This edited volume is the first book that explicitly explains the link between the extraordinarily small-scale microbial processes and the growth and yield attributes of millet crops. This book includes chapters emphasizing on the effects of rhizosphere biology on long-term millet crop management. Millets are a collection of small-grained cereal grasses that are grown for human carbohydrate needs. They are among the oldest crops, mainly divided into two groups: major and small millets based on seed size. Major millets are composed of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum); while small millets are composed of six species that includes finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.)), little millet (Panicum sumatrense), kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum (L.)), foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.)), barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (L.)), and proso millet (Panicum miliaceum (L.). These crops are earlier considered as orphan crops, but recently due to their nutritional values it is gaining the importance. Various reports are published based on role of rhizosphere on growth and health of these crops. The rhizosphere being a dynamic interface among the plant roots and soil microbes provides a number of advantages to the millets too. The soil properties in rhizospheric region are also different as compared to the bulk soil. This book discovers the functional attributes of rhizosphere in promoting the healthy growth of millet crop and achieving higher yield during the changing climatic condition. This book is of interest to university teachers, scientists working in the millets, and policymakers in agricultural departments. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, biotechnology, microbiology, genetics, and soil science.
Dr. Ramesh Namdeo Pudake is Assistant Professor at Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida – one of the top-ranked private universities in India. Dr. Pudake is a PhD in Crop Genetics and Breeding from China Agricultural University, Beijing, PRC. After his PhD, he is engaged in research in a range of organisms but with a focus on crop plant genomics. He has also worked in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University Ames, IA, USA, on host-pathogen interaction and gene mapping. Currently, he is focusing on research on different application genomics in plant-microbe interaction. Dr. Pudake has published more than 37 research publications, 4 books, and 19 book chapters. He also has one scholarship award from the Chinese Government for pursuing his doctoral studies. He is an expert reviewer and guest editor for several journals of repute.
2. Dr. Maya Kumari is working as Scientist-E in the Directorate of Life sciences, Defence Research and Development Organization, Govt. of India; and has more than 12 years of research experience in the field of plant molecular biology. Her research work in functional and molecular breeding for the detection of the molecular mechanism of plant biotic stress tolerance is of high scientific and social relevance. Currently, she is coordinating various projects related to biological defense technologies and acting as an interface between the army, industry, and DRDO Labs. She has published more than 40 research papers and 1 book and acted as a reviewer for scientific articles in reputed journals. Besides her published work, Dr. Maya persuaded to achieve many awards including the master’s Gold Medal; Endeavour Research Scholarship, DEST, Australia, to carry out research at CLIMA, UWA, Australia; Young Women Scientist Scholarship, Department of Science and Technology, Junior/Senior Research Fellow of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India; and Chinese Government Scholarship, China Scholarship Council, PR of China.
3. Dr. Deepak R. Sapkal is Assistant Professor at Amity University Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Sapkal is a PhD in Genetics and Breeding from Dr. PDKV, Akola. He has eight years of teaching experience in the areas of genetics, plant breeding, and biotechnology. Currently, he is focusing on research on molecular breeding. Dr. Sapkal has published more than 10 research publications.
4. Prof. Anil K. Sharma is Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences, CBSH, and Director of Extension Education, GB of Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar. He completed his postdoctoral studies at the GSU, Louisiana (USA), and has been a visiting scientist at the University of Basel, Switzerland (2003), and the University of Helsinki, Finland (2013). He has extensive research and teaching experience and served as a reviewer for various funding bodies and international research journals. He also holds two patents in plant biology and microbiology, respectively. The recipient of various prestigious grants, he has published more than 90 research articles and 30 review articles, as well as 14 books with prominent publishers.
