Environmental Biotechnology: A New Approach

by Rajan Kumar Gupta, Satya Shila Singh

ISBN: 9789386615763
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Imprint : Daya Publishing House
Year : 2018
Price : Rs. 17995.00
Biblio : xv+398p., figs., tabls., ind., 25 cm

Author Profile

Dr. Rajan Kumar Gupta (b. 25-10-1963) has worked on Ecophysiology of Antarctic Cyanobacteria for his Ph.D. degree with Late Prof. A.K. Kashyap of Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. For the past twenty years he has been working on various aspects of Antarctic microflora. Dr. Gupta was deputed by Govt. of India for his participation as Biological Scientist in Antarctica twice. He has participated in XI and XIV Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica during 1991-92 and 1994-95. He has visited several countries like USA, Europe Belgium, Mauritius, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, South Africa, Singapore and Srilanka etc. for presentation of his work on different aspects of algae. Dr. Gupta has worked on various aspects of cyanobacteria, i.e., morphology, ecology and nitrogen fixation, biotechnological applications and published more than 100 technical papers in various national and overseas journals and 7 reference (research) books entitled “Glimpses of Cyanobacteria”, “Advances in Applied Phycology”, “Soil Microflora”, “Microbial Biotechnology and Ecology Vol-1 Vol-2”, “Diversity: An Overview”, “Diversity of Lower Plants” and “Biotechnology: An Overview”. Nine students have been awarded the D.Phil degree and Six are working under his supervision for their D.Phil degree of Various Universities of Uttarakhand. Dr. Gupta is a recipient of Research Award from University Grants Commission, New Delhi. Dr. Gupta is member of number of organizations in India and abroad. He is the Fellow of the Society for Environment and Ecoplanning and International Botanical Society and chaired various sessions in the conferences in India and abroad. He is in the editorial and advisory board of various journals. Presently, Dr. Gupta is teaching Microbiology and Biotechnology in Department of Botany, Dr. P.D.B.H. Govt. P.G. College, Kotdwar (Pauri), Uttarakhand. Dr. Satya Shila Singh (b. 28.10.1967) B.Sc. (Gorakhpur University), M.Sc. (Purvanchal University) and Ph.D. (Botany, Banaras Hindu University). She did her Ph.D. on the research problem related to the Physiological and Biochemical Studies of Azolla- Anabaena under salt stress. Presently, Dr. Singh is serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (Central University), Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. She has 3 years of teaching and 16 years of research experience with specialization in Stress Physiology and Molecular Genetics of Cyanobacteria. She has published number of papers in the journals of International and National reputes. She is recipients of Junior & Senior Research Fellowship (University of Grants Commision), Research Associateship (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi) and DST Young Scientist award. Her research activities mainly focuses on systematics of diazotrophic microorganisms viz. cyanobacterial strains collected from different parts of India and Frankia strains isolated from root nodules of Hippophae salicifolia D. Don located at high altitude of Eastern Himalayas, North Sikkim, India and both of them comprise the largest global suppliers of biologically fixed nitrogen in the environment through the enzyme nitrogenase complex encoded by three structural genes i.e. nif-HDK, which has been highly conserved throughout the evolution. She has also detected molecular diversity and phylogenetic relationships among the Frankia strains and heterocystous cyanobacteria based on amplification and sequence analyses of highly conserved 16S rRNA molecule, nitrogen fixing genes (nifH and nifD), short tandem repetitive repeats and highly iterated palindromic sequences. Siderophore production and their interaction with specific metal ions are also one of the prime targets of his research programme. She has also investigated on various factors regulating acid/alkaline phosphatase activity in cyanobacteria and Azolla-Anabaena system and also their potential application as a suitable biofertilizer. Interest in salt tolerance of Anabaena azollae (Trichormus azollae) forming symbiotic association with Azolla and Frankia strains with Seabuckthorn (Hippöphae salicifolia D. Don) arises for its possible contribution in nitrogen economy especially under saline environment. Recently, her laboratory also focusing on the molecular approaches to study the community diversity of paddy fields especially on diazotrophic cyanobacteria of Chhattisgarh.

About The Book

In modern age, environment is affected by anthropogenic activities at each and every second to maximize the benefits for the fulfillment of human need. At every moment, newer technologies, as an emerging field, have been continuously introduced to protect environment from pollution and contamination so that sustainable environment would be ensured. Environmental science is the study of environmental disharmonies created by the interactive effect of humans and the natural world and the solutions related to environmental problems by using newer technologies i.e. Environmental biotechnology which is most historic and eminently modern technical discipline. This book deals with the technologies used for the improvement of the quality of the environment for the human welfare by using microbes and plants. It also includes constantly new technologies to introduce contemporary problems such as detoxification of hazardous chemicals. This book also targets at providing ideas for the generation or exploration of valuable resources from plants for human society.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement v Foreword vii Preface ix 1. Nanobiotechnology: An Introduction 1 2. Optical Fiber Biosensors: An Overview 17 3. Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles Using Higher Plants 33 4. Calcium Ion Regulation in Cyanobacteria 63 5. Cyanobacteria: Diversity and Applications in Biotechnology 83 6. Eutrophication, Algal Bloom and their Toxicity on Human and Animals 101 7. Azolla and Blue Green Algae Supplementation Affecting Mycorrhization and Growth of Rice 111 8. Application of Biotechnology in Agricultural Production 131 9. Prospects of Bio-composting in Organic Farming and Environment Management 147 10. Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Herbicide Degradation 179 11. Bioprospecting Himalayan Lichens for Antimicrobial Activity: An Efficient Extraction and Microbial Assay Methodology 189 12. Environmental Biotechnology and Human Welfare 205 13. Effect of Heavy Metal on Fish Gills 211 14. Plant Litter Decomposition, Humus Formation and Carbon Sequestration 225 15. Production of Cellulases using Agriculture Waste: Application in Biofuels Production 233 16. Impact of Light Climate on Periphyton and Autotrophic index in Ganga River, India 245 17. Phytoremediation of Environmental Pollutants: A Biotechnological Perspective 265 18. Role of Programmed Cell Death in Plant Development and Defense 277 19. Phytotechnology and its Techniques to Combat Environmental Pollution of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems 287 20. In vitro Technique for Selection of Plants Tolerant to Environmental Stresses 309 21. Cordyceps sinensis: A Magical Medicinal Mushroom 347 22. Biosurfactants from Micro-organisms for Broad-spectrum Environmental Biotechnological Applications 361 Index 397