Biocontrol Agents for Improved Agriculture

Ajay Kumar is currently an Assistant Professor at the Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India. He previously served as a Visiting Scientist at the Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel (2018–2022), and completed his doctoral research at the Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, focusing on plant–microbe interactions. Dr. Kumar’s research expertise spans plant–microbe interactions, microbial biocontrol, postharvest fruit disease management, microbial endophytes of medicinal plants, and cyanobacteria–pesticide interactions. He is a prolific author in leading international journals and is also actively engaged in academic editing with major publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, CRC Press, and Wiley. Dr. Kumar currently serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and BMC Microbiology, a Guest Editor for Microorganisms and Plants (MDPI), and a Series Editor for Plant and Soil Microbiome (Elsevier). 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. His current research focuses on elucidating plant–soil–microbe interactions and on investigations in agrogenomics. 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.Dr. Joginder Singh is a Professor in the Department of Botany at Nagaland University, Lumami, India. His previous positions include a professorship at Lovely Professional University's School of Bioengineering and Biosciences and a Young Scientist role at Jai Narain Vyas University's Microbial Biotechnology and Biofertilizer Laboratory (funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India). He is a member of several scientific societies, including the Association of Microbiologists of India and the European Federation of Biotechnology. Dr. Singh has an extensive publication record, with over 250 research and review articles, 35 edited books (with publishers like Elsevier and Springer), and 125 book chapters. He is a reviewer for numerous prestigious journals. He has actively participated in and presented at numerous national and international scientific events.

• 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