Microbial Solutions to Plant Stress Management: Basic Research, Advanced Insights, Applications and Future Directions

Author Biography

Dr. Balkrishna Tiwari serves as a Scientist-C at the Genetics and Tree Improvement Division of the ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute in Shimla, India. His early work focused on microbe-mediated pesticide bioremediation and cyanobacterial stress biology. Recently, his research group has been engaged in analyzing the genetic diversity and population structure of some important Himalayan forest tree species, including Quercus semecarpifolia, Rhododendron, and Populus spp. This research aims to develop conservation and tree improvement strategies for these species. Dr. Tiwari is also part of a team dedicated to developing microbial solution strategies for Dalbergia sissoo dieback disease caused by fungal pathogens. His efforts include the genetic improvement of Dalbergia sissoo to develop their resistant genotypes. Additionally, he has published over 25 high quality peer-reviewed research articles in prestigious international journals such as Algal Research, International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal of Basic Microbiology, Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, Discover Plants etc. He has also contributed chapters to seven edited books. Prof. Arun Kumar Mishra is a Senior Professor in the Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. He obtained his BSc, MSc and PhD degrees from Banaras Hindu University and has more than three decades of experience in research and higher education. His principal areas of expertise are microbial genetics, physiology and biochemistry, with a sustained research focus on cyanobacterial systematics, stress biology and cell signalling. His research has provided important insights into the regulation of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, iron homeostasis, nitric oxide-mediated signalling, oxidative-stress adaptation and regulated cell death in cyanobacteria. His laboratory has also examined the molecular basis of pesticide degradation, siderophore-mediated metal tolerance, microbial diversity, bioremediation and the biological potential of cyanobacterial secondary metabolites. He has led several research projects supported by national funding agencies, including Department of Science & Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), University Grant Commission (UGC) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Prof. Mishra has published more than 130 research and review articles, edited four academic books and contributed to over 20 book chapters. He has supervised many doctoral and postdoctoral scholars and continues to guide research in cyanobacterial physiology, molecular biology and microbial biotechnology.