James F. White is professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States. He received his BS and MS degrees in Botany and Plant Pathology/Mycology from Auburn University, Alabama, and completed his PhD in Botany at the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. Dr. White is internationally recognized for his research on symbiosis, with a focus on endophytic microorganisms. He has authored numerous scientific articles and has written or edited several influential reference books on the biology, taxonomy, and phylogeny of microbial endophytes. He and his research group currently investigate the diversity of endophytic and biostimulant microbes and their functional impacts on host plants, contributing foundational knowledge to plant–microbe interaction biology and sustainable agricultural innovation. Dr. Ajay Kumar is currently working as an assistant professor at Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India. Dr. Kumar recently completed his tenure as a visiting scientist from Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel. He has published more than 200 research, review articles, and book chapters in international and national journals. He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiology, BMC Microbiology and as guest editor for various journals such as Plants, Microorganisms, and Sustainability. Dr. Kumar has also edited more than 40 books with the leading publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley. Dr. Kumar’s research experience is in the field of plant–microbe interactions, postharvest management, cyanobacterial biology, and so on

• PART I — Foundations: The Plant Microbiome1. Microbial Endophytes: Evolution, Diversity, Community Functions, and Regulation2. Plant Microbiome: Diversity, Distribution, and Functional Relevance in Crop Improvement and Sustainable Agriculture3. Influence of Root Exudates on Rhizosphere Microbial Structure and Dynamics4. Deciphering the Role of Root Exudates in Rhizosphere Microbial Assembly and Function5. Molecular and Genetic Factors Influencing Interactions Between Host and PathogenPART II — Biostimulants: Mechanisms and Crop Benefits6. Redefining Crop Productivity: Microbial Biostimulants and Their Role in Modern Agriculture7. Role of Biostimulant Application in Improving Crop Growth, Physiological Performance, and Stress Tolerance Under Abiotic Stress Conditions8. Cyanobacteria as Biostimulants for Crops9. Role of Beneficial Fungi in Sustainable AgriculturePART III — Waste Valorization and Circular Inputs10. Biostimulant Development from Waste-Derived Microbiome Stimulants: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Prospects11. Circular Utilization of Agro-Industrial Residues for Plant Microbiome Modulation12. Microbiome-Targeted Biostimulants from Agro-Industrial Residues: Valorization Strategies and Agricultural Applications13. Organic Amendments and Soil Microbial Interactions: Roles of Compost, Biochar, and Green Manures14. Current Research on Biochar and Its Impact on Plant–Microbe Interactions15. Bioprospecting Extremophiles for Sustainable Agriculture and the Future of Space BiotechnologyPART IV — Design, Formulation, and Field Application16. Microbial Consortia: Designing and Optimizing Synergistic Communities for Sustainable Agriculture17. Microbial Biocontrol Formulations for Commercial Applications18. Precision Agriculture Revolution: Microbes in Integrated Farming19. Microbes and Food Security: A Holistic Approach to Alleviating HungerPART V — Innovation, Commercialization, and Safety20. Cutting-Edge Technologies: Microbial Innovations in Agriculture21. Integrating Omics Approaches and Next-Generation Technologies in Microbial Biostimulant Research22. The Endophytic Microbiome in Sustainable Agriculture: Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning23. Development and Commercialization of Microbiome-Based Stimulants: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Prospects24. Microbial Inoculants as Plant Biostimulants: Assessing Risks and Safety Considerations

James F. White is professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States. He received his BS and MS degrees in Botany and Plant Pathology/Mycology from Auburn University, Alabama, and completed his PhD in Botany at the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. Dr. White is internationally recognized for his research on symbiosis, with a focus on endophytic microorganisms. He has authored numerous scientific articles and has written or edited several influential reference books on the biology, taxonomy, and phylogeny of microbial endophytes. He and his research group currently investigate the diversity of endophytic and biostimulant microbes and their functional impacts on host plants, contributing foundational knowledge to plant–microbe interaction biology and sustainable agricultural innovation. Dr. Ajay Kumar is currently working as an assistant professor at Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India. Dr. Kumar recently completed his tenure as a visiting scientist from Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel. He has published more than 200 research, review articles, and book chapters in international and national journals. He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiology, BMC Microbiology and as guest editor for various journals such as Plants, Microorganisms, and Sustainability. Dr. Kumar has also edited more than 40 books with the leading publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley. Dr. Kumar’s research experience is in the field of plant–microbe interactions, postharvest management, cyanobacterial biology, and so on

