Revised and updated with new concepts, case studies, and laboratory exercises, Plant Pathology Concepts and Laboratory Exercises, Second Edition supplies highly detailed and accurate information in a well-organized and accessible format. New additions to the second edition include five new topic and exercise chapters on soilborne pathogens, molecular tools, biocontrol, and plant-fungal interactions, information on in vitro pathology, an appendix on plant pathology careers, and how to use and care for the microscope. An accompanying cd-rom contains figures from the text as well as supplemental full-color photos and PowerPoint slides. Unique Learning Tools Retaining the informal style of the previous edition, this volume begins each topic with a concept box to highlight important ideas. Several laboratory exercises support each topic and cater to a wide range of skill sets from basic to complex. Procedure boxes for the experimental exercises give detailed outlines and comments on the experiments, step by step instruction, anticipated results, and thought provoking questions. Case studies of specific diseases and processes are presented as a bulleted list supplying essential information at a glance. Comprehensive Coverage Divided into six primary parts, this valuable reference introduces basic concepts of plant pathology with historical perspectives, fundamental ideas of disease, and disease relationships with the environment. It details various disease-causing organisms including viruses, prokaryotic organisms, plant parasitic nematodes, fungi, plant parasitic seed plants, and other biotic and abiotic diseases. Exploring various plant-pathogen interactions including treatments of molecular attack strategies, extracellular enzymes, host defenses, and disruption of plant function, the book presents the basic ideas of epidemiology, control strategies, and disease diagnosis.

Biological Techniques is a series of volumes aimed at introducing to a wide audience the latest advances in methodology. The pitfalls and problems of new techniques are given due consideration, as are those small but vital details not always explicit in the methods sections of journal papers.In recent years, most biological laboratories have been invaded by computers and a wealth of new DNA technology and this will be reflected in many of the titles appearing in the series.The books will be of value to advances researches and graduate students seeking to learn and apply new techniques, and will be useful to teachers of advanced undergraduate courses involving practical or project work.This manual describes the broad array of techniques that are used in insect pathology. It will provide biologists, insect pathologists, entomologists, and those interested in biological control, with the necessary information to work on a variety of pathogen groups.This book will be an essential laboratory reference for insect pathologists.Features include:* Step by-step instructions on how to isolate, identify, culture, bioassay and store the major groups of entomopathogens* Details of the practical knowledge needed by beginners to apply the techniques* Chapters written by an international group of experts* Discussion of safety testing of entomopathogens in mammals and also broader methods such as microscopy and molecular techniques* Provides extensive supplemental literature and recipes for media, fixatives and stains

Plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes are increasingly important in relation to food security, quarantine measures, ecology (including pollution studies), and research on host-parasite interactions. Being mostly microscopic, nematodes are challenging organisms for research. Techniques for Work with Plant and Soil Nematodes introduces the basic techniques for laboratory and field work with plant-parasitic and free-living soil-dwelling nematodes. Written by an international team of experts, this book is extensively illustrated, and addresses both fundamental traditional techniques and new methodologies. The book covers areas that have become more widespread over recent years, such as techniques used in diagnostic laboratories, including computerized methods to count and identify nematodes. Information on physiological assays, electron microscopy techniques and basic information on current molecular methodologies and their various applications is also included.

Identification schemes; Gram-negative bacteria; Gram-positive bacteria; Cell wall-free prokaryotes.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are recognized as one of the greatest threats to crop production throughout the world. Estimated annual crop losses of $8 billion in the United States and $78 billion worldwide are attributed to plant parasitic nematodes. Plant parasitic nematodes not only cause damage individually but form disease-complexes with other microorganisms thereby increasing crop loss. Nematode diseases of crops are difficult to control because of their insidious nature and lack of specific diagnostic symptoms which closely resemble those caused by other plant pathogens and abiotic diseases. Future developments of sustainable management systems for preventing major economical agricultural losses due to nematodes is focused on strategies that limit production costs, enhance crop yields, and protect the environment. This book presents a first compendium and overview for nematode problems and their management across North America. Each chapter provides essential information on the occurrence and distribution of plant parasitic nematodes, their major crop hosts, impact on crop production and sustainable management strategies for each region of the continent including, Canada, Mexico and all states of the USA. For each region, a thematic overview of changes in crop production affected by plant parasitic nematodes and their management strategies over time will provide invaluable information on the important role of plant parasitic nematodes in sustainable agriculture.