Plant Diseases Identification and Management with Illustrations

All species of plants, wild and cultivated alike, are subject to disease. Although each species is susceptible to characteristic diseases, these are, in each case, relatively few in numbers. Diseases are the outcome of some disturbance in the normal life process of the plant. Diseases may be the result of living and/or nonliving causes. Biotic diseases are caused by living organisms (eg: fungi, bacteria, and viruses). Abiotic diseases are caused by non-living environmental conditions, (eg: soil compaction, wind, frost, soil salt damage, and girdling roots). Weather plays a large role in fungal disease development. Plant diseases have caused severe losses to humans in several ways. The goal of plant disease management is to reduce the economic and aesthetic damage caused by plant diseases. Traditionally, this has been called plant disease control, but current social and environmental values deem control as being absolute and the term too rigid. More multifaceted approaches to disease management, and integrated disease management, have resulted from this shift in attitude, however, single, often severe, measures, such as pesticide applications, soil fumigation or burning are no longer in common use. The book provides practical, conversant information that helps in the successful management of diseases on food, fiber, and landscape plants. information on; the precise identification of diseases and the pathogens that cause them; the development of epidemics of plant diseases; the application of biotechnology in plant pathology; the use of alternative methods of crop production and disease management that help protect the environment.