This volume comprehensively reviews recent advances in our understanding of the diversity of microbes in various types of terrestrial ecosystems, such as caves, deserts and cultivated fields. It is written by leading experts, and highlights the culturable microbes identified using conventional approaches, as well as non-culturable ones unveiled with metagenomic and microbiomic approaches. It discusses the role of microbes in ecosystem sustainability and their potential biotechnological applications. The book further discusses the diversity and utility of ectomycorrhizal and entomopathogenic fungi and yeasts that dwell on grapes, it examines the biotechnological applications of specific microbes such as lichens, xylan- and cellulose-saccharifying bacteria and archaea, chitinolytic bacteria, methanogenic archaea and pathogenic yeasts.
Professor T. Satyanarayana is a Faculty Fellow at the Division of Biological Sciences & Engineering, Netaji Subhas University of Technology, New Delhi. He received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Saugar University, India, and pursued postdoctoral studies in France. He has over four decades of research and teaching experience, and has received the Association of Microbiologists of India’s Dr. G.B. Manjrekar Memorial Award, the Mycological Society of India’s Dr. V. Agnihotrudu Memorial Award, and the Biotech Research Society’s Malaviya Memorial Award for his valuable contributions. He is a Fellow of NAAS, AMI, BRSI, MSI and Telengana Academy of Sciences and a member of the Editorial Board of several journals. He has also served as reviewer for various respected journals. He has edited several books, published scientific papers, and has three patents to his credit.
Dr. Subrata K Das is currently a Scientist F at the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India. He received his Ph.D. degree from Bose Institute, Kolkata and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA. His research interests include geomicrobiology, metagenomics, and archaeal and bacterial origin and adaptation in geothermal springs. He has received the E.K. Janaki Ammal National Award from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India; Prof. KS Bilgrami Memorial Award from the Society for Plant Research, India; Outstanding contribution award from the Association for the Advancement of Biodiversity Science and is a Fellow of West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology (FAScT) and the Association for the Advancement of Biodiversity Science (FABSc).
Professor BN Johri received his PhD from the University of Alberta, and gained postdoctoral experience at Alberta and the University of British Columbia, Canada. He has taught microbiology at Sagar, Bhopal, and Pantnagar. He is a recipient of several awards including INSA Young Scientist, KN Katju and the ICAR Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences India, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and National Institute of Ecology. He also received a Life Time Achievement Award from the AMI and Life Time Devotion Award from the Microbiologist Society of India. He has authored over 100 research papers and co-edited five books. He has recently retired after a long stint as Senior Scientist at the National Academy of Sciences at the Department of Biotechnology, Barkatullah University, Bhopal.
