Professor (Dr) Meenu Saraf is the Dean, Faculty of Sciences and Director of University School of Sciences. A Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology at Gujarat University, India. She obtained her PhD in microbiology from Barkatullah University and has been working at Gujarat University since 1992. Plant-microbe interactions, biofertilizers, biocontrol, biofortification, biofuel production and nitrogen cycle in agriculture are the main areas of her research. She has been honoured with numerous awards, fellowships and funding from government agencies. Her research work is depicted through her strong publication record.Dr. Dweipayan Goswami is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Gujarat University, India. He has a PhD in biotechnology from Charotar University of Science and Technology, Gujarat, India. He has published 41+ journal articles, 5+ book chapters, 4 conference proceedings and 8 reviews in the field of biotechnology. His research interests include plant-microbe interactions, biofertilizers, biocontrol, biofortification, biofuel production, nitrogen cycle, antimicrobial resistance and metagenomics.Professor (Dr)  Dinesh Kumar Maheshwari is a well-known botanist and microbiologist, who has done important work on nitrogen fixing bacteria, halophiles, endophytes and sustainable agriculture. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, and awardee of MHRD-UGC-BSR Eminent Faculty Fellowship. He has written many books and research articles on Microbiology and related subjects. Prof. Maheshwari got his PhD in botany from Agra University in 1977 and became a Professor in the Department of Botany and Microbiology at Gurukul Kangri University in 1990. Dr. Maheshwari’s research interests are the isolation, characterization and application of useful microorganisms for crop productivity and protection, bioremediation of saline soils, biofertilizers, biopesticides and biotechnology.

• Section I: Foundations of Soil Microbial Communities.- Chapter 1. A Comprehensive Introduction to Soil Microbial Communities and Microbiomes.- Chapter 2. Decoding Quorum Sensing: The Language of Bacteria for Sustainable Development.- Chapter 3. Soil Actinomycetes with a Perspective of Cellulolytic Activity.- Section II: Plant-Microbe Interactions for a Sustainable Environment.- Chapter 4. Dialogue in the Dirt: Plant Microbe Interaction in Soil.- Chapter 5. PGPR Consortia: Micro Solution to a Major Challenges.- Chapter 6. The Role of Plant-Microbe Partnerships in Ecosystem Functionality.- Chapter 7. Microbes to the Rescue: The Future of Plant Protection.- Chapter 8. Plants, Microbes, and Carbon: The Interplay of Carbon Cycling and Sequestration.- Chapter 9. Leveraging Plant Growth Promoting Microbes with the Goal of Minimising the Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture.- Chapter 10. Plant Responses to Drought Stress and Interactions with The Root Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture.- Chapter 11. Rhizosphere Dynamics: The Microbial Influence on Root Architecture.- Chapter 12. Mechanistic Insights of Plant-Microbe Interactions in Mitigation of Salinity Stress.- Section III: Future Perspectives on Soil Bacterial Research.- Chapter 13. The Hidden Players: Soil Microbes in Ecosystems Sustainability.- Chapter 14. Biofilms: The Unsung Heroes of Soil Health and Crop Productivity.- Chapter 15. Metabolic Mysteries: New Perspectives on Soil Bacterial Metabolism.- Chapter 16. Unseen Allies: Exploring Cooperative Behaviour Among Soil Microbes.- Chapter 17. The Future of Biocontrol by Plant-Microbe Nexus: Novel Strategies and Applications.- Chapter 18. Soil Bacteria: An Invisible Army for Climate Resilience and Mitigation.- Conclusions.- Chapter 19. Soil Microbiota as Key Players in Mitigating Climate Change and Achieving a Sustainable Environment: A Conclusion.

Professor (Dr) Meenu Saraf is the Dean, Faculty of Sciences and Director of University School of Sciences. A Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology at Gujarat University, India. She obtained her PhD in microbiology from Barkatullah University and has been working at Gujarat University since 1992. Plant-microbe interactions, biofertilizers, biocontrol, biofortification, biofuel production and nitrogen cycle in agriculture are the main areas of her research. She has been honoured with numerous awards, fellowships and funding from government agencies. Her research work is depicted through her strong publication record.Dr. Dweipayan Goswami is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Gujarat University, India. He has a PhD in biotechnology from Charotar University of Science and Technology, Gujarat, India. He has published 41+ journal articles, 5+ book chapters, 4 conference proceedings and 8 reviews in the field of biotechnology. His research interests include plant-microbe interactions, biofertilizers, biocontrol, biofortification, biofuel production, nitrogen cycle, antimicrobial resistance and metagenomics.Professor (Dr)  Dinesh Kumar Maheshwari is a well-known botanist and microbiologist, who has done important work on nitrogen fixing bacteria, halophiles, endophytes and sustainable agriculture. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, and awardee of MHRD-UGC-BSR Eminent Faculty Fellowship. He has written many books and research articles on Microbiology and related subjects. Prof. Maheshwari got his PhD in botany from Agra University in 1977 and became a Professor in the Department of Botany and Microbiology at Gurukul Kangri University in 1990. Dr. Maheshwari’s research interests are the isolation, characterization and application of useful microorganisms for crop productivity and protection, bioremediation of saline soils, biofertilizers, biopesticides and biotechnology.

