Encyclopaedia of Biocontrol Plant Diseases

Pathogenic microorganisms affecting plant health are a major and chronic threat to food production and ecosystem stability worldwide. As agricultural production intensified over the past few decades, producers became more and more dependent on agrochemicals as a relatively reliable method of crop protection helping with economic stability of their operations. However, increasing use of chemical inputs causes several negative effects, i.e., development of pathogen resistance to the applied agents and their non target environmental impacts. Furthermore, the growing cost of pesticides, particularly in less affluent regions of the world, and consumer demand for pesticide-free food has led to a search for substitutes for these products. The book covers holistic information on bio control management of fungal, bacterial, nematode and insect pests of economically important plants. The book will be useful to all students and researchers in plant pathology, microbial ecology, mycology, botany and agriculture. Contents: introduction; introduction to Plant Diseases; Diseases of Cucurbits; Plant Diseases Development and Management; A Plant Disease Primer; identifying Lawn Fungal Diseases; Diseases Caused by Fungi; Damping Off; Diseases Caused by Bacteria; important Pest & Diseases of Potato and their Management; Disease Causing Agents in Plants-Symptoms and Control.