Investigations on various aspects of plant-pathogen interactions have the ultimate aim of providing information that may be useful for the development of effective crop disease management systems. Molecular techniques have accelerated the formulation of short- and long-term strategies of disease management. Exclusion and eradication of plant pathogens by rapid and precise detection and identification of microbial pathogens in symptomatic and asymptomatic plants and planting materials by employing molecular methods has been practiced extensively by quarantines and certification programs with a decisive advantage. Identification of sources of resistance genes, cloning and characterization of desired resistance genes and incorporation of resistance gene(s) into cultivars and transformation of plants with selected gene(s) have been successfully performed by applying appropriate molecular techniques. Induction of resistance in susceptible cultivars by using biotic and abiotic inducers of resistance is a practical proposition for several crops whose resistance levels could not be improved by breeding or transformation procedures. The risks of emergence of pathogen strains less sensitive or resistant to chemicals have been reduced appreciably by rapid identification of resistant strains and monitoring the occurrence of such strains in different geographical locations.

As agricultural production increases to meet the demands of a growing world population, so has the pace of biotechnology research to combat plant disease. Diseases can be caused by a variety of complex plant pathogens including fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes, and their management requires the use of techniques in transgenic technology, biochemistry and genetics. While texts exist on specific pathogens or management practices, a comprehensive review is needed of recent developments in modern techniques and the understanding of how pathogens cause disease. This collection of studies discusses the key approaches to managing each group of pathogens within the context of recent developments in biotechnology. Broad themes include microbe-plant interactions, molecular diagnostics of plant pathogens and enhancing the resistance of plants.

Studies of the interactions between plants and their viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens are of major importance in plant and crop production. More than 10% of potential agricultural yield is lost to these organisms annually worldwide, and major epidemics can cause significant local economic and environmental damage. Molecular Plant Pathology addresses the underlying molecular principles of plant/pathogen interactions, in a readily-accessible textbook format.

Chapter 1. Molecular Recognition Processes Between Plant and Bacterial Pathogens Physical Contact of Plant Cells is Necessary for Bacterial Recognition Molecules Responsible for Physical Contact Many Bacterial Pathogens Induce Necrosis on Hosts and Nonhosts Bacterial Pathogens Grow in Both Host and Nonhost Plants Bacterial Pathogens Induce Leakage of Nutrients in Both Host and Nonhost Plants Bacterial Genes Involved in Recognition of Hosts and Nonhosts Coregulation of hrp, avr and Other Pathogenicity Genes Transcription of Bacterial Pathogenicity Genes in Planta Plant-Derived Molecules May Be Involved in Induction of Bacterial Genes Some Plant Signals May Direct Synthesis of Elicitors Secretion of Elicitors From Bacterial Cells in Plants The Role of hrp and avr Genes in Early Recognition Process in Plant-Bacterial Pathogen Interactions Other Signal Molecules of Bacterial Pathogens The Signal Transduction System Systemic Signal Induction Is Cell Death Involved in Signal Transduction Pathway? How Pathogens Avoid or Overcome Host Defense Mechanisms Induced by the Signal Transduction System? Possible Role of Signal Transduction System in Evasion of Host Recognition by Phytopathogenic Bacteria During Pathogenesis Chapter 2. Host Defense Mechanisms: Cell Wall-the First Barrier and a Source of Defense Signal Molecules The First Barrier to Bacterial Infection in Plants Structure of the Plant Cell Wall Pectic Polysaccharides Cellulose Hemicellulos Cell Wall Proteins Bacterial Genes Encoding Extracellular Enzymes Bacterial Genes Regulating Production of Extracellular Enzymes Bacterial Genes Regulating Secretion of Extracellular Enzymes Secretion of Proteases The Signaling System in Induction of Bacterial Extracellular Enzymes Plant Cell Wall Components Involved in Defense Mechanisms Against Bacterial Pathogens Bacterial Extracellular Enzymes Induce Host Defense Mechanisms Pectic Fragments Induce Virulence Genes in Bacterial and Defense Genes in Plants Pectic Enzymes Vary in Inducing Resistance or Susceptibility Polygalacturonase-Inhibiting Proteins Cell Wall Modifications and Bacterial Disease Resistance Chapter 3. Active Oxygen Species Mechanism of Production of Active Oxygen Species Signals for Induction of Active Oxygen Species in Bacteria-Infected Plants Bacterial Infection Leads to Production of Active Oxygen Species in Plants Active Oxygen Species May Induce Lipid Peroxidation Increases in Active Oxygen Species Lead to Activation of Lipoxygenase Active Oxygen Species Production Leads to Cell Membrane Damage Active Oxygen Species May Directly Kill Bacterial Pathogens Bacterial Pathogens May Tolerate Toxicity of Active Oxygen Species Antioxidants of the Host May Protect Bacterial Pathogens Against Active Oxygen Species The Possible Role of Active Oxygen Species in Disease Resistance Chapter 4. Inducible Plant Proteins Nomenclature of Pathogen-Inducible Plant Proteins Occurrence of PR Proteins in Various Plants Classification of PR Proteins Bacterial Pathogens Induce PR Proteins Molecular Mechanisms of Induction of PR Proteins Compartmentalization of PR Proteins in Plant Tissues The Role of PR Proteins in Bacterial Disease Resistance The Second Group of Pathogen-Inducible Proteins: Constitutive, but Increasingly Induced Hydroxyproline-Rich Glycoproteins Lectins Not All Inducible Proteins Need Be Involved in Inducing Bacterial Disease Resistance Chapter 5. Inducible Secondary Metabolites What Are Inducible Secondary Metabolites? Bacterial Pathogens Induce Accumulation of Secondary Metabolites in Infected Tissues Phytoalexins Accumulate in Plants After Irreversible Cell Membrane Damage Phytoalexins Accumulate Only Locally and Not Systemically Mode of Syntheses of Phytoalexins Evidences That Induced Secondary Metabolites Are Involved in Bacterial Disease Resistance Phytoalexins May Be Suppressed, Degraded, or Inactivated in Susceptible Interactions Some Phytoalexins May Not Have Any Role in Disease Resistance Constitutive, but Induced Secondary Metabolites During Pathogenesis Chapter 6. Biotechnological Applications: Molecular Manipulation of Bacterial Disease Resistance Manipulation of Signal Transduction System for Induction of Disease Resistance Manipulation of Resistance Genes Involved in Signal Transduction System Manipulation of Signal Transduction System by Elicitors Manipulation of Signal Transduction System by Using Chemicals Manipulation of Signal Transduction System by Using Rhizobacterial Strains Manipulation of Signal Transduction System by Enhanced Biosynthesis of Salicylic Acid Manipulation of Signal Transduction System by Inducing Accelerated Cell Death Manipulation of Signal Transduction System by Enhanced Biosynthesis of Cytokinins Manipulation of Inducible Proteins for Induction of Bacterial Disease Resistance Suppression of Virulence Factors of Bacterial Pathogens to Manage Bacterial Diseases Exploitation of Insect Genes Encoding Antibacterial Proteins for Bacterial Disease Management Exploitation of Bacteriophage Genes for Bacterial Disease Management Exploitation of Genes from Human Beings, Hens, and Crabs for Management of Plant Bacterial Diseases References Index.

