Jointly published with INRA, Paris. Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a very destructive plant disease that attacks over 450 different species, including many of the most important economic crop plants. Often endemic, the bacterium transmits through the soil, penetrates the plant root system and eventually causes irreversible wilting and death. This book summarizes the current information on bacterial wilt for both the basic research community and for concerned professionals who are faced with the disease in the field, offering the latest approaches to diagnosis and control of the disease. Emphasis is placed on integrated and biologically sustainable control methods. Also presented is the most recent genetic/biochemical research exploring the interaction between the bacterium and its plant host at the molecular level.

The bacterial wilt diseases caused by members of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex have never been more important. The research presented in this volume reveals a pathogen on the move, with a growing global profile. While these diseases inflict ongoing and increasing crop losses on subsistence farmers, the pathogen now has significant political and economic impact in the developed world.This book, based on the 3rd International Bacterial Wilt Symposium, covers topics ranging from the basic biology of the host-pathogen interaction to applied research, designed to immediately address disease losses in the field. Contributors to the book span a broad range of applied and basic biologists. They work in all parts of the world, offering current data on sustainable low-tech disease control practices and on R. solanacearum as a model system for understanding molecular plant-microbe interactions.Bacterial Wilt Disease and the Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex opens with two key reviews. One presents a thoughtful analysis of international collaborations on bacterial wilt research in the context of a review of literature published on the topic. The second is a global assessment of the current impact of bacterial wilt. Although there are still significant gaps in the data available, for the first time a general idea of the real impact and extent of these diseases around the world is presented.Topics covered in this resource include: epidemiology, disease management, breeding and deployment, host plant response and disease management, pathogen genetics, R. solanacearum in banana and plantains, and diversity and detection. Experts provide overviews focusing on the pressing research needs in each area. These overview chapters are intended to give the reader the best current understanding of the topic and to suggest promising directions for future research.Global Impact of R. solanacearum:R. solanacearum is a contentious topic in agricultural trade negotiations in the European Union and is subject to strict quarantine and eradication regulations in the United States. This legislation has had unforeseen economic impacts on laborers in developing nations where millions of ornamental plant cuttings are produced for the North American and European markets. In addition, reports at the 3rd International Bacterial Wilt Symposium indicated that the most rapid and alarming increases in bacterial wilt disease incidence around the world are on potatoes, bananas and plantains. More than ever, scientists who work with this pathogen must recognize that although bacterial wilt certainly can cause severe crop losses on a local scale, it also plays a complex and significant role in the worldwide agricultural matrix.

The hostsof Pseudomonas solanacearum; Diversity of Pseudomonas solanacearum and related bacteria in South East Asia: new directions for moko disease; advances in identification and detection of Pseudomonas solanacearum; Whole-genome analysis of Pseudomonads and its application to Pseudomonas solanacearum; Strain differential of Pseudomonas solanacearum by molecular genetic methods; Genomic figerprinting towards a unified view of the Pseudomonas solanacearum species complex; Strain characterization of Pseudomonas solanacearum based on membrane protein patterns; Systematics and phylogeny of Pseudomonas solanacearum: its molecular basis and potential function; Understanding bacterial wilt resistance in tomato through the use of DNA genetic markers; Advances in the control of Pseudomonas solanacearum race 1 in major food crops; Management of bacterial wilt of tobacco; Strategies for integrated control of bacteria vilt of potatoes; Resistance to bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas solanacearum) in tomato: present status and prospects; Biological control of bacterial wilt caused by Pseudomonas solalacearum: state of the art and understanding; Like with a mutable and treacherous tribe.

