Microbial Plant Pathogens - Detection And Management In Seeds And Propagules

Healthy seeds and propagules are the basic requirement for producing good grains, fruits, and vegetables needed for human survival and perpetuation. Dispersal of microbial plant pathogens via seeds and propagules has assumed more importance than other modes of dispersal, as infected seeds and propagules have the potential to become the primary sources of pathogen inoculum for subsequent crops. Several diseases transmitted through seeds and propagules have been shown to have the potential to damage economies as a result of huge quantitative and qualitative losses in numerous crops. It is therefore essential to rapidly detect, identify, and differentiate the microbial plant pathogens present in seeds and propagules precisely and reliably, using sensitive techniques.

Microbial Plant Pathogens: Detection and Management in Seeds and Propagules provides a comprehensive resource on seed- and propagule-borne pathogens. Information on the biology of microbial pathogens, including genetic diversity, infection process and survival mechanisms of pathogens, and the epidemiology of diseases caused by them, are discussed critically and in detail to highlight weak links in the life cycles of the pathogens.

The development of effective disease management systems, based on the principles of exclusion and eradication of pathogens and immunization of crop plants to enhance the levels of resistance of cultivars to diseases, has been effective in keeping pathogens at bay. The need for the production of disease-free seeds/propagules has been emphasized to prevent the carryover of the inoculum to the next crop or introduction of the pathogens to other locations. The effectiveness of adopting simple cultural practices and the development of cultivars resistant to diseases, through traditional breeding methods or biotechnological approaches, have resulted in a reduction of pathogen inoculum and disease incidence.

Although the application of different chemicals may effectively reduce the incidence of disease, biological management of crop diseases, employing potential biological control agents, is preferred to preserve the agroecosystems. Greater efforts have to be made to integrate compatible strategies to enhance the effectiveness of disease management systems.

Protocols appended at the end of relevant chapters form a unique feature of this book, enabling researchers to fine-tune their projects.

This two-volume set provides comprehensive and up-to-date information about the economically important groups of microbial plant pathogens carried by seed and propagules. Graduate students, researchers, and teachers of plant pathology, plant protection, microbiology, plant breeding and genetics, agriculture, and horticulture, as well as certification and quarantine personnel, will find the information presented in this book useful.

P. Narayanasamy has served in various capacities as Postdoctoral Research Fellow, International Rice Research Institute, Philippines; Virus Pathologist at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; and as Professor and Head at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India.