The increasing human population and the associated activities have negatively influenced the ecosystems and life on earth. The continuous addition of agrochemicals, heavy metals and industrial wastes/ effluents in the ecosystems have caused great harm, including loss of productivity, biodiversity, climate change and diseases in plants, animals and humans, resulting in increased marginal lands and endangered sustainability of life on earth. Hence, there is an urgent need to reverse the impact of dangerous pollutants through a holistic, sustainable and biotic approach. Bioremediation involves the utilization of biological systems, mainly plants (phytoremediation) or microorganisms or both in combination (rhizoremediation) for the removal or degradation of pollutants and revive the habitats in an eco-friendly manner. Recently, there have been many success stories related to bioremediation involving plants or plant-microbe interactions. These success stories are related to the removal of heavy metals, pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, explosives, radionuclides or reduction of biological oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, oil spills in water bodies. Rhizoremediation has also been successfully used for reclamation of saline or marginal soils. With the range of pollutants and the total area (on earth) covered by these toxic chemicals, it is important that these eco-friendly technologies be utilized in a better way. The book throws light on the recent happenings, research and success stories related to bioremediation of polluted habitats through phytoremediation or rhizoremediation. The book also highlights some of the significantly important plant and microbial species involved in remediation, the physiology, biochemistry and the mechanisms of remediation by various plants and microbes, and suggestions for future improvement of bioremediation technology.
Prof (Dr) Naveen Kumar Arora, PhD in Microbiology, Professor and Head in Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India is a renowned researcher in the field of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. His specific area of research is rhizosphere biology and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). He has more than 60 research papers published in premium international journals and several articles published in magazines and dailies. He is editor of 15 books, published by Springer and member of several national and international societies, in editorial board of 04 journals and reviewer of several international journals. He is also the Editor in Chief of the journal "Environmental Sustainability" published by Springer Nature. He has delivered lectures in conferences and seminars around the globe. He has been advisor to 118 post graduate and 09 doctoral students. He has also received awards for excellence in research by the Honorable Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Asian PGPR Society and Samagra Vikas Welfare Society. Although an academician and researcher by profession he has a huge obsession for the wildlife and its conservation and has authored a book, Splendid Wilds. He is President of Society for Conservation of Wildlife and is also Secretary of Society for Environmental Sustainability (website: www.ses-india.org).
Narendra Kumar has obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D degree in Environmental Science from the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (A Central) University, Lucknow, India. Dr. Kumar, has also qualified UGC-NET in the subject Environmental Science. An active researcher with 17 years of post graduate teaching and research experience. In 2002, he joined the Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, C.S.J.M. University, Kanpur, U.P., India, as a lecturer. Dr. Kumar has been working as an Assistant Professorin the Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow since 2005. He has published more than 40 research papers and 15 book chapters with reputed National and International publishers. Five Ph.D. degree has been awarded under the supervision of Dr. Kumar and currently two research scholars are working under his guidance for doctoral degree. In addition Dr. Kumar has guided more than 40 students for their M.Sc. dissertation work. He has coedited 3 books, 'Environmental Concerns and Sustainable Development' in two volumes and book 'Plant Adaptation Strategies in Changing Environment' published by Springer Nature.
