**About the Editor**

**Carmine Crecchio** obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 1991. He has been an associate professor in Agricultural Chemistry at the University of Bari Aldo Moro since 1998. His main recent research activities deal with: (i) the investigation of biochemical, microbiological and molecular paramenters that affect soil quality and fertility as a consequence of different anthropogenic activities and agricultural soil managements, focusing in detail on the composition and functioning of bacteria communities by metagenomic approaches; (ii) the isolation and characterization of plant growth promoting bacteria and their use in agriculture as biofertilizers. He is the author of around 70 research papers and reviews, published in international journals; he is a reviewer for the most relevant journals in the field, member of the Editorial Board of Soil Biology and Biochemistry and evaluator of scientific projects and grant proposals for many international organizations.
