Rhizosphere Biology: Interactions Between Microbes and Plants

This book presents a detailed discussion on the direct interactions of plants and microorganisms in the rhizosphere environment. It includes fifteen chapters, each focusing on a specific component of plant-microbe interactions, such as the influence of plants on the root microbiome, and the downstream effects of rhizosphere microbial dynamics on carbon and nutrient fluxes in the surroundings. As such, the book helps readers gain a better understanding of diversity above the ground, and its effect on the microbiome and its functionality.

About the Author

Dr Vadakattu V.S.R. Gupta is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at the CSIRO Agriculture&Food unit at the Waite campus in Adelaide, South Australia. He has more than 20 years of experience in fundamental and applied, field-based functional microbial ecology research in soil and water ecosystems in Australia, Canada and India. His research interests include unravelling the complexities of microbial diversity, functional capability and resilience of microbe-soil-plant interactions for disease suppression and plant nutrition as a key for developing sustainable agricultural systems. His research has identified changes in soil biology in genetically modified crop systems and the impacts of herbicides on soil biological functions. He has published over 100 refereed articles in scientific journals and books and developed soil biology research investment priorities for government and industry funding bodies in Australia. He was awarded the 2015 Prescott Medal by the Soil Science Society of Australia for his outstanding contribution to Soil Science.