Biographical note

Dr. E.K. Radhakrishnan is currently working as an associate professor at the School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam and as a director at Business innovation and incubation Centre (BIIC.) During his 12 years of research, he has published 143 research publications, 43 book chapters, and 3 review papers. He has edited five books and has several books in progress. He has also been invited to deliver talks at various national and international conferences and seminars. His research areas include plant–microbe interactions, microbial natural products, microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles, antimicrobial resistance gene prediction, and development of polymer-based nanocomposites with antimicrobial effects for food packaging and medical ap?plications. R. Aswani has completed her PhD in microbiology at the School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India. After her MSc in microbiology, she completed an MPhil in biosciences and has authored 26 publications, 2 review articles, and 8 book chapters. She edited one book titled Biocontrol Mechanisms of Endophytic Microorganisms, published by Elsevier. Her area of research is the role of microbes in biocontrol mechanisms and induction of plant defense response by plant-associated microorganisms. 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 175 research, review articles, and book chapters in international and national journals. He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and as guest editor for various journals such as Plants, Microorganisms, and Sustainability. Dr. Kumar has also edited more than 32 books with the leading publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley. Dr. Kumar has wide area of research experience, especially in the field of plant-microbe Interactions, microbial biocontrol, Postharvest management of fruits, microbial endophytes related to medicinal plants and cyanobacteria-pesticides interactions.