Powdery mildew disease is the fourth most widespread disease in cruciferous crops and a devastating effect, causing significant losses in terms of quality and quantity in rapeseed and mustard. Powdery mildews are also a favourable host-pathosystem model for basic research on host–parasite interactions, developmental morphology, cytology, and molecular biology to identify the effector proteins/genes governing different biological functions. This book provides a comprehensive overview of all the published information in the field for researchers, teachers, students, extension experts, industrialists and farmers, and includes illustrations, photographs, graphs, figures, tables, histograms, micrographs, electron micrographs, and flow charts to aid understanding. It also describes standardized reducible techniques. The book discusses each disease in detail, describing the distribution, symptomatology, host range, yield losses and disease assessment, as well as the taxonomy, morphology, phylogeny, variability, sporulation, survival and perpetuation of the pathogen. Further, it explores topics such as spore germination; infection; pathogenesis; disease cycle; epidemiology; forecasting; fine structures; host resistance; biochemical, histological, genetic and molecular aspects such as cloning and mapping of R genes; sources of resistance; disease resistance breeding; and the genetics of host-parasite interactions and disease management.

"Chapters within "The Fungi" bring up to date the nomenclature and classification of species, accurately reflecting the phylogeny of the fungi. An entire chapter is dedicated to the taxonomy of the powdery mildew fungi providing a new and reliable international source for all mycologists and plant pathologists. Convenient reference to both 'old' and 'new' names throughout the book will facilitate understanding and accelerate transition towards general use of the new taxonomy and nomenclature."--pub. desc.

"This compendium includes almost all presently known species of ascomycetes that have been reported in soil and which sporulate in culture. They constitute a very broad spectrum of genera belonging to very diverse orders, but mainly to the Onygenales, Sordariales, Eurotiales, Thelebolales, Pezizales, Melanosporales, Pleosporales, Xylariales, Coniochaetales and Microascales. The goal of this book is to provide sufficient data for users to recognise and identify these species. It includes the description of 146 genera and 698 species. For each genus a dichotomous key to facilitate species identification is provided and for each genus and species the salient morphological features are described. These descriptions are accompanied by line drawings illustrating the most representative structures. Light micrographs, supplemented by scanning electron micrographs and Nomarski interference contrast micrographs of most of the species treated in the book are also included. In addition, numerous species not found in soil but related to those included in this book are referenced or described. This book will be of value not only to soil microbiologists and plant pathologists concerned with the soilborne fungi and diseases, but also to anyone interested in identifying fungi in general, because many of the genera included here are not confined to soil. Since most of the fungi of biotechnological or clinical interest (dermatophytes, dimorphic fungi and opportunists) are soil-borne ascomycetes, the content of this book is of interest for a wide range of scientists."--pub. desc.

Continuing in the tradition of its predecessors, this new edition combines an informal, easy to read style with a thorough introduction to concepts and terminology of plant pathology. After reviewing fundamental concepts, the book discusses groups of plant pathogens and molecular tools for studying them, pathogen interactions, epidemiology and disease control, and special topics in plant pathology. The book details various disease-causing organisms, including viruses, fungi, prokaryotics, nematodes, and various biotic agents. It also examines various plant-pathogen interactions, molecular attack strategies, extracellular enzymes, host defenses, and disruption of plant function. New in the Third Edition Molecular plant-fungal interactions Expanded treatment of molecular tools Advanced biocontrol concepts How to use and care for microscopes

This substantially updated edition now in full colour provides key techniques used when working with fungal and fungal-like plant pathogens. As a practical manual it also deals with disease recognition, detection and identification of fungi, plus methods to characterise and curate fungi and handle them under quarantine and quality assurance systems. Fungal Plant Pathogens: Applied Techniques, 2nd edition provides a valuable guide to investigating fungal plant diseases and interpreting laboratory findings for postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students, extension plant pathologists, consultants and advisers in agriculture, forestry and horticulture, and the food supply chain.