Like other agro climatic zones of India, crops in arid region also suffer enormously due to vagaries of plant diseases. Certain agro-climatic conditions favor occurrence and development of these diseases, which often takes a serous form resulting in heavy crop losses. Instances are there when growers have abandoned cultivation of cumin, a cash crop, which suffered heavily due to wilt and shifted to less remunerative or more irrigation requiring crops. Even several folk songs depict the plight of cumin growers. Similarly, concurrent soil moisture and heat stress favor survival and multiplication of soil-borne plant pathogens that causes root rots in many legumes, oilseeds and trees. As arid lands are brought under irrigation, several newer or hitherto unimportant diseases have also became serious. With the burgeoning population pressure, arid region is now confronted with producing more grain and fodder per unit of land. Besides cultivation of drought hardy varieties of crops under improved agronomic practices, management of plant diseases is yet another area, which can accept this challenge to maximize productivity of arid lands. In the present compendium, contributions were invited from experienced research workers working in specialized Institutes. An effort has been made to provide information on the occurrence of major diseases on principal cereals, legumes, oilseeds, spices, horticultural crops, trees, medicinal plants, etc, and on factors influencing their development and practical remedial measures to reduce crop losses.

This Book Is An Attempt To Provide Critical And Up-To-Date Review And Synthesis Of Various Facets Of Soil Borne Plant Diseases Taking Stock Of Present State Of Art In Soil Borne Plant Pathogens. The Contributors From Various National Laboratories, Centers Of Excellence In Research Institutes And University With Mastery Over The Subjects Illustrate And Review The Progress, Application Of Knowledge On Soil Borne Plant Diseases Besides Updating The Readers With Recent Paradigm Shift In Soil Borne Plant Diseases Taking In To Account The Art And Science Of Ecology And Epidemiology, Disease Resistance, Physico-Chemical And Biological Aspects Of Solarization, Bio-Control Processes, Molecular Detection, Genomics Of Bio-Control, Pgpr Activity And The Art Of Managing Soil Borne Diseases In A Sustainable Way. The Book Also Comprises Special Chapters On Typical Major Soil Borne Fungal Genera Such As Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Verticillium, Phytophthora And Sclerotium Besides Endoparasitic Nematodes, Heterodera, Meloidogyne Their Biology, Perpetuation And Population Dynamics And The Topics On Soil Borne Diseases Of Important Crops Like Wheat, Cotton And Temperate Fruits Add To The Importance And Utility Of The Volume. The Recent Development In Bio-Control, Mass Production, Registration, Quality Control, The Principles Of Solar Heating, Use Of Mycorrhiza, Utilization Of On-Farm Wastes Combined With Sub-Lethal Heating And Its Utility In Hot Arid Region Are Some Of The Special Features Of The Volume. The Philosophy Of Idm With Due Consideration To Ecology And Economic Parameters Have Been Covered. The Book Caters The Need Of Knowledge Hungry Students, Teachers, Researchers, Policy Makers, Extension Workers Of General Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Biological Control, Molecular Biology, General Biology And All Well Wishers Of Farmers.

More than a century has passed since the first bioformulations were introduced to the market. But there is still much to be done, explored and developed. Though bioformulations offer green alternatives and are important for sustainable agriculture, they make up only a small fraction of the total additions used to enhance crop yields or protect them from pests. There is a great need to develop bioformulations that can promote confidence among end users; accordingly, it is imperative that bioformulations to replace chemicals be reliable and overcome the shortcomings of the past. Bioformulations: for Sustainable Agriculture discusses all the issues related to the current limitations and future development of bioformulations. It examines in detail those bioformulations that include biofertilizers and biopesticides (also commonly known as bioinoculants), presenting a global picture of their development. Further chapters address diverse microbes that are already being or could be used as bioformulations. The book also discusses the techniques, tools and other additions required to establish bioformulations as trustworthy and global solutions. It assesses the types of bioformulations currently available on the market, while also considering the future roles of bioformulations, including the reclamation of marginal and polluted soils. Further, it discusses the current legislation and much-needed amendments. Overall the book provides a comprehensive outlook on the status quo of bioformulations and the future approaches needed to improve them and achieve sustainable agriculture and food security without sacrificing the quality of soils. This will be extremely important in offering chemical-free foods and a better future for generations to come.