• Section I: Foundations of Soil Microbial Communities.- Chapter 1. A Comprehensive Introduction to Soil Microbial Communities and Microbiomes.- Chapter 2. Decoding Quorum Sensing: The Language of Bacteria for Sustainable Development.- Chapter 3. Soil Actinomycetes with a Perspective of Cellulolytic Activity.- Section II: Plant-Microbe Interactions for a Sustainable Environment.- Chapter 4. Dialogue in the Dirt: Plant Microbe Interaction in Soil.- Chapter 5. PGPR Consortia: Micro Solution to a Major Challenges.- Chapter 6. The Role of Plant-Microbe Partnerships in Ecosystem Functionality.- Chapter 7. Microbes to the Rescue: The Future of Plant Protection.- Chapter 8. Plants, Microbes, and Carbon: The Interplay of Carbon Cycling and Sequestration.- Chapter 9. Leveraging Plant Growth Promoting Microbes with the Goal of Minimising the Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture.- Chapter 10. Plant Responses to Drought Stress and Interactions with The Root Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture.- Chapter 11. Rhizosphere Dynamics: The Microbial Influence on Root Architecture.- Chapter 12. Mechanistic Insights of Plant-Microbe Interactions in Mitigation of Salinity Stress.- Section III: Future Perspectives on Soil Bacterial Research.- Chapter 13. The Hidden Players: Soil Microbes in Ecosystems Sustainability.- Chapter 14. Biofilms: The Unsung Heroes of Soil Health and Crop Productivity.- Chapter 15. Metabolic Mysteries: New Perspectives on Soil Bacterial Metabolism.- Chapter 16. Unseen Allies: Exploring Cooperative Behaviour Among Soil Microbes.- Chapter 17. The Future of Biocontrol by Plant-Microbe Nexus: Novel Strategies and Applications.- Chapter 18. Soil Bacteria: An Invisible Army for Climate Resilience and Mitigation.- Conclusions.- Chapter 19. Soil Microbiota as Key Players in Mitigating Climate Change and Achieving a Sustainable Environment: A Conclusion.

Professor (Dr) Meenu Saraf is the Dean, Faculty of Sciences and Director of University School of Sciences. A Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology at Gujarat University, India. She obtained her PhD in microbiology from Barkatullah University and has been working at Gujarat University since 1992. Plant-microbe interactions, biofertilizers, biocontrol, biofortification, biofuel production and nitrogen cycle in agriculture are the main areas of her research. She has been honoured with numerous awards, fellowships and funding from government agencies. Her research work is depicted through her strong publication record.Dr. Dweipayan Goswami is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Gujarat University, India. He has a PhD in biotechnology from Charotar University of Science and Technology, Gujarat, India. He has published 41+ journal articles, 5+ book chapters, 4 conference proceedings and 8 reviews in the field of biotechnology. His research interests include plant-microbe interactions, biofertilizers, biocontrol, biofortification, biofuel production, nitrogen cycle, antimicrobial resistance and metagenomics.Professor (Dr)  Dinesh Kumar Maheshwari is a well-known botanist and microbiologist, who has done important work on nitrogen fixing bacteria, halophiles, endophytes and sustainable agriculture. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, and awardee of MHRD-UGC-BSR Eminent Faculty Fellowship. He has written many books and research articles on Microbiology and related subjects. Prof. Maheshwari got his PhD in botany from Agra University in 1977 and became a Professor in the Department of Botany and Microbiology at Gurukul Kangri University in 1990. Dr. Maheshwari’s research interests are the isolation, characterization and application of useful microorganisms for crop productivity and protection, bioremediation of saline soils, biofertilizers, biopesticides and biotechnology.

• Section I: Foundations of Soil Microbial Communities.- Chapter 1. A Comprehensive Introduction to Soil Microbial Communities and Microbiomes.- Chapter 2. Decoding Quorum Sensing: The Language of Bacteria for Sustainable Development.- Chapter 3. Soil Actinomycetes with a Perspective of Cellulolytic Activity.- Section II: Plant-Microbe Interactions for a Sustainable Environment.- Chapter 4. Dialogue in the Dirt: Plant Microbe Interaction in Soil.- Chapter 5. PGPR Consortia: Micro Solution to a Major Challenges.- Chapter 6. The Role of Plant-Microbe Partnerships in Ecosystem Functionality.- Chapter 7. Microbes to the Rescue: The Future of Plant Protection.- Chapter 8. Plants, Microbes, and Carbon: The Interplay of Carbon Cycling and Sequestration.- Chapter 9. Leveraging Plant Growth Promoting Microbes with the Goal of Minimising the Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture.- Chapter 10. Plant Responses to Drought Stress and Interactions with The Root Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture.- Chapter 11. Rhizosphere Dynamics: The Microbial Influence on Root Architecture.- Chapter 12. Mechanistic Insights of Plant-Microbe Interactions in Mitigation of Salinity Stress.- Section III: Future Perspectives on Soil Bacterial Research.- Chapter 13. The Hidden Players: Soil Microbes in Ecosystems Sustainability.- Chapter 14. Biofilms: The Unsung Heroes of Soil Health and Crop Productivity.- Chapter 15. Metabolic Mysteries: New Perspectives on Soil Bacterial Metabolism.- Chapter 16. Unseen Allies: Exploring Cooperative Behaviour Among Soil Microbes.- Chapter 17. The Future of Biocontrol by Plant-Microbe Nexus: Novel Strategies and Applications.- Chapter 18. Soil Bacteria: An Invisible Army for Climate Resilience and Mitigation.- Conclusions.- Chapter 19. Soil Microbiota as Key Players in Mitigating Climate Change and Achieving a Sustainable Environment: A Conclusion.