Recent Trends and Applications in Plants, Microbes and Agricultural Sciences

This book covers a wide range of topics, including plant genetics, stress biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, plant-microbe interactions, microbial ecology, microbial biotechnology, crop production and management, plant breeding, and more. This book includes selected research and review articles presented in - DBT & DST-SERB (Govt. of India) sponsored International Conference on "Advances in Plants, Microbes, and Agricultural Sciences (APMAS-2023)" held during 02-04 March 2023 at the University of North Bengal, Siliguri, India. The book brings together leading researchers, academicians, and practitioners from various fields related to plants, microbes, and agricultural sciences to share their latest research findings and ideas. The book is a compendium of selected chapters written by experts in the field, and it aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research and future perspectives for budding researchers. Overall, the proceedings of APMAS-2023 will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, students, and practitioners interested in the latest developments in the subject.

Dr. Swarnendu Roy is presently working as an Assistant Professor at the University of North Bengal, Siliguri, India. He has more than 14 years of teaching experience. His doctoral thesis involved understanding the mechanism of salinity stress tolerance in grasses. He has published more than 50 articles in reputed journals with high impact factors like Water Research, Scientific Reports, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Carbohydrate Polymers, etc. He has published 6 edited books with Springer and CRC Press and also published several book chapters in edited volumes. Under his supervision, 2 students have been awarded Ph.D., and he is presently supervising 4 Ph.D. research scholars who are working on stress management in plants by engineered nanoparticles, synthesis of starch-based biofilms, and edible coatings. He received International Travel Support (ITS) from DST, Govt. of India, to present his research paper at the International Conference on Integrative Plant Physiology at Sitges, Spain. He is a Life member of renowned Societies like the Indian Science Congress, Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India), and Society of Plant Research (India).

Dr. Piyush Mathur is presently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany, University of North Bengal, West Bengal, India. He has been teaching for the past 6 years and has taught both at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. He has done his Ph.D. in botany with a specialization in mycology and plant pathology. Presently, he is supervising four Ph.D. research scholars who are working on microbial diversity, bioprospecting, and plant disease management. He has published quite a number of articles papers in well-known international journals of good repute. He has also contributed articles as book chapters in international and national books. He has recently edited a book entitled Plant Stress: Challenges and Management in the New Decade published by Springer under ASTI series and is working on other books too with Springer. Dr. Mathur is Active Member of the Society of Rapeseed Mustard Research (SRMR), Bharatpur.

Prof. Monoranjan Chowdhury serves as Faculty in Department of Botany, University of North Bengal. He has 10 years of university teaching experience. He also serves as Assistant Professor for 8 years in the Department of Botany, Maida College. He has more than fifty research articles in national and international journals. He is also In-Charge of NBIJ Herbarium: maintain 15000 herbarium species along with 6 type specimens. He serves as Secretary of East Himalayan Society of Spermatophyte Taxonomy (EHSST) since March 2017; Secretary: NBU Teachers' Council (2018-2019); Joint Secretary cum Treasurer: NBLJ Teachers' Council (2016-2018); Chairman: BOS, Environmental Studies, NW; Member, Board of Research Studies, NBL-J (since 2016); Vice-president: Society for Indoor Environment, Siliguri chapter; and Program Co-coordinator: NSS, NBL (since 2019). He has supervised two Ph.D. theses and seven UGC sponsored project works and currently supervising the Ph.D. works of five research scholars.

Dr Jnan Bikash Bhandari, Associate Professor serves as a faculty member in the Department of Botany, University of North Bengal, since the year 2018. Before this, he worked as an Assistant Professor in Siliguri College, Siliguri, Darjeeling, from 2007 and has 12 years of UG teaching experience. His area of specialization is morphology, anatomy, palynology of ferns, gametophyte culture, and endophytic and rhizoids associated microflora of Pteridophytes. Presently, he is working on ex-situ and in-situ conservation of ferns and fern flora of Darjeeling District, West Bengal. He has published more than 35 research articles in national and international journals. He edited 03 books from Narosa Publishing House and contributed articles as book chapters in different books and symposium volumes. He also attended more than 35 seminar symposiums and workshops. One student completed his Ph.D. under his supervision. Three registered scholars are working with him on the role of ferns in phytoremediation, increasing soil fertility by endophytic bacteria. He is also working on gametophytic culture and the cytotaxonomy of ferns. He completed three UGC sponsored projects during 2009-2011, 2013-2015, and 2020-2021. He received "Certificate of Merit" in 2000 and the S. S. Bir Gold medal in 2009 for his contribution in the field of Pteridological research. He is a life member of the Indian Fern Society since 1995, Indian Botanical Society since 2022, Botanical Society of Bengal since 2021 and East Himalayan Society of Spermatophyte Taxonomy since 2011.