SOIL MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH -- SOIL MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH -- Contents -- Preface -- Biosorption of Metals by Soil Bacteria -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Bacterial Biosorbents -- Factors Influencing Metal Biosorption -- Cell Wall -- Gram Positive Cell Wall -- Gram Negative Cell Wall -- S-Layer -- Biosorption by Exopolysaccharides -- Solution pH -- Temperature -- Biosorbent Dosage -- Ionic Strength -- Initial Solute Concentration -- Agitation Rate and Period -- Role of Functional Groups Involved in Biosorption -- Mechanism of Biosorption -- Intracellular Accumulation -- Cell Surface Sorption -- Precipitation -- Transport across the Cell Membrane -- Physical Adsorption -- Ion Exchange -- Complexation -- Precipitation -- Biomineralization by Ligands Produced by Microbes -- Metabolism Dependent Biosorption -- Enzymatic Biotransformations: Bioreduction, Biomethylation, Biodegradation -- Modelling of biosorption -- Method of Analysis -- Conclusions -- References -- Soil Yeasts in Agroecosystems -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Yeasts in Soil -- 2.1. Yeasts in Agroecosystems and Methods of Biodiversity Detection -- 2.2. Mineral-Solubilizing Soil Yeasts -- 2.3. Soil Yeasts in the Biological Control of Phytopathogens -- 2.4. Soil Yeasts and the Production of Siderophores and Plant Growth Promoters -- 2.5. Association between Yeasts and other Soil Microorganisms in Agroecosystems -- 3. Final Considerations -- 4. References -- Bacillus Thuringiensis: Soil Microbial Insecticide, Diversity and their Relationship with the Entomopathogenic Activity -- Abstract -- General Features of Bacilus Thuringiensis -- Background -- Classification of Bacillus thuringiensis strain -- Bacillus thuringiensis Crystal Proteins Biodiversity -- Action Mode of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry Proteins -- Biological Activity of B. Thuringiensis.

Ecological Context of Bacillus thuringiensis -- Considerations and Perspectives -- References -- Microbial Biofertilizer Application Versus Compost Use in Agriculture: Soil Health Implications -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Microbial Biofertilizer Use in Agriculture -- 2.1. Types of Microbial Biofertilizers -- 2.1.1. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacterial Biofertilizers -- 2.1.2. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Biofertilizers -- 2.1.3. Rhizobial Biofertilizers -- 2.2. Microbial Biofertilizers and Soil Health -- 2.3. Futuristic Potential in the Application and Development of Novel Microbial Biofertilizers -- 3. Compost Use in Agriculture -- 3.1. Compost and Soil Health in Agro-Ecosystems -- 3.1.1. Compost Usage and Chemical Properties of Soil -- Nitrogen -- Phosphorous -- Potassium -- Other Elements -- Cation Exchange Capacity -- pH Effects -- Electrical Conductivity -- 3.1.2. Compost Usage and Physical Properties of Soil -- 3.1.3. Compost Usage and Biological Health of Soil -- 3.2. Disadvantages of Compost Usage -- 4. Conclusions and Future Perspectives -- References -- Effect of Chitooligosaccharides on Plant Defense Responses to Soil Pathogenic Fungi Bipolaris sorokiniana -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Results and Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Hyperaccumulator Endophytes and their Promising Potential in Heavy Metal Decontamination -- Abstract -- Abbreviations -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1. Heavy Metal Pollution -- 1.2. Heavy Metal Decontamination in Water -- 1.3. Heavy Metal Decontamination in Soil -- 2. Why are Heavy Metal Hyperaccumulator Endophytes (HMHE) Emerging? -- 3. Isolation, Distribution and Biodiversity of HMHE -- 3.1. Isolation Methods of HMHE -- 3.2. Distribution and Biodiversity of HMHE -- 4. Promising Potential of HMHE in Heavy Metal Bioremediaiton.

4.1. Potential of HMHE in Heavy Metal Biosorption -- 4.2. Potential of HMHE in Heavy Metal Bioremediation -- 5. Promising Potential of HMHE in Phytoremediation -- 6. Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Current Review on Soil Borne Fusarium Wilt Disease of Guava -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Losses -- Symptomlogy -- Causal Organism -- Fusarium Complex -- Fusarium oxysporum -- Forma Specials in Concern to psidii -- Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. -- Epidemiology -- Pathogenicity -- Histopathology -- Role of Virulence Factor and the Respective Genes -- Conclusions -- References -- Spatial Patterns of Microbial Activity in Temperate Forest Soils -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Spatial Patterns -- Horizontal Patterns -- Vertical Patterns -- Effects of Causing Factors -- Vegetation -- Forest Management -- Secondary Succession -- Disturbances -- Conclusions and Prospects -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Role of Organic Amendments on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Formation and Function -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Farmyard Manures -- Green Manuring -- Compost -- Effluents and Sludges -- Conclusion -- References -- Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Parameters and Indicators of Soil Health and Functioning: Applications in Agricultural and Agroforestal Systems -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Arbuscular Mycorrizal Fungi -- Methods to Evaluate Soil Health Using Microorganisms -- Possibilities and Restriction of AM as Soil Management Indicators -- I.Estimations of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Biomass and Number -- Methods Using Direct Extraction of Hyphae from Soils -- Estimations of AMF Biomass Using Biochemical Markers -- Bioassay for Measurement of Mycorrhiza Formation -- Evaluation of AMF Spores from Soils -- II. Estimations of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Activity -- III. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Diversity -- Trap Cultures -- Functional Diversity of AMF.

IV. Plant-AMF Interactions -- Agroforestry and Soil Health -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Influence of Mineral Solubilizers on Growth and Biomass of Acacia Auriculiformis Cunn Ex. Berth. Grown in Nursery Conditions -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Growth of Mycorrhizal Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) as Affected by Heavy Metals -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Plantation Conditions -- Determination of Heavy Metals Concentrations in Different Plant Tissues -- Mycorrhizal Colonization -- Statistical Analysis -- 3. Results -- Mycorrhizal Colonization -- Heavy Metals Distribution in the Plant -- Leaf, Stem, Shoot, and Root Biomass -- Discussion -- 5. Conclusions -- References -- Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Alleviation of Soil Stresses -- Abstract -- Introduction -- AM Fungi and Heavy Metals -- AM Fungi and Soil Compaction -- AM Fungi and Salinity -- AM Fungi and Water Stress -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Index.