Pratibha Sharma – författare

The diseases that affect plantation crops reduce productivity and quality affecting growers profitability and domestic and international trade. The chapters in the book provides an up to date and detailed account of the diseases that affect arecanut, black pepper, cardamom, coconut, cocoa, coffee, ginger, tea, rubber, turmeric and vanilla. The detailed information on occurrence and distribution, economic impact, disease signs, causal agents, host-pathogen-environment interactions, pathogen survival and spread and disease progression of each disease is presented in this book. The emphasis has been given to adopt integrated disease management approaches involving cultural, crop management, host resistance, biological and chemical methods to reduce cost of production in sustainable manner. Colour photographs are included in each chapter for easy identification of disease. Molecular identification of exotic diseases that are a bio-security threat to Indian plantation industry have been included, where ever required for their avoidance and management. We hope that this compilation would serve as a valuable reference book for any one interested in disease management in plantation crops.

Plant pathology has been playing a vilal role In accomplishing food security In view of declining natural resources like land, water and human resources coupled with climate changes, the science of plant pathology should play a dominant role to produce more with lessening resources. It is more advanced today than ever before with new developments in disease diagnosis, the discovery of new generation molecules with low enwonmental impact reliable biological control agents as well as the development of new disease resistant plant varieties This book provides an up to date knowledge on taxonomy of fungi, threats of invasive and emerging diseases, disease diagnostics, interaction of host and pathogens, induced host resistance, utilization of biological control agents tor practical applications and the underlying mechanisms. RNAi mediated gene silencing, strategies to Identify targets for new disease control with plant derived products and chemicals and special emphasis on bo-security for safeguarding agricultural production and trade This book is the most comprehensive resource of current knowledge and will be highly useful to academia or industry related to crop heallh management.

This book compiles the latest research in the area of Trichoderma Rhizosphere Biology. It covers topics such as microbial interaction, crosstalk between plants and microbes, interactions with abiotic and biotic factors, and advances in biocontrol agents, biofertilizers and biostimulants. The respective chapters describe innovative ways of adapting fungal communities to improve their survival in highly dynamic environments and agroecosystems. In closing, the book discusses the use of Trichoderma as a bio-growth enhancer and biostimulant for organic agriculture.