Phytopathogenic Prokaryotes, Volume 1, provides an understanding of the diversity and complexity of diseases caused by phytopathogenic prokaryotes. It is part of a two-volume treatise that summarizes current research on these organisms. The book is organized into four parts. Part I covers the physical nature of prokaryotic phytopathogens as well as how they are presently classified, the limitation of this artificial classification, and the biology of the pathogen's invasion of plants. Part II presents conceptual hypotheses for the formation of the agricorpus (pathogen/host complex as a biological unit) and how this association may be detrimental or beneficial to both members of the unit. Other topics include the basic determinant of evolutionary change (the gene), and the evolution of vectors for dispersal of pathogens. Part III elaborates on the interaction at the plant/environment/pathogen interface (the plant surface). It presents information on the interaction of prokaryotes in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere, and how this interaction developed. Part IV shows how prokaryotes affect their hosts once infection has been established. This information is presented in sequence progressing from the disease-causing mechanisms of the facultative endophytic pathogens to those of the obligate endophytic pathogens.

Phytopathogenic Prokaryotes, Volume 2, provides an understanding of the diversity and complexity of diseases caused by these organisms. It is part of a two-volume treatise that summarizes current research on phytopathogenic prokaryotes. The book is organized into five parts. Part I describes the movement of pathogens from one host to another. The concepts to be presented are essential for understanding the epidemiology and, therefore, the control of diseases caused by prokaryotes. Parts II and III elaborate on the dynamic nature of host/parasite interaction. First to be presented are methods by which hosts may evolve to minimize damage caused by their pathogens. Second, the mechanisms for rapid genetic change available to the pathogen to counteract host defenses are discussed. Part IV emphasizes control of diseases caused by prokaryotes. Manipulation of plant-prokaryote interactions to break the disease cycle or minimize losses is discussed in regard to cultural practices, host breeding, biological control, and chemical control. Part V deals with cultivation and preservation of phytopathogenic prokaryotes.

V.1 - Phytopathogenic prokaryotes; Concepts for plant interactions with prokaryotes; Prokaryote interactions on plant surfaces; Prokaryote interactions within the plant; v.2 - Epidemiology and dispersal; Host coevolution with the pathogen; Pathogen coevolution with the host; Strategies for control; Cultivation and preservation.

Xanthomonas is a bacterial plant pathogen which infects a wide range of crops worldwide. This book presents an overview of the host plants and the diseases caused by the pathogen on different crops.

Megaplasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements in the size range of 100 kb and larger. They are found in physiologically and phylogenetically diverse groups of bacteria and archaea. By definition, megaplasmids are not essential for the viability of their hosts under all growth conditions, but paradoxically many megaplasmids carry the genetic information for the defining and characteristic traits of the organism in which they reside. Microbial Megaplasmids reviews our knowledge of the extensively studied representatives, such as the catabolic plasmids of the pseudomonads, the rhizobial Sym plasmids, the Ti plasmids of the genus Agrobacterium and the giant enterobacterial virulence plasmids. It also presents snapshots of more recently discovered megaplasmids. The contribution of megaplasmids to the biology of their hosts is described, highlighting the interactions between megaplasmid and chromosomal genes.