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This new volume delivers the remarkable theoretical and practical findings on the outstanding applications of mycorrhizal fungi in recovering plant health, in producing the mycorrhizal edible forest trees, and in conserving natural resources.It examines the recent research studies based on mycorrhizal technology that have explored the positive impact of root symbiosis on plant adaptation to climate-associated abiotic stressors, such as salinity, drought, flooding, and high temperatures.The book includes thirteen chapters, partitioned into four different parts, authored by international experts and researchers from different domains of plant-mycorrhiza research. Part I explains the role of mycorrhiza in plant growth, in the metabolism of minerals, and in biological control.The book goes on to discuss the extensive commercial applications of mycorrhiza fungi in various industrial sectors including agriculture, horticulture, and biotechnology. Chapters investigate the diverse roles of mycorrhizal fungi in managing different stress conditions. And lastly, the volume provides in-depth analyses of the ways that commercialized mycorrhizal technology can help to maintain global environmental sustainability and food security.Key features: Reveals the complex associations of mycorrhizal communities with soil and other soil microbes Presents the inoculum production practices for appropriate application of mycorrhizal technology in various plant production systems Discusses the commercial harvesting and applications of mycorrhizal forest trees for sustainable agricultural development, and Reviews the current advancements and upcoming challenges on way of mycorrhizal technology Research in mycorrhizal technology is significantly evolving, and cutting-edge findings have provided understanding in how complex plant-mycorrhiza associations work. This volume is designed and edited to serve as a resource text for postgraduate students, botanists, microbiologists, biotechnologists, environmental biologists, and industry professionals who have keen interest and attention on beneficial services and commercialization of mycorrhizal technology.

The ever-increasing globalization of the food industry demands new interventions and prevention technologies to improve the safety and quality of food. This multidisciplinary new book presents advanced systems for identifying, analyzing, tracking, and monitoring microbial contaminants in food.Key features:• Highlights emerging and re-emerging foodborne microorganisms and their virulence characteristics• Includes recent approaches for food quality assurance and risk management• Describes the practicality of molecular biology and microbial technologies for effectual control of foodborne infections• Presents a detailed overview of the utilization of recent molecular techniques in food microbiologyWith expert contributions from experienced academics involved in food microbiology and molecular biology research, this book offers indispensable guidance and a contemporary update of the latest developments in food microbial and molecular biology.

The farming and cultivation of algae can provide sustainable solutions for issues like food security-related problems, costly health-related products, sustainable fuels, and more. However, the use of algae is currently restricted to high-value, low-volume markets, mainly due to the high investment and production costs involved. In recent years, algaculture for food and fuel purposes has begun a transition from R&D and pilot-scale operations to commercial-scale systems. This new book presents the latest technological innovations in algae production, market status, and prospects for algal applications.The book provides an informative overview of different perspectives on the commercial production of algae-based food, health, and high-value cosmeceutical products, providing an institutional framework to support and promote the development and commercialization of algal farming. The book discusses phycotechnology and highlights the current trends and future scope of algal technology. It also presents new information on algal culture conditions and cultivation strategies, including a look at geographic position and local climate as key factors in the implementation of microalgae-based processes. Algal production, marketing strategies, and their commercialization are discussed, as are the industrial applications of algae, focusing mainly on nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical applications of microalgae and macroalgae.

Algal secondary metabolites have several biotechnological, pharmaeceutical, industral, cosmetic, and other commercial applications. This new book highlights the recent advances in algal active metabolites, emphasizing their pharmaceutical, therapeutic, nutraceutical, and industral potential. It first provides an introduction to algal metabolites and discusses their applications. It then looks at microalgal- their pharmaeceutical, therapeutic, nutraceutical, and industrial applications. Providing a wealth of information, this book illustrates the diversity of these metabolites from indegeneous marine of freshwater sources, providing a gateway that can enable researchers and pharmaceutical companies to develop novel nontoxic, cost-effective, and highly efficient drugs.