Biological management of diseases of crops is influenced by the nature of interactions between the pathogens and other organisms and the plants. Due to development of resistance in pathogens to fungicides and bactericides, determination of compatibility of biotic biocontrol agents with chemicals is essential for selecting strains of biocontrol agents (BCAs) showing resistance to chemicals to effectively restrict use of the chemicals. Microbial plant pathogens and the antagonists present in the soil and on the plant surfaces are influenced by various cultural practices. It is possible to reduce disease incidence and intensity by crop sanitation and using appropriate rotational crops. Application of physical techniques involving the use of heat, solarization and irradiation has potential to reduce the pathogen population or weaken the potential of pathogens present in the seed, planting materials and soil.

This book provides an account of the classical and recent trends in plant sciences, which have contributed for disease management strategies in plants for sustainable agriculture. Advancements in the disciplines of biological sciences like biotechnology, microbiology, bioinformatics as well as information and communication technology etc has given the new dimensions for the development of new plant disease management strategies. By keeping this perspective in view, the editors collected and compiled the useful, practical and recent information regarding plant disease management from a diverse group of authors from different countries associated with well-reputed scientific, teaching and research organizations with the objective to update and equip the researchers with comprehensive and latest knowledge of plant disease management. This book is based on the knowledge of traditional and modern approaches for plant disease management. It has 15 chapters, each chapter describing the pillar strategies, which may be the possible way for crop protection from diseases.This effort deals with the history and recent trends in plant disease control, plant genetics and physiology in disease prognosis, conventional plant breeding program for disease resistance, synthetic chemicals: major component of plant disease management, biological antagonism: expected safe and sustainable way to manage plant diseases , soil microbes and plant health, conventional and modern technologies for the management of post-harvest diseases, nanobiotechnology, an innovative plant disease management approach, transgenic approaches in plants: strategic control for disease management, exploiting RNAi mechanism in plants for disease resistance, genome editing technologies for resistance against phytopathogens: principles, applications and future prospects, plant health clinics in Pakistan: operations and prospects, precision agriculture technologies for management of plant disease, quarantine and regulations and development and implementation of IDM program for annual and perennial crops.

Plant diseases often are the worst natural hazards in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. New diseases and new biotypes of existing disease producing organisms appear from time to time in more virulent forms. The most startling aspect of plant diseases is that their management cost us a huge sum every year with serious consequences in environment and human health. Therefore, integrated disease management practices need to be refined and adopted to reduce the crop losses. In this book, the current status of various aspects of integrated disease management in fruits, vegetable, ornamentals, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, medicinal and forest plants etc. has been analyzed. Major focus is on the integrated disease management in horticultural crops. Emphasis has been given to the use of non-chemical methods like cultural practices, soil solarization, plant growth promoting microorganisms, organic amendments, botanicals and biocontrol agents. It is hoped that the book will serve as an important guide to the plant pathologists, horticulturists, nematologists, microbiologists, mushroom scientists, breeders and students.

Sustainable livelihood security of resource poor farmers is the top priority for the nation today. However, there is wide gap in productivity of various horticultural commodities among different eco-regions, where horticulture can play significant role particularly in arid and semi arid regions, it is far below than the potential productivity. Hence, sustained and steady growth in rural income is critical for positive impact on living standard of various stakeholders. Therefore, an appropriate strategy needs to be devised for such climatically vulnerable regions. The net income of farmers can surely be increased by efficient management of nutrient, water and agri-input, integrated horticulture based farming system, better market price realization, post harvest management and value addition, integration of secondary enterprises and thereby improving productivity of arid and semi-arid horticultural crops. In this book, several such interventions are given in the form of various chapters which will be of immense use improving the productivity and profitability of horticultural commodities. Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This title is co-published with NIPA.

The content of this book provides information on advanced knowledge in the sphere of importance and scope of horticulture in India, horticulture based integrated farming systems, integration of livestock in horticulture based farming systems, emerging issues, natural resource management, disease and pest management, organic farming and certification, post-harvest measures and value addition in arid fruits and vegetables, marketing aspects, status and export promotion measures and procedures. Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This title is co-published with NIPA.

