Plants constitute an excellent ecosystem for microorganisms. The environmental conditions differ considerably between the highly variable aerial plant part and the more stable root system. Microbes interact with plant tissues and cells with different degrees of dependence. The most interesting from the microbial ecology point of view, however, are specific interactions developed by plant-beneficial (either non symbiotic or symbiotic) and pathogenic microorganisms. Beneficial interactions are caused by symbiotic and non-symbiotic bacteria and a highly specialized type of fungi, the mycorrhizae. The pathogenic and detrimental interactions of microbes involve viroids, viruses, bacteria and fungi, and lead to infectious diseases affecting only the plant kingdom. Microflora composition of any agro-ecosystem is governed by the equilibrium created by the associations and interactions of all flora and fauna found in the community. In soil, microorganisms live in close proximity and interact among themselves as well as with existing plant communities in different ways, which could be beneficial (mutualism, commensalism, proto-cooperation) or neutral (epiphytic). These microbial interactions govern the functioning and stability of agro-ecosystem, playing significant role in the production and productivity crops. Hence, this book on Plant-Microbe Interactions is aimed at bringing out the recent developments in this field including the molecular mechanisms and proteomics involved in the establishment of Plant-Microbe Interactions. The book reviews the enormous diversity of plant associated microbes, and their molecular mechanisms, small molecules and proteomics involved in the establishment of their mutual interactions. Utilization of these rhizosperic, phyllospheric and endophytic microbes as nutrient providers, in combating phytopathogens and ameliorating the stressed and polluted soils is also explained. Importantly, the book also throws light on the unanswered questions and future direction of research in the field. It illustrates how the basic knowledge can be amalgamated with advanced technology to design the future bio-formulations. This book will be useful in providing latest information in this topic to Scientists, Researchers, Ph.D and PG students working in the field of Plant Sciences.

1. Unraveling plant microbiome: proteins and small molecules in signaling and improving plant health by Ramasamy, K., Sivakumar, U. and K. Sara Parwin Banu 2. Dissection of molecular and physiological mechanism governing the interaction of root lesion nematodes and Burkholderia species group of bacteria to host cereals and non-cereal energy plants by Shiveta Sharma, Shailendra Sharma and Akhouri Vaishampayan 3. Recent advances in proteomics approaches in understanding plant-microbe interactions by Jahangir Imam, Nimai Prasad Mandal, Mukund Variar and Pratyoosh Shukla 4. Applicability of microbial phytases in plant growth promotion and development by Bijender Singh, Amit Kumari and Satyanarayana, T. 5. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria – Some Aspects and Prospects by Tilak, K.V.B.R. 6. A closer look at Enterobacter sp. as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria by Manoharan Shankar, Jeyaprakash Rajendhran and Paramasamy Gunasekaran 7. Bacterial endophytes represent the hidden treasure for potential applications in agriculture by Sadaf Kalam, Ankati Sravani, Vaikunthapu Papa Rao and Appa Rao Podile 8. Exploring plant-endophytic relationships to enhance plant growth and production of natural compounds by Patil, C.R. and Alagawadi, A.R. 9. An insightful overview on multifaceted perspectives of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) by Lakshmanaperumalsamy, P., Karthikeyan, K. and Jayanthi, G. 10. Understanding of abiotic stress alleviation in plants through by rhizobacteria Rashi Vishwakarma, Sangeeta Paul and Dolly Wattal Dhar 11. Benificial effect of PGPB on the growth and yield of medicinal plant [Nithyakalyani] Catharanthus roseus Linn. G. Don by Karthikeyan, B. and Deiveekasundram, M.12. Pink pigmented facultative methylobacteria can alleviate drought stress in crop plants by Sundaram, S.P. 13. Plant – microbe Interactions: the mandatory requirement for soil fertility management practices in organic crop production standards by Bisoyi, R.N. 14. Microbes associated with rice soils by Rao, V.R. 15. Role of Azospirillum in plant growth promotion: a review by Ramanathan, N. 16. Preponderance and relationship of agromicrobes with maize ecosystem by Manindra Nath Jha, Kumar M. and Chourasia, S.K.17. Plant-Microbe interactions in Tobacco Rhizosphere by Subhashini, D.V. 18. Significance of cyanobacteria and their associations with crop plants in agriculture by Radha Prasanna, Siddarthan Venkatachalam, Anjuli Sood, Shobit Thapa, Amrita Kanchan and Balasubramanian Ramakrishnan 19. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis from basics to application: potential & prospects in soil-plant production systems by Shivani Garg, Mahaveer Sharma and K. Annapurna 20. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: role in ecosystem services, plant diversity and land productivity by Bagyaraj, D.J. 21. Biosolubilizers – a boon to farmers by Anthoni Raj, S. 22. Microbial inoculants for stressed environments by Govindan Selvakumar, Periyasamy Panneerselvam, Gurupadam Hema Bindu and Arakalagud Nanjundaiah Ganeshamurthy 23. Efficacy of carrier-based and liquid microbial inoculants on field crops in tropical soils by Trimurtulu, N. and Rao, D.L.N. 24. Soil fertility sustainability : long-term nutrient management adoptions on biological and biochemical properties of Indian semi-arid tropical by Alfisol Balachandar, D., Chinnadurai, C. and S.M. Tamilselvi, K. Arulmozhiselvan and K. Ilamurugu 25. N cycling in rhizospheres, microbes of concern, and nitrification inhibitors regulating the release of NO3- into agricultural soils and the emission of N2O into the atmosphere by Gero Benckiser 26. Two step treatments by bacteria and rhizofiltration for bioremediation of complex industrial wastewater: a novel approach for safe disposal by Ram Chandra, Sangeeta Yadav and Vineet Kumar