In the past three decades, plant pathology—a major subfield of agriculture and horticulture—has grown and matured into a distinct field unto itself. As pathologists and educators, we appreciate the opportunity to finally meet a long-standing demand for a comprehensive introduction to plant pathology. This book will be especially helpful for the young, aspiring brains of aspiring plant pathologists since it presents the basics of fungus, classifications, and concepts of plant pathology in a condensed style that is accessible to undergrads. Plants can only flourish within the typical limits of light, temperature, and pH, as well as the soil & nutrition and water content. However, plants may and do get ill. The development and utility of plants may be stunted by even the smallest disturbances in their health. The most prevalent reasons of decreased or eliminated plant growth and output include plant diseases, bad weather, and insect pests. Plants are susceptible to disease whose etiological agents are comparable to those that harm animals and people. There is no proof that plants sense pain and anguish, but the progression of sickness in plants is the same as in animals and humans, and it is generally just as complicated.

This volume provides insight into the principles underscoring various advanced microscopy methods and how they have been, or have the potential to be, applied to mycology. Offering a comprehensive overview of the confocal principle, confocal laser scanning microscopy and its application to fungal biology, this text also examines the newer sophisticated fluorescence-based methods of technology.

The aim of this volume is to describe the latest advances in microscopic methods, including integrated techniques, as applied to mycology. Each chapter will provide a brief overview of a particular microscopic method with associated advantages and limitations, the research questions that can be appropriately addressed using these microscopic methods, how it has been successfully applied to address mycological research questions, including supporting and complimentary techniques, and which future questions can be addressed.

Announcements for the following year included in some vols.

Mycelium Running is a manual for the mycological rescue of the planet. That’s right: growing more mushrooms may be the best thing we can do to save the environment, and in this groundbreaking text from mushroom expert Paul Stamets, you’ll find out how. The basic science goes like this: Microscopic cells called “mycelium”--the fruit of which are mushrooms--recycle carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements as they break down plant and animal debris in the creation of rich new soil. What Stamets has discovered is that we can capitalize on mycelium’s digestive power and target it to decompose toxic wastes and pollutants (mycoremediation), catch and reduce silt from streambeds and pathogens from agricultural watersheds (mycofiltration), control insect populations (mycopesticides), and generally enhance the health of our forests and gardens (mycoforestry and myco-gardening). In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find chapters detailing each of these four exciting branches of what Stamets has coined “mycorestoration,” as well as chapters on the medicinal and nutritional properties of mushrooms, inoculation methods, log and stump culture, and species selection for various environmental purposes. Heavily referenced and beautifully illustrated, this book is destined to be a classic reference for bemushroomed generations to come.