Preface

Part II of this book entitled "Plant Stress Physiology and Agricultural Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture" continues to summarize current findings, emerging technologies, and integrated strategies to mitigate stress responses and achieve sustainable agriculture through the understanding and application of integrated omics and molecular tools and the use of agricultural biotechnology and plant growth-promoting microorganisms and agents.

It first provides molecular aspects on the role of cytosine methylation and demethylation in plant stress responses and the importance of epigenetic genetics in regulating plant stress responses and the role of late embryogenesis abundant proteins in plant cellular stress tolerance with an emphasis on their molecular mechanisms and potential implications.

Several chapters focus on discussing the subtopics of beneficial microorganisms including rhizobacteria, endophytes, and mycorrhizal fungi, which are expected to be alternative fertilizers with the advantages of being cost-effective, toxin-free, and eco-friendly.

In the scenario of a rising world human population and consequently, increasing industrial activities, environmental pollutants continue to threaten human life globally. Fortunately, a range of plants have the ability to remediate such kind of environmental stress, and in part II of this book, several comprehensive reviews were provided to explore the role of medicinal plants in reducing the toxic and negative impacts of pollutants, and additionally, the stress responses induced by metal-nanoparticle were presented and discussed.

Pathogenic/biotic stresses are critical issues in agricultural production due to the resulting huge losses each year globally and certainly damage the goal of zero hunger in SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Part II of this book presents the potential use of endophytic bacteria for protecting crops against pathogens and an in-depth analysis of the molecular level to understand the impact of ATP-binding cassette transporters on plant defense mechanisms. Besides, a chapter discusses an interesting class of plant secondary metabolites, namely terpenoids and their precursors, terpenes, on their role in diverse growth and development, particularly with an emphasis on their effects on plant-microbial interaction and defense mechanisms and this knowledge can advance future utilization of these compounds through metabolic engineering or exogenous application as anti-pathogenic agents.

The content of Part II is an ideal reference for students and teachers in the research field of plant science, particularly the topics of plant stress physiology and plant-microbial interaction. It also provides advanced knowledge and valuable insights for experts in agricultural institutions and the R&D departments of agricultural corporations.

In the end, the editor is very grateful to the staff of the publisher for their guidance and assistance, and to all the chapter contributors for their efforts. Without their valuable works, this book will not be successfully organized.