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

This volume is envisioned as a resource for researchers working with beneficial and harmful groups of bacteria associated with crop plants. The book is divided into two parts, with Part I on beneficial bacteria including chapters on symbiotic nitrogen fixers and rhizosphere bacteria. The second part consists of detailed descriptions of 8 genera of plant pathogenic bacteria, including Agrobacterium and Herbaspirillum. Each chapter covers terminology, molecular phylogeny and more. soft-rot, Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, Ralstonia, Burkholderia and Acidovorax There is an opening chapter on the plant-associated bacteria survey, molecular phylogeny, genomics and recent advances. And each chapter includes terminology/definitions, molecular phylogeny, methods that can be used (both traditional and latest molecular tools) and applications

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. This book provides a fresh, updated and science-based perspective on the current status and prospects of the diverse array of topics related to the potato, and was written by distinguished scientists with hands-on global experience in research aspects related to potato. The potato is the third most important global food crop in terms of consumption. Being the only vegetatively propagated species among the world’s main five staple crops creates both issues and opportunities for the potato: on the one hand, this constrains the speed of its geographic expansion and its options for international commercialization and distribution when compared with commodity crops such as maize, wheat or rice. On the other, it provides an effective insulation against speculation and unforeseen spikes in commodity prices, since the potato does not represent a good traded on global markets. These two factors highlight the underappreciated and underrated role of the potato as a dependable nutrition security crop, one that can mitigate turmoil in world food supply and demand and political instability in some developing countries. Increasingly, the global role of the potato has expanded from a profitable crop in developing countries to a crop providing income and nutrition security in developing ones. This book will appeal to academics and students of crop sciences, but also policy makers and other stakeholders involved in the potato and its contribution to humankind’s food security.

Fungal Wilt Diseases of Plants focuses on wilt diseases caused by the fungal genera Verticillium, Fusarium, and Ceratocystis. Special attention is given to the interactions of physiological, biochemical, and anatomical factors, as these relate to pathogenesis and mechanisms of disease resistance. Organized into 16 chapters, this book begins with a description, in a historical perspective, of the major research themes in fungal wilt diseases. It then looks into the worldwide status of this plant disease. The three subsequent chapters describe the epidemiology and life cycle of the major fungal wilt pathogens in Fusarium, Verticillium, and Ceratocystis. This book also provides an in-depth view of the genetics and biochemistry of these pathogens; the nature of pathogenesis and the effects of wilt pathogens on host-water relations; and the sources and genetics of host resistance in field and fruit crops, vegetable crops, and shade trees. Other chapters are dedicated to the biochemistry, physiology, and the anatomical aspects of resistance and to the progress in the biological and chemical control of these pathogens. This text will be of great value to graduate students and senior research scientists in plant pathology, physiology, and biochemistry, who are specifically involved in studying wilt diseases and host-parasite interactions. It will provide them the detailed background information needed to supplement their specialized research interests.

Pine forests face a global threat of pine wilt disease, which is being spread by vector beetles carrying pathogenic nematodes from dead trees to healthy ones. Among the host pines there are varying degrees of susceptibility, and nematode strains also contain a variety of virulences, both of which factors help to determine whether infected host trees will die or survive. As well, biotic and abiotic environmental factors influence the fate of infected trees. This book describes the history of the disease, pathogenic nematodes, vector beetles, the etiology and ecology of the disease, microorganisms involved, and control methods that utilize host resistance and biological control agents. Concrete, comprehensive, and the most up-to-date knowledge about this worldwide forest epidemic is presented for readers, enabling them to understand the nature and epidemic threat of pine wilt disease.

This valuable volume highlights biotechnological tools and their utilization for biotic stress management in the tomato plant, one of the world’s most important vegetable crops consumed by us in our daily diet and which is vulnerable to over 200 diseases as well as the impact of global climate change. The chapters cover the major diseases of tomato along with practical biotic stress management strategies through biotechnological and molecular approaches. The focus is on molecular tools that can be used to prevent or mitigate damage from such diseases as bacterial wilt, bacterial canker, damping off seedlings, late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, septorial leaf spot, cercospora leaf spot, verticilium wilt, tomato leaf curl virus, tobacco mosaic virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, root knot nematode, fruit borer, and sucking pests. Gene stacking/pyramiding and postharvest management strategies are also systematically discussed. This book provides an up-to-date and comprehensive review that will be a greatly useful resource, containing basic facts and information on the new and recent discoveries for biotic stresses management of tomatoes.