Biocontrol Agents for Improved Agriculture

Dr. Ajay Kumar is currently working as an assistant professor at Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India. Dr. Kumar recently completed his tenure as a visiting scientist from Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel. He has published more than 175 research, review articles, and book chapters in international and national journals. He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and as guest editor for various journals such as Plants, Microorganisms, and Sustainability. Dr. Kumar has also edited more than 32 books with the leading publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley. Dr. Kumar has wide area of research experience, especially in the field of plant-microbe Interactions, microbial biocontrol, Postharvest management of fruits, microbial endophytes related to medicinal plants and cyanobacteria-pesticides interactions. Muhammad Bilal is working as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Poland. Previously, he served as an assistant/associate Professor at Poznan University of Technology, Poland, and the School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, China. He earned his Ph.D. from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, specializing in bioengineering and applied biotechnology. His main research activities are oriented to Environmental biotechnology, nanotechnology, enzyme engineering, immobilization, chemical modifications, and industrial applications of microbial enzymes, liquid, and solid waste management. He has authored over 700 peer-reviewed articles, 150 book chapters, 25 edited books. Dr. Bilal is the associate editor of Frontiers in Chemical Engineering and Frontiers in Environmental Science (Frontiers), and an editorial board member for several journals. He was listed as a highly cited researcher (Clarivate) in 2021 and holds several "highly cited papers" in WOS. Gustavo Santoyo is a Professor of Agrogenomics at the Institute of Chemical and Biological Research, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Mexico. He holds two BSc degrees, one in Biology and the other in Psychology. He earned his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Dr. Santoyo conducted postdoctoral studies at the Center for Cancer Research, The National Institutes of Health, USA, and was a visiting professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. His current research focuses on elucidating plant–soil–microbe interactions and on investigations in agrogenomics. He is a prolific book author/editor and journal reviewer. He serves as a Special Content Editor for Microbiological Research (Elsevier) and as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Plant Sciences (Frontiers), Journal of Advanced Research (Elsevier), and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (Springer). He is a member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and holds the Nivel III distinction in the Sistema Nacional de Investigadores of Mexico. In 2024, he received the State Award for Science, Technology, and Innovation, granted by the Government of the State of Michoacán.Prof. Joginder Singh is a Professor at the Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland, India. Previously, he worked as a Professor in the School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University and also as a Young Scientist at Microbial Biotechnology and Biofertilizer Laboratory, Department of Botany, Jai Narain Vyas University on a research project funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. He is an active member of various scientific societies and organizations, including the Association of Microbiologists of India, the Indian Society of Salinity Research Scientists, the Indian Society for Radiation Biology, and the European Federation of Biotechnology. He has published extensively with Elsevier and Springer both in journals and books. He serves as a reviewer for many prestigious journals, including Current Research in Engineering, Science and Technology; Journal of Cleaner Production; Science of the Total Environment; Environmental Monitoring and Assessment; Pedosphere; Soil and Sediment Contamination; Symbiosis; International Journal of Phytoremediation; Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; Annals of Agricultural Sciences; and Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.

• 1. The expediency of fungi as biocontrol agents for the enhancement of food security2. Plant growth promoting microorganisms from native plants: an untapped resource of biocontrol and biofertilizer agents3. Biological control of Plasmopara viticola: where are we now?4. Biological control of diseases in Theobroma cacao5. Synergistic mechanisms between plant growth-promoting bacteria and Trichoderma to control plant diseases6. Genomic mining for the identification of promising mechanisms of bioactivity in biological control agents7. Production and commercialization of biocontrol products8. Understanding Trichoderma: between biotechnology and microbial ecology9. Formulation of microbial biocontrol agents–an industrial perspective10. Endophytic microbiota in plant disease management11. Endophytic microorganism as a source of bioactive compounds12. Plant growth promoting bacteria in food security and plant disease management13. Bacterial strains used in post-harvest management of fruits14. Bacterial volatiles application in plant disease management15. CRISPER/ CAS techniques used in plant disease management16. The impact of climate change on plant diseases and food security17. Insects–plants-pathogens: Toxicity, dependence and defense dynamics18. MicroRNAs in plant insect interaction and insect pest control19. Ladybirds as an biocontrol agent20. Endophytes:The Treasure House of Bioactive Compounds with Potential Applications in Sustainable Agriculture and other Sectors