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Preface; Contents; 1: Microbial Inoculants in Organic Vegetable Production: Current Perspective; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 Need of Organic Vegetables; 1.3 Essential Characteristics of Organic Farming Systems; 1.4 Microbial Inoculants as Components of Organic Production; 1.4.1 Microbes as Biofertilisers in Organic Cultivation; 1.4.1.1 Nitrogen-Fixing Biofertilisers; Nitrogen Fixation Through Nodule Formation in Leguminous Vegetable Crops; Azotobacter as Free-Living Nitrogen Fixer; Azospirillum as Nitrogen Fixer; 1.4.1.2 Phosphorus-Solubilising Microorganisms.

1.4.1.3 Potassium-Solubilising Bacteria1.4.1.4 Mycorrhiza as Biofertiliser; 1.5 Microbes as Biocontrol Agents for Suppression of Plant Diseases; 1.5.1 Trichoderma in Organic Disease Management; 1.5.2 Fluorescent Pseudomonads as Biocontrol Agent in Organic Cultivation; 1.6 Microbes for Decomposition of Organic Residues; 1.7 Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Microbial Inoculants; References; 2: Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria: Importance in Vegetable Production; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Place of PGPR in Food Safety and Agricultural Challenges.

2.3 Mechanism of Growth Promotion by PGPR: A General Perspective2.3.1 Nitrogen Fixation; 2.3.2 Nitrification; 2.3.3 Denitrification; 2.3.4 Phosphate Solubilization; 2.3.5 Siderophores, a Powerful Tool for Antagonism and Competition; 2.3.6 Bacterial Phytohormones and Plant Growth Regulation; 2.3.6.1 Auxins: Biosynthesis and Their Place in the Plant-PGPR Interaction; 2.3.6.2 Gibberellins: Miraculous Molecules for Plant Growth Regulation; 2.3.6.3 Cytokinins and Plant Growth Regulation; 2.3.6.4 Ethylene; 2.3.6.5 Abscisic Acid.

2.3.6.6 Bacterial ACC Deaminase: A Hormone Balancing Signal Molecule2.4 PGPR Hydrolytic Enzymes; 2.5 Systemic Tolerance and Systemic Resistance Induction by PGPR; References; 3: Role of Nitrogen-Fixing Plant Growth-ƯPromoting Rhizobacteria in Sustainable Production of Vegetables: Current Perspective; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Rationale for Using Nitrogen Fixers in Vegetable Production; 3.3 Nitrogen Fixers-Vegetable Interactions: How Nitrogen Fixers Enter Vegetables; 3.4 Mechanism of Vegetable Growth Promotion by Nitrogen-Fixing Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria.

3.5 Nitrogen-Fixing Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Improve Vegetable Production: A General Perspective3.6 Effects of Nitrogen-Fixing Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Important Vegetable Crops; 3.6.1 Potato (Solanum tuberosum); 3.6.2 Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.); 3.6.3 Eggplant (Solanum melongena); 3.6.4 Cabbage (Brassica oleracea); 3.6.5 Broccoli (Brassica oleracea); 3.6.6 Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.); 3.6.7 Onion (Allium cepa); 3.6.8 Radish and Daikon (Raphanus sativus); 3.6.9 Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.); 3.6.10 Spinach (Spinacia oleracea); References.

This book provides a comprehensive information on basic and applied concepts of microbesial strategies adopted for the improvement of vegetables grown in various production systems. The beneficial role of soil microbes including plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), nitrogen fixers, and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in the improvement of vegetables grown both in normal and contaminated soils is discussed. The role of PGPR in tomato production is dealt separately. The impact of heavy metals on different vegetables and abatement of metal toxicity following metal tolerant PGPR and their consequential impact on vegetables grown in metal polluted soil is discussed. Moreover, recent advances in the management of vegetable diseases employing PGPR are addressed. This volume is therefore of special interest to both academics, professionals and practitioners working in the field of vegetable farming/horticulture, microbiology and plant protection sciences.