• PART I — Foundations: The Plant Microbiome1. Microbial Endophytes: Evolution, Diversity, Community Functions, and Regulation2. Plant Microbiome: Diversity, Distribution, and Functional Relevance in Crop Improvement and Sustainable Agriculture3. Influence of Root Exudates on Rhizosphere Microbial Structure and Dynamics4. Deciphering the Role of Root Exudates in Rhizosphere Microbial Assembly and Function5. Molecular and Genetic Factors Influencing Interactions Between Host and PathogenPART II — Biostimulants: Mechanisms and Crop Benefits6. Redefining Crop Productivity: Microbial Biostimulants and Their Role in Modern Agriculture7. Role of Biostimulant Application in Improving Crop Growth, Physiological Performance, and Stress Tolerance Under Abiotic Stress Conditions8. Cyanobacteria as Biostimulants for Crops9. Role of Beneficial Fungi in Sustainable AgriculturePART III — Waste Valorization and Circular Inputs10. Biostimulant Development from Waste-Derived Microbiome Stimulants: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Prospects11. Circular Utilization of Agro-Industrial Residues for Plant Microbiome Modulation12. Microbiome-Targeted Biostimulants from Agro-Industrial Residues: Valorization Strategies and Agricultural Applications13. Organic Amendments and Soil Microbial Interactions: Roles of Compost, Biochar, and Green Manures14. Current Research on Biochar and Its Impact on Plant–Microbe Interactions15. Bioprospecting Extremophiles for Sustainable Agriculture and the Future of Space BiotechnologyPART IV — Design, Formulation, and Field Application16. Microbial Consortia: Designing and Optimizing Synergistic Communities for Sustainable Agriculture17. Microbial Biocontrol Formulations for Commercial Applications18. Precision Agriculture Revolution: Microbes in Integrated Farming19. Microbes and Food Security: A Holistic Approach to Alleviating HungerPART V — Innovation, Commercialization, and Safety20. Cutting-Edge Technologies: Microbial Innovations in Agriculture21. Integrating Omics Approaches and Next-Generation Technologies in Microbial Biostimulant Research22. The Endophytic Microbiome in Sustainable Agriculture: Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning23. Development and Commercialization of Microbiome-Based Stimulants: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Prospects24. Microbial Inoculants as Plant Biostimulants: Assessing Risks and Safety Considerations

James F. White is professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States. He received his BS and MS degrees in Botany and Plant Pathology/Mycology from Auburn University, Alabama, and completed his PhD in Botany at the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. Dr. White is internationally recognized for his research on symbiosis, with a focus on endophytic microorganisms. He has authored numerous scientific articles and has written or edited several influential reference books on the biology, taxonomy, and phylogeny of microbial endophytes. He and his research group currently investigate the diversity of endophytic and biostimulant microbes and their functional impacts on host plants, contributing foundational knowledge to plant–microbe interaction biology and sustainable agricultural innovation. Dr. Ajay Kumar is currently working as an assistant professor at Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India. Dr. Kumar recently completed his tenure as a visiting scientist from Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel. He has published more than 200 research, review articles, and book chapters in international and national journals. He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiology, BMC Microbiology and as guest editor for various journals such as Plants, Microorganisms, and Sustainability. Dr. Kumar has also edited more than 40 books with the leading publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley. Dr. Kumar’s research experience is in the field of plant–microbe interactions, postharvest management, cyanobacterial biology, and so on

• PART I — Foundations: The Plant Microbiome1. Microbial Endophytes: Evolution, Diversity, Community Functions, and Regulation2. Plant Microbiome: Diversity, Distribution, and Functional Relevance in Crop Improvement and Sustainable Agriculture3. Influence of Root Exudates on Rhizosphere Microbial Structure and Dynamics4. Deciphering the Role of Root Exudates in Rhizosphere Microbial Assembly and Function5. Molecular and Genetic Factors Influencing Interactions Between Host and PathogenPART II — Biostimulants: Mechanisms and Crop Benefits6. Redefining Crop Productivity: Microbial Biostimulants and Their Role in Modern Agriculture7. Role of Biostimulant Application in Improving Crop Growth, Physiological Performance, and Stress Tolerance Under Abiotic Stress Conditions8. Cyanobacteria as Biostimulants for Crops9. Role of Beneficial Fungi in Sustainable AgriculturePART III — Waste Valorization and Circular Inputs10. Biostimulant Development from Waste-Derived Microbiome Stimulants: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Prospects11. Circular Utilization of Agro-Industrial Residues for Plant Microbiome Modulation12. Microbiome-Targeted Biostimulants from Agro-Industrial Residues: Valorization Strategies and Agricultural Applications13. Organic Amendments and Soil Microbial Interactions: Roles of Compost, Biochar, and Green Manures14. Current Research on Biochar and Its Impact on Plant–Microbe Interactions15. Bioprospecting Extremophiles for Sustainable Agriculture and the Future of Space BiotechnologyPART IV — Design, Formulation, and Field Application16. Microbial Consortia: Designing and Optimizing Synergistic Communities for Sustainable Agriculture17. Microbial Biocontrol Formulations for Commercial Applications18. Precision Agriculture Revolution: Microbes in Integrated Farming19. Microbes and Food Security: A Holistic Approach to Alleviating HungerPART V — Innovation, Commercialization, and Safety20. Cutting-Edge Technologies: Microbial Innovations in Agriculture21. Integrating Omics Approaches and Next-Generation Technologies in Microbial Biostimulant Research22. The Endophytic Microbiome in Sustainable Agriculture: Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning23. Development and Commercialization of Microbiome-Based Stimulants: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Prospects24. Microbial Inoculants as Plant Biostimulants: Assessing Risks and Safety Considerations