as well as the functions they perform under stress Discusses the crop microbiome, nutrient cycling microbes, endophytes, mycorrhizae, and various pests and diseases, and their roles in sustainable farming Places research in larger context of climate change's effect on global agriculture Microbes for Climate Resilient Agriculture is an important text for scientists and researchers studying microbiology, biotechnology, environmental biology, agronomy, plant physiology, and plant protection.

ROLE OF MICROBES IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES The book covers recent breakthroughs and highlights the major role microbes play in industrial products and processes. With the advent of industrial biotechnology, microbes became popular as cell factories, and with the recent advancements in recombinant DNA technology, the application of microorganisms in various sectors has increased enormously for the development of various processes and products. Role of Microbes in Industrial Products and Processes covers recent breakthroughs and highlights the major role microbes play in industrial products and processes. It mainly focuses on the bio-refinery concept where bio-energy production and wastewater treatment are done simultaneously using micro-algae. Additionally, this book describes the role of microbes involved in the production of various enzymes, organic acids, and bio-polymers. It also provides detailed insight on modeling and simulation of bioprocess for the production of sugar alcohol; recovery of value-added products from organic waste using microbes is also reported. Detailed insights into the treatment of wastewater released from various industries, especially pharmaceutical wastewater, are given. Audience The book is intended for researchers, scientists, and postgraduates in chemical/biochemical engineering and bioprocess engineering, and others working in the domain of food microbiology, bioenergy/refinery, waste valorization to value-added products, and microbial production of bioplastics, sugar alcohols, enzymes, and organic acids.

Molecular Aspects of Plant Beneficial Microbes in Agriculture explores their diverse interactions, including the pathogenic and symbiotic relationship which leads to either a decrease or increase in crop productivity. Focusing on these environmentally-friendly approaches, the book explores their potential in changing climatic conditions. It presents the exploration and regulation of beneficial microbes in offering sustainable and alternative solutions to the use of chemicals in agriculture. The beneficial microbes presented here are capable of contributing to nutrient balance, growth regulators, suppressing pathogens, orchestrating immune response and improving crop performance. The book also offers insights into the advancements in DNA technology and bioinformatic approaches which have provided in-depth knowledge about the molecular arsenal involved in mineral uptake, nitrogen fixation, growth promotion and biocontrol attributes.

The Pigments from Microalgae Handbook presents the current state of knowledge on pigment production using microalgae-based processes, and covers both the scientific fundamentals of this technology and its practical applications. It addresses biology, chemistry, biochemistry, analysis and engineering aspects, as well as applications of natural pigments in photosynthetic organisms. The book also describes the analytical procedures associated with the characterization of pigments and the engineering aspects of microalgal pigment production. It considers the three major classes of pigments(chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins) produced and surveys the main commercial applications of these chemicals. The book offers a valuable source of information for industrial researchers and practitioners in industrial biotechnology, as it covers various engineering aspects of microalgal pigment production, such as bioreactors and bioprocesses, industrial extraction processes, and the bioeconomy of production including life-cycle assessment. The book will also be of interest to undergraduate and graduate students of biochemistry, food chemistry, and industrial microbiology.

Microalgae can be future resource for industrial biotechnology In current energy crisis era, microalgae are under tremendous research focus for the production of biodiesel due to their high photosynthetic efficiency, growth rate and high lipid content compared to territorial plants. However, the large-scale production of algal biomass and downstream processing of harvested algae towards bio-fuels are facing several challenges from economic viability perspective. Apart from bio-fuels, the microalgae synthesize number of bio-molecules such as pigments (e.g., chlorophyll, carotenoid), protein (e.g., lectin, phycobiliprotein), and carbohydrates (e.g., agar, carrageenan, alginate, fucodian) which are available in the various forms of microalgal products. Therefore, developing a strategy for large-scale production and use of algal biomass for the co-production of these value-added macromolecules is thus imperative for the improvement of the economics of algal biorefinery. In the above context, this book covers three major areas (i) commercial-scale production of bio-molecules from microalgae, (ii) sustainable approach for industrial-scale operation, and (iii) optimization of downstream processes. Each of these sections is composed of several chapters written by the renowned academicians/industry experts. Furthermore, in this book, a significant weightage is given to the industry experts (around 50%) to enrich the industrial perspectives. We hope that amalgamate of fundamental knowledge from academicians and applied research information from industry experts will be useful for forthcoming implementation of a sustainable integrated microalgal biorefinery. This book highlights following. Explores biomolecules from microalgae and their applications Discusses microalgae cultivations and harvesting Examines downstream processing of biomolecules Explores sustainable integrated approaches for industrial scale operations Examines purification techniques specific for microalgal proteins, Omega 3 fatty Acids, carbohydrates, and pigments

This contributed volume deals with the various aspects of freshwater microbiology including diverse habitats, associated microorganisms, their ecological interactions, and industrial applications. Freshwater ecosystems are dynamic natural resources, providing sources of potable water, food, animal habitats, and recreation. Perspectives of microbial dynamics in freshwater bodies, covered in this title, provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of microbial ecology in these ecosystems. These microbes are at the hub of biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other elements). Moreover, they are an integral part of the aquatic food web and control the quality of freshwater bodies. Chapters in this title also discuss the issue of pollution in freshwater bodies and put forward available strategies for eco-friendly solutions. The book is a perfect documentation of primary and secondary data-based information on the latest research findings, case studies, experiences, and innovations in the field of freshwater microbiology. The book is of great use to students, researchers, and professionals studying aquatic sciences.

The Future of Effluent Treatment Plants: Biological Treatment Systems is an advanced and updated version of existing biological technologies that includes their limitations, challenges, and potential application to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD), refractory chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), color removal and environmental pollutants through advancements in microbial bioremediation. The book introduces new trends and advances in environmental bioremediation with thorough discussions of recent developments. In addition, it illustrates that the application of these new emerging innovative technologies can lead to energy savings and resource recovery. The importance of respiration, nitrogen mineralization, nitrification, denitrification and biological phosphorus removal processes in the development of a fruitful and applicable solution for the removal of toxic pollutants from wastewater treatment plants is highlighted. Equally important is the knowledge and theoretical modeling of water movement through wastewater ecosystems. Finally, emphasis is given to the function of constructed wetlands and activated sludge processes. Considers different types of industrial wastewater Focuses on biological wastewater treatments Introduces new trends in bioremediation Addresses the future of WWTPs