Puneet Singh Chauhan is Principal Scientist & Head at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Dr. Chauhan did his MSc from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India (June 2000) in Biochemistry and has received his Ph.D. from National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR), Lucknow, India and and awarded from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India (2009), thesis entitled Physiological and molecular characterization of rhizosphere competent plant growth promoting Pantoea agglomerans NBRI-SRM. Dr. Chauhan is the recipients of several national and International awards. He is the recipient of ‘Postdoctoral Research fellowship from Brain Korea 21 project, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea (Awarded in July 2009). He is also the recipient of Innovative Young Scientist Award from Asian PGPR society for sustainable agriculture, Hyderabad, India for contributions in the field of Agricultural Microbiology at National Workshop on “Advances in PGPR Research" organized by Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi on October 7-8, 2014. Dr. Chauhan has worked extensively on Agricultural Microbiology, Stress Biology and Soil and Microbial Ecology. He has published several research and review paper(s) in the Journal of international repute and has edited books with renowned international publishers. Nikita Bisht is a postdoctoral researcher at the Microbial Technologies Division of CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India. She holds a Master’s degree in Microbiology from GBPUAT, Pantnagar, India, and has received her Ph.D. from CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow, India and AcSIR, Ghaziabad, India. Dr. Bisht has a remarkable academic journey that extends to achieving excellence in national-level examinations/fellowships including CSIR-JRF-NET, ASRB-NET, and ICMR. Her expertise lies in the area of plant-microbe interactions and nutrient deficiency where her contributions have significantly advanced our understanding of the intricate molecular mechanisms governing these interactions. She has published research articles in peer reviewed journals and authored various book chapters. Dr. Bisht is a lifetime member of the Association of Microbiologists of India. Her dedicated pursuits continue to shape the field of microbiology and plant sciences, enriching our knowledge and fostering advancements for a sustainable future. Renuka Agarwal has been a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, since July 2025. Before then, she held a Postdoctoral Researcher role in the Department of Biology, Syracuse University and also completed postdoctoral research at CSIR-Lucknow. She was awarded a PhD by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali. Her areas of specialization include microbial ecology, soil metagenomics, and plant microbe interactions. She has published research articles in peer reviewed journals and also qualified national level exams to pursue her research career.

• 1. Microbial Biostimulants in plant sciences2. Fungi and bacteria as biostimulants for sustainable agriculture3. Beneficial bacteria in regulating drought stress in plants4. Beneficial bactria and fungi in regulating salinity in plants5. Beneficial bactria and fungi in regulating extreme temperatures6. Implication of bacterial and fungal agents in regulating acidity and alkalinity tolerance 7. Microbial biostimulants for amelioration of metal toxicity8. Beneficial bacteria in the regulation of nutrient homeostasis in plants9. Role of beneficial bacteria and fungi on plants immune response10. Modulation of gene network in plants by bacterial and fungal biostimulants11. Role of bacteria in controlling root system behaviour12. Phytohormone production in plants by bacteria and fungi13. Regulation of plant metabolism by beneficial bacteria and fungi14. Proteomic alterations in plants by beneficial bacteria and fungi15. Role of bacteria in maintaining soil fertility16. Effect of biostimulants on soil microbial community17. Beneficial bacteria and fungi and biofortification of crop plants18. Microbial biostimulants in the amelioration of climate change19. Commercialization of microbial biostimulants for sustainable agriculture