This book - the first published on this topic in plants - presents the reader with an overview of recent research on nitric oxide (NO) in plants, which, in view of its empirical interest and its growth regulatory potential, is in the forefront of scientific endeavor in plant science. Subject matter is divided into two parts: Part 1 deals with NO and peroxynitrite biochemistry and regulative mechanisms as presently known in the Plant Kingdom and outlines some of the problems still awaiting clarification. Emphasis is placed on ethylene emission regulation, postharvest control, plant phytopathology and environmental stress tolerance. A further topic is plant NO, like Viagra, related to cyclic nucleotide turnover. Part 2 deals with environmental aspects of NO as an atmospheric pollutant and discusses endogenous means which plants at times employ to cope with this particular type of stress, and how their coping mechanisms may be harnessed for purposes of depollution and augmentation of nitrogen fertilization. The text, accompanied by a wealth of illustrations and annotated references, is intended for lecturers, advanced students and research scientists at universities and research institutes dealing with plant sciences and agriculture, as well as for environmental researchers.

Viral Genomic RNA as a Single Translation Unit 100 Initiation Codon Choice and Translation in Plants 100 Conventional Scanning and Initiation 100 Non-AUG Initiation Codons in Plant Virus RNAs 101 Role of5'- and 3'- Noncoding Regions in Initiation of Translation 101 Access to Internal Genes 103 Divided versus Monopartite Genomes 104 Transcriptional Control: Subgenomic RNAs 104 Non-Orthodox Mechanisms of Initiation 107 Leaky Scanning 107 Internal Ribosome Entry Sites (IRES Elements) 107 Non-Orthodox Mechanisms of Elongation and Termination 108 Readthrough of Leaky Stop Codons 108 Ribosomal Frameshifiting 109 Proteolytic Processing 110 Chymotrypsin-like Serine or Cysteine Proteinases 112 Papain-like Cysteine Proteinases 112 Conclusions 113 References 114 5. Molecular Basis of Genetic Variability in RNA Viruses 121-141 Jozef J. Bujarski Introduction 121 Genetic Mechanisms of Variability 121 Mutation 121 Point Mutations 122 Insertions and Deletions 123 Frameshift Mutations 123 Mutant Stability 124 Effects of Mutations on Host-Virus Interactions 124 RNA Recombination 125 Natural Sequence Rearrangement 126 Recombination between Viral and Host RNAs 126 Role of RNA Structure 127 Role of Replicase Proteins 130 Pseudorecombination 131 Defective Interfering RNAs 132 Conclusions 134 Acknowledgements 136 References 136 viii 6. Genetic Variability and Evolution 143-159 F. Garcia-Arenal, A. Fraile, and J. M. Malpica Introduction 143 Variability under Experimental Conditions 143 Variability under Natural Conditions 145 Factors Determining Genetic Structure of Virus Populations 149 Founder Effects 149 Selection 150 Complementation 152 Conclusions 153 Acknowledgements 155 References 155 7. Molecular Basis of Virus Transport in Plants 161-182 Scott M.

The growing interest in health risks associated with toxigenic fungi and related mycotoxins has led to the development of a number of research projects during the past decade in several European countries and a great deal of information has been produced on the natural occurrence of mycotoxins in plants, foods and feeds. The differences in environmental conditions (temperature, light, rainfall etc. ) and in exposed cultivated plants (type of cereals, cultivars etc. ) in the distinct European countries have significantly influenced the distribution of specific toxigenic fungi and related mycotoxicological problems. In addition, biogeographically structured lineages within some important toxigenic fungi have been recently discovered, of reproductive isolation. Transglobal showing a long evolutionary history transposition of plant products seems to have significantly contributed to the spreading of toxigenic species and lineages worldwide. Therefore, the migration of agriculturally important toxigenic fungi generated by trade exchanges may represent a major source of inoculum for new plant diseases in Europe and for a wider genetic diversity of local populations. It was our goal to provide the reader with an update of researches and surveys on the natural occurrence of toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins performed at a European level during the last 5-10 years. The editors are extremely grateful to the EU-COST-835 "Agriculturally important toxigenic fungi" for the financial support that allowed a number of European scientists to meet several times over the past five years to collaborate and exchange information about research advances on toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins.