Seaweeds are known for their rich bioactive compounds, which promote health in human beings and are good for the ecosystem as well. They are also natural resources that are a major source of raw material for different industries. There are still undiscovered and unexploited compounds synthesized by seaweeds that may have potential applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. This book serves as a comprehensive knowledge source for the predominant roles of seaweeds in various sectors, particularly in the areas of health, environment, and agriculture. It explores the diverse biodiversity aspects of seaweeds and their derivatives. The book critically reviews the present industrial challenges to investigate the novel compounds synthesized by seaweeds and their unique characteristics and benefits. The volume covers the various biodiversity attributes of tropical seaweeds, their cultivation and bioactive compounds, and the diverse agricultural and biomedical applications of new seaweed derivatives. The authors also discuss the current challenges, emerging markets, and latest developments in extracting the useful biomolecules from seaweeds as well as the role of seaweeds in food security and environmental mitigation. With chapters written by experts and professionals in the field, this volume, Seaweed Biotechnology: Biodiversity and Biotechnology of Seaweeds and Their Applications, provides a deep understanding of the biodiversity of seaweeds around the world and their industrial, biomedical, and environmental applications.

This new volume addresses the growing use of organic farming in recent past decades fueled by the concern with the many deleterious effects of conventional agricultural practices, which employ chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides for large scale production of food. It focuses on sustainable development in farming, primarily detailing the application of different natural resources as manure for organic farming. The authors discuss efficient and cost-effective uses of natural and available resources to produce healthy food while at the same time helping to conserve the environment. Section I of Organic Farming for Sustainable Development discusses in detail the application of microorganisms such as Trichoderma sp., Azospirillum sp., endophytic microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhiza, Chaetomium sp., and bioactive secondary metabolites in organic farming practices. Section II explores the potential applications of organic amendments and sustainable practices for plant growth and soil health using garlic products, organic substrates, biochar, organic mulching, and tillage and weed management. In addition, Section III summarizes the impacts and prospects of organic crop production technology on health, food safety, and quality. The authors bring together important information that will be helpful in designing organic farming methods for soil sustainability and crop productivity as well as for nutritious food produced efficiently and cost productively. The book provides valuable insight to efficiently and cost-effectively use natural and available resources to increase the nutrient content of our food as well as to manage the organic wastes coming from other sectors, such as from cattle farms without polluting the surroundings.

Microalgae are a valuable resource of carbon materials that may be used in biofuels, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and health supplements. There are, however, many challenges in the microalgae production process, such as mass cultivation, strain improvement, biomass disruption, and reprocessing of nutrients and water that have been encumbering the microalgal industry. Microalgal biotechnology has the capability to introduce remarkable breakthroughs and innovations. This volume highlights current advancements in the field of microalgal biotechnology. The key features of the book:• Presents the role of microalgae in various industries, including food, agriculture,aquaculture, biofuel, and metabolites• Shows the historical and prospective uses of microalgae elements for economic andecological benefits• Explains the integrated technologies for massive production of microalgae-derivedproducts• Includes industrial case studies that illustrate sustainable production of microalgaeproducts• Discusses current developments and advances in microalgae bioprocessing

Microalgal Biomass for Bioenergy Applications presents current methods, practical applications, and research trends on diverse biofuel products from microalgae. This comprehensive book provides analyses of microalgal biology, chemical and molecular engineering techniques to scale-up algal biomass processes and biofuels conversion, and economic feasibility of value-added bioenergy co-products from a variety of microalgal strains. Sections cover microalgal biomass availability, suitability, potential for biofuel applications, scientific and methodical aspects of biomass harvesting, sustainable and commercial applications of microalgal biofuels, including LCA, and the technological limitations and future perspectives on microalgal biofuels. Each section offers in-depth knowledge on the fundamental and practical aspects with reference to biofuels and bioenergy production from microalgae. This book will be a valuable update for students, researchers and industry professionals working in bioenergy, and will be of interest to microbial and environmental scientists and phycologists interested in practical applications for microalgae. - Reviews all aspects of microalgal biodiversity and its structure in context of cultivation, conversation, harvesting and advantages over other conventional biomass - Examines key steps and integrated approaches to enhance biofuels production from microalgae - Explains the fundamentals, practical aspects, and scale-up techniques for the production of biogas, bioethanol, biodiesel, biohydrogen and biobutanol from microalgal biomass - Includes breakthroughs, recent advances and challenges in microalgal biomass processing as feedstock for renewable biofuels - Analyzes chemical and molecular engineering techniques to scale-up algal biomass processes and biofuels conversion, and the economic feasibility of value-added bioenergy co-products from a variety of microalgal strains