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.

Using molecular methods for plant disease diagnosis provides diagnosticians with a number of advantages over more traditional methods. They can allow the identification of morphologically similar species, for example, or the detection of infection prior to symptom formation. Not only can molecular tools help by increasing the efficacy, accuracy and speed of diagnosis; their common technological basis provides further benefits, especially where resources are limited and traditional skills are hard to sustain. This book provides protocols for nucleic acid-based methods currently applied to plant pathogen detection and identification. It takes the practitioner through the full range of molecular diagnostic and detection methods and, as these generic techniques are appropriate for use on any target with minimal modification, also provides a useful resource for students of plant pathology and plant pathologists. Beginning with the background and future directions of the science, it then addresses DNA barcoding, microarrays, polymerase chain reactions (PCR), quality assurance and more, forming a complete reference on the subject.

Plant diseases play an important role on our daily lives. Most of plant diseases are visible and are caused by biotic and/or abiotic factors. Symptoms are usually the results of a morphological change, alteration or damage to plant tissue and/or cells due to an interference of the plant’s metabolism. All basic structures of vascular plants are subject to attack by pathogens. The failure in accurate disease diagnosis and management may lead to huge losses in plant production and related commodities, which causes nutritional food scarcity. Typically, the appearance of a biotic symptom will indicate the relatively late stage of an infection and/or colonization of a pathogen. Expert detection, accurate diagnosis, and timely management play a significant role in keeping plants free from pathogens. In this book expert scholars share their research knowledge and key literature which are vital toward the diagnosis of plant diseases across the globe, addressing traditional plant pathology techniques, as well as advanced molecular diagnostic approach.

Studies on molecular biology of pathogens, infection process and disease resistance, have provided information essentially required to understand the vulnerable stages at which the pathogens can be tackled effectively and to adopt novel strategies to incorporate disease resistance genes from diverse sources and /or to induce resistance of cultivars with desirable agronomic attributes using biotic or abiotic agents. The nature of interaction between the gene products of the pathogen and plant appears to determine the outcome of the interaction resulting in either disease progression or suppression. Transgenic plants with engineered genes show promise for effective exploitation of this approach for practical application. Research efforts during the recent years to sequence the whole genomes of the pathogens and plants may lead to development of better ways of manipulating disease resistance mechanisms enabling the grower to achieve higher production levels and the consumer to enjoy safer food and agricultural products. Experimental protocols included in appropriate chapters will be useful for researchers and graduate students.

This book offers a collection of information on successive steps of molecular 'dialogue' between plants and pathogens. It additionally presents data that reflects intrinsic logic of plant-parasite interactions. New findings discussed include: host and non-host resistance, specific and nonspecific elicitors, elicitors and suppressors, and plant and animal immunity. This book enables the reader to understand how to promote or prevent disease development, and allows them to systematize their own ideas of plant-pathogen interactions.* Offers a more extensive scope of the problem as compared to other books in the market* Presents data to allow consideration of host-parasite relationships in dynamics and reveals interrelations between pathogenicity and resistance factors* Discusses beneficial plant-microbe interactions and practical aspects of molecular investigations of plant-parasite relationships* Compares historical study of common and specific features of plant immunity with animal immunity