Physiology of disease resistance is the most fascinating field of plant pathology. Plants have their own built in defence mechanisms against almost all microorganisms, but in a few cases the pathogen overcome the defence barrier with their offensive chemicals and cause diseases. It is a battle between microorganisms and plants, and sometimes the plants lose the battle. If the mystery of disease resistance is unraveled, scientists can engineer plants to win the battle even when the pathogens have an array of offensive chemicals. Several factors contribute to disease resistance and by identifying the links between different mechanisms, we may be able to alter host physiology to ward off the pathogens by connecting or disconnecting some of the vital links. This book critically analyses the various physiological and biochemical processes involved in the defence mechanisms of various crops such as rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, finger millet, tomato, potato, beans, cucumber, chilies, cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, apple, orange, grapevine, mango and banana against fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. It reviews all of the published works critically and suggests future course of research. Contents Genetic Engineering and Tissue Culture; Chapter 1: Genetic Engineering in Plant Disease Management-Problems and Prospects by Chitreshwar Sen and Dinesh C Khatua; Chapter 2: Genetic Engineering for Virus Disease Management by P Vidhyasekaran; Chapter 3: Tissue Culture- A Tool to Develop Disease Resistant Plants by D S Brar and P Vidhyasekaran; Chapter 4: In Vitro Screening for Disease Resistance by P Vidhyasekaran; Chapter 5: In Vitro Manipulation for Developing Disease Resistance Plants by K K Narayana and S R Sree Ranagasamy; Chapter 6: Basic Studies in Rice Anther Culture by S T Mercy; Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology; Chapter 7: Microbial Phytotoxins and Plant Diseases by Gary A Strobel and I Barash; Chapter 8: Basic Research on Toxins for Management of Crop Diseases by K K Janardhanan; Chapter 9: Basic Research on Physiology of Pathogenesis for Crop Disease Management by P Vidhyasekaran; Chapter 10: Basic Research on Induced Resistance for Crop Disease Management by A K Sinha; Chapter 11: Basic Research on Physiology of Disease Resistance for Crop Disease Management by P Vidhyasekaran; Chapter 12: Physiology of Disease Resistance in Rice by R Sridhar and Mandakini Nayak; Virus Disease Management; Chapter 13: Virus Inhibitors from Plants and Crop Disease Management by H N Verma and V K Baranwal; Chapter 14: Antiviral Principles for Virus Disease Management by P Narayanasamy; Chapter 15: Basic Research for the Management of Vectors of Plant Virus Diseases by S Jayaraj; Chapter 16: Basic Research on Behaviour of Insect Vectors for Developing Effective Virus Disease Management by M S Venugopal and K Gunathilagaraj; Chapter 17: Cross Protection in the Management of Virus Disease by H R Reddy; Chapter 18: Possibility of Controlling Virus Diseases by Plant Products by V Mariappan; Chapter 19: Basic Research on Management of Bacterial Diseases of Plants by J P Verma; Epidemiology and Forecasting; Chapter 20: Mathematical and Statistical Epidemiology by Mrinal K Das Gupta and Sibaji Chakraborti; Chapter 21: Basic Research on Plant Disease Forecasting by S T Tilak; Chapter 22: Basic Research on Epidemiology of Rice Diseases by M C Nair and C Gokulapalan; Chapter 23: Basic Research on Epidemiology of Pearl Millet Diseases by V N Pathak and G R Kumhar; Resistance Breeding; Chapter 24: Modern Approaches to Breeding for Disease Resistance by E A Siddiq; Biological Control; Chapter 25: Mycorrhiza-A Tool for Biocontrol by Bushan L Jalali; Chapter 26: Soil Amendment for Crop Disease Management by K Sivaprakasam; Management of Diseases of National Improvance; Chapter 27: Basic Research on Dowry Mildew of Cereals and Disease Management by H Shekara Shetty; Chapter 28: Basic Research on Management of Pearl Millet Diseases by R P Thakur; Chapter 29: Basic Studies on Fungal Diseases of Rice for Developing Effective Management Practices by S Gagopadhyay; Chapter 30: Management of Sheath Rot of Rice by R Ramabadran and R Velazhahan; Chapter 31: Basic Research on Rice Sheath Blight Disease by K Manibhushan Rao, U I Baby and Y Joe; Chapter 32: Current Fungal Disease Problems of Important Vegetables in India by S S Sokhi, G D Munshi, R K Grewal, T S Thind and K s Sandhu; Chapter 33: Management of Seed Borne Diseases by M R Siddiqui.