This book focuses on the current and potential applications of microalgae and cyanobacteria in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. The book deals with the very recent and advanced techniques and technologies in algal cultivation and extraction for its application. The chapters discuss the biological importance, properties, and uses of algal metabolites and microalgae-based compounds in drug development, in food nutrition enhancement, and in the development of cosmetics with medicinal properties.The chapter authors cover a range of diverse topics on algal biological resources, such as: algae as a nutraceutical and functional food ingredient the extraction of food bioactive compounds from microalgae spirulina-derived nutraceuticals and their applications in the food industry anticancer compounds from freshwater microalgae cosmetic applications of microalgal and cyanobacterial pigments and more This unique book, Algal Genetic Resources: Cosmeceuticals, Nutraceuticals, and Pharmaceuticals from Algae, will enlighten readers on the vast usefulness of microalgae and cyanobacteria as an important resource for the cosmeceutical, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries for their broad biotechnological potential industrial applications. The volume will be a valuable reference for scientists and researchers in these areas as well as for advanced students and faculty in ecology, phycology, botany, agriculture, biotechnology, microbiology, environmental biotechnology, plant science, and life sciences.

Nanotechnology is believed to be the next great revolution in biology, medicine, and agriculture. This new volume, Biogenic Nanomaterials: Structural Properties and Functional Applications, explores that trend by providing in a global way updated information on the use and applications of nanobiotechnology, starting from a careful characterization and introduction to the various uses of nanoparticles and nanomaterials, their nanomechanical properties in bacteria, and biomedical applications.The book goes on to present nanobiotechnology applications in targeted therapy for multiple pathologies, such as cancer, obstructive pulmonary diseases, chronic infectious diseases, as well as its impact on the modulation of the intestinal microbiota.A special emphasis is also given to the potential of nanobiotechnology in terms of promoting sustainability, such as the ability to improve plant systems in terms of tissue culture, its added value in the transfer of macromolecules to plants, and also in triggering the sustainable exploitation of agriculture, forestry, and food residues, ultimately promoting green nanotechnology.This book offers a unique perspective and overview of the influences of nanobiotechnology researchers and scientists. It delivers an important resource for existing applications and imminent developments of nanobiotechnology.

Foodborne microbial outbreaks are a serious food safety and public health concern worldwide. One of the most challenging issues in food safety is the identification and characterization of foodborne microbial communities, which is a core objective of research by food scientists and food microbiologists. This book reviews the molecular advances in food science related to the safety and quality of food along with recent diagnostic tools for the detection of emerging pathogens based on the food commodities. It presents a wide selection of methods for the identification and characterization of foodborne infectious agents. This book provides an overview of foodborne pathogens, diseases, and outbreaks and then proceeds to delve into techniques for characterizing foodborne pathogens using molecular approaches. It reviews state-of-the-art methods for detecting and tracing foodborne pathogens using next-generation sequencing and whole-genome sequencing for controlling foodborne illnesses as well as the application of microorganisms in food production for preventing foodborne illnesses. The book ends with an overview of management systems and analytical tools for public health protection from foodborne illnesses.

Algae are simple, primitive, heterogeneous, autotrophic, eukaryotic or prokaryotic organisms that lead a symbiotic, parasitic or free-living mode of life. Microalgae and macroalgae possess great potential in various fields of application. Microalgae are ubiquitous and extremely diverse microorganisms that can accumulate toxic contaminants and heavy metals from wastewater, making them a superior candidate to become a powerful nanofactory. Algae were discovered to reduce the presence of metal ions, and afterwards aid in the biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Since algae-mediated biogenic nanoparticles are eco-friendly, cost-effective, high-yielding, speedy and energy-efficient, a large number of studies have been published on them in the last few years. This book focuses on recent progress on the utilization of algae for the synthesis of nanoparticles, their characterization and the possible mechanisms involved. Bioprospecting Algae for Nanosized Materials describes the synthesis of algal nanomaterials and its application in various fields for sustainable development. This book outlines the procedures to prepare phyconanomaterials, techniques to utilize the nanomaterials, and applications in agriculture, environment and medicine.