Microbial Secondary Metabolites: Fermentation, Industrial Production, Agriculture Use, Challenges and Future Perspectives

The book offers a comprehensive and timely exploration of one of the most dynamic areas of modern microbiology and applied biotechnology. The book examines the diversity, classification, biosynthesis, extraction, characterization, and practical applications of microbial secondary metabolites, highlighting their growing significance in medicine, industry, agriculture, and sustainable development. Bringing together fundamental concepts and applied perspectives, this volume introduces readers to major classes of secondary metabolites, including polyketides, peptides, steroids, terpenoids, volatile compounds, and growth regulators. It discusses their wide-ranging uses as antibiotics, antitumor agents, nutraceuticals, enzyme inhibitors, agricultural products, and animal health-promoting substances. The book also provides valuable insight into analytical and identification techniques such as TLC, HPLC, GC-MS, and other modern methods used in the quantification, purification, and study of microbial metabolites. A notable strength of this work lies in its detailed treatment of microbial secondary metabolites in agriculture and industrial production. The authors examine solid-state fermentation, upstream and downstream processing, scalability, extraction, residue generation, strain improvement, biofactory approaches, and the role of the circular economy in enhancing industrial productivity. Special attention is also given to microbial volatile organic compounds and their role in plant growth promotion, biocontrol, stress mitigation, and sustainable farming. By addressing both scientific foundations and future-oriented challenges, this book serves as a valuable resource for students, researchers, academicians, and professionals in microbiology, biotechnology, agriculture, industrial fermentation, environmental science, and allied disciplines. Scholarly in scope and practical in relevance, it contributes meaningfully to the evolving discourse on microbial innovation and sustainable biological production.