Plant Biotechnology: Recent Advancements and Developments

This book presents an overview of the latest advances and developments in plant biotechnology. The respective chapters explore emerging areas of plant biotechnology such as RNAi technology, fermentation technology, genetic engineering, nanoparticles and their applications, climate resilient crops, bio-films, bio-plastic, bio-remediation, flavonoids, antioxidants etc. All chapters were written by respected experts and address the latest developments in plant biotechnology that are of industrial importance, especially with regard to crop yields and post-harvest strategies. As such, the book offers a valuable guide for students, educators and researchers in all disciplines of the life sciences, agricultural sciences, medicine, and biotechnology at universities, research institutions and biotechnology companies.

Prof. (Dr.) S.K. Gahlawat is Chairperson, Department of Biotechnology and Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU), Sirsa, India. He received postdoctoral BOYSCAST fellowship and DBT Overseas Associateship from the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India for carrying out research at FRS Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, UK. He has completed four R&D projects from UGC, ICAR and Government of Haryana. His research interests include development of molecular diagnostic methods for bacterial and viral diseases. He has published more than 70 research papers in journals of National and International repute, five books and supervised the MPhil and PhD research work of twelve students.

Dr. R. K. Salar, Ph.D., is a Professor at the Department of Biotechnology, CDLU, Sirsa, India. He was awarded postdoctoral fellowship from the Ministry of Education, Slovakia to pursue postdoctoral research at Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava and also visited Japan, Norway, Austria, Hungary for academic pursuits. Dr. Salar received several R&D projects from UGC, New Delhi, HSCST, Chandigarh and DST, New Delhi. He was felicitated with King Abdullaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) award for best paper published in 3 Biotech. He has supervised several Ph.D. and M.Phil. students for their research. Dr. Salar is also a reviewer of several international journals published by Springer, Elsevier, Wiley-VCH and Taylor & Francis.

Dr. P. Siwach, Ph.D., is a Professor at the Department of Biotechnology, CDLU, Sirsa. She was awarded with Silver Jubilee Gold Medal for her Ph.D. thesis by CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. She has received R&D projects from UGC, New Delhi. Her current research areas include Genome Annotations, Identification and Functional Annotation of miRNAs, Molecular Marker Analysis for Improvement of Quality Traits. She has also worked on micro propagation and biochemical characterization of medicinal plants and filed two patents in this field. She is a reviewer of several national and international journals.

Dr. J.S. Duhan, Ph.D. (Microbiology) is a Sr. Assistant Professor at the Department of Biotechnology, CDLU, Sirsa. He is the recipient of Young Scientist Award given by the Association of Microbiologists of India and K.K. Nanda award for best research and several other best paper awards. He has more than seventy research papers and edited two books published by Springer and Narosa. He has received R&D projects from UGC and CSIR, New Delhi. He has supervised the research work of fifteen M. Phil. and five Ph.D. students. His specialization includes Microbial Biotechnology and Fermentation Technology. He is a reviewer of several national and international journals.

Dr. Suresh Kumar, Ph.D. is presently working in the Department of Biotechnology, CDLU, Sirsa. His specialization includes Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology. He has published more than 17 research papers in journals of National and International repute. 

 Dr. Pawan Kaur, Ph.D. is presently working in the Department of Biotechnology, CDLU, Sirsa. She has post PhD research experience in the area of drug delivery. Her area of interests includes synthesis of nanoparticles, nanocomposites, antimicrobial activity & cytotoxicity of nano-formulations in biotechnology.