Crop Disease Management : Principles and Practices

Contents: Preface. I. Causes and Development of Crop Diseases: 1. Introduction. 2. Types of Crop Diseases. 3. Methods of Establishing the Causes and Diagnosis of Crop Diseases. 4. Development of Plant Diseases Caused By Microbial Pathogens. 5. Molecular Basis of Microbial Pathogenicity and Host Plant Defense. 6. Assessment of Losses Caused by Crop Pathogens. II. Principles of Crop Disease Management: 7. Principles and Practices of Crop Disease Management. 8. Exclusion of Diseases Caused By Microbial Plant Pathogens. 9. Reduction of Pathogen Inoculum Using Physical and Chemical Techniques. 10. Reduction of Pathogen Inoculum Using Cultural Practices. 11. Reduction of Pathogen Inoculum Using Antimicrobial Chemicals. 12. Reduction of Pathogen Inoculum Using Biological Agents. 13. Host Plant Resistance to Microbial Pathogens. 14. Induction of Resistance to Crop Diseases. III. Practices Adopted for Crop Disease Management: 15. Integrated Management of Diseases Affecting Roots of Plants. 16. Integrated Management of Diseases Affecting Stems of Plants. 17. Integrated Management of Diseases Affecting Foliage of Plants. 18. Integrated Management of Diseases Affecting Inflorescence of Plants. 19. Integrated Management of Viral and Phytoplasma Diseases of Crops. 20. Integrated Management of Postharvest Diseases. Appendices. Glossary. Index.

Crop diseases are known to be caused by various abiotic and biotic agents. Among the biotic agents, microbial plant pathogens-fungi, bacteria, phytoplasmas, viruses and viroids-accounts for significant quantitative and qualitative losses in agricultural and horticultural crops. It is essential to have adequate knowledge of various aspects of these plant pathogens. Information on precise identification of microbial plant pathogens, process of diseases and the possible ways of integrating the practices is required to develop and enhance the effectiveness of disease management systems suitable for different ecosystems. Basic plant pathological methods provided in the appendix and glossary of plant pathological methods provided in the appendix and glossary of plant pathological terms presented in this book will help the students to have a clear understanding of the subject. Graduating students, researchers and teachers desirous of updating the information on different aspects of microbial plant pathogens and the diseases caused by them, will find this book to be useful.