Springer Toxicity of Heavy Metals to Legumes and Bioremediation

This book discusses various effects of heavy metal exposure to legumes, as well as the bioremediation potential of rhizosphere microbes. The text presents the availability of heavy metals, their uptake and the effects of metals on various signaling pathways within legumes. From the Back Cover This title discusses various effects of heavy metal exposure to legumes as well as the bioremediation potential of rhizosphere microbes. Availability of heavy metals, their uptake and the effects of metals on germination and various physiological functions of plants including legumes are presented. Furthermore, the effects of heavy metals to nitrogen fixing microorganisms and how microsymbionts can overcome metal stress is presented in detail. The influence of glutathione on the tolerance of Rhizobium leguminosarum to cadmium is discussed. The role of nitrogen fixers in decontamination of heavy metal toxicity, mycoremediation of metal contaminated soils, microbially mediated transformation of heavy metals and action of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and nitrogen fixers together in detoxifying heavy metals are broadly explained. This volume is a useful tool for scientists, policy makers and progressive legume growers intending to develop safe and healthy legumes for future generations. About the Author Almas Zaidi, received M.Sc. and Ph.D. (Agricultural Microbiology) degree from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India and currently serving as Guest faculty/Assistant Professor at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Dr. Zaidi has been teaching Microbiology at post graduate level for the last six years and has research experience of 14 years. She has published about 40 research papers, book chapters and review articles in journals of national and international repute. Dr. Zaidi has edited five books published by the leading publishers. Her main focus of research is to address problems related with rhizo-microbiology, Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, and biofertilizer technology. Parvaze Ahmad Wani, obtained Ph.D. (Agricultural Microbiology) degree from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India and is presently working as an Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Dr. Wani has sufficient experience of both teaching and research at master level. Dr. Wani has published over 30 research papers including original research, review articles and book chapters both at national and international level. He has also published one book from Germany related to his vast experience and broad understanding of the subject. Dr. Wani has also received a highly prestigious award given to young scientists by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.  His thrust area of research includes Environmental Microbiology and Rhizobiology. Mohammad Saghir Khan, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Dr. Khan received M.Sc. from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India and Ph.D. (Microbiology) from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, India. He has been teaching Microbiology to Post-Graduate students for the last 15 years and has research experience of 19 years. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Khan is engaged in guiding students for their doctoral degree in Microbiology. He has published over 60 scientific papers including original research articles, review articles and book chapters in various national and international publication media.  Dr. Khan has also edited seven books published by the leading publishers. Dr. Khan is deeply involved in research activities focusing mainly on Rhizobiology, Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology especially heavy metals-microbes-legume interaction, bioremedi