The seventeenth symposium of the British Mycological Society was held jointly with the British Society for Plant Pathology and the Society of Irish Plant Pathologists. The subject of the symposium was Phytophthora, the organism responsible for many plant diseases, most notably potato blight. This 1991 book presents the results of the meeting in a wide-ranging volume incorporating chapters discussing the history of potato blight, host-pathogen reactions, systematics and intraspecific variation, molecular and genetic studies and the development of effective control methods. Arguably the most studied of all plant pathogens, Phytophthora remains a problem in modern agriculture.

The chemicals from plant sources, generally termed as phytochemicals, play an important role in acceptance or rejection of the plant by the pests as they could be distasteful or toxic on one hand or on the other hand specialist herbivores have the capability to feed on many such chemicals, as they are able to process these natural products in a manner that is beneficial to them. In the wake of increasing environmental degradation due to burgeoning synthetic chemicals, there has been a process going on to rediscover the usefulness of plants and herbs and a continued effort for more than 2 decades has been to study the green products for cures for several ailments and pest management. In fact, according to Indian Medicinal Plants: A Sectoral Study, the global trade for medicinal plants amounts to about US $ 60 billion and the world demand continues to grow at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. Although many such plants are known in literature, neem has been one of trees with mani-fold virtues. Indian neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, which is a large evergreen tree, is an outstanding example among plants that has been subject matter of numerous scientific studies concerning its utilization in medicine, industry and agriculture. So far neem preparations have been evaluated against more than 500 species of insects and more than 400 hundred are reported to be susceptible at different concentrations.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ) is the most important pulse crop in the world. It is an important source of calories, proteins, dietary fibers, minerals, and vitamins for millions of people in both developing and developed countries worldwide. It complements cereals and other carbohydrate-rich foods in providing near-perfect nutrition to people of all ages. Moreover, a regular intake ofbeans helps lower cholesterol and cancer risks. Despite the fact that per capita consumption of common bean in some developed countries (e. g. , the U. S. A. ) has been increasing over the last several years, in general, the average global per capita consumption is declining because production is unable to keep up with the population growth. Moreover, increasing demand for pesticide-free food products, concern for natural resources conservation, and the need to reduce production costs offer daunting challenges to the twenty-first century policy makers, bean growers, and researchers alike. High yielding, high quality bean cultivars that require less water, fertilizers, pesticides, and manual labor combined with integrated management of abiotic and biotic stresses will have to be developed. Eminent bean researchers were invited to contemplate these issues, prepare a state-of-the-art account on most relevant topics, and offer their insight into research directions into the twenty-first century. Four excellent books have been published covering various aspects ofthe common bean since 1980. These books are: I) Bean Production Problems nd in the Tropics (l SI ed. 1980, 2 ed. 1989), H. F. Schwartz & M. A.

During the past twentieth century, plant pathology has witnessed a dramatic advancement in management of plant diseases through in-depth investigations of host parasite interactions, integration of new concepts, principles and approaches. Our effort in brining out this book is to compile the achievements of modern times with regards to disease management of fruits which otherwise is widely dispersed in various scientific journals, books and government reports and to develop future strategies for the millennium. The chapters on individual crops are contributed by leading plant pathologists having authority in the respective field at international level. Each chapter includes the diseases of economic importance describing their history, distribution, symptoms, epidemiology, and integrated management approaches being adopted worldwide. Each chapter is vividly illustrated to make it more understandable to students, research and extension workers, planners, administrators and other end users citing pertinent references.

Comparison is a powerful cognitive research tool in science since it does "across studies" to evaluate similarities and differences, e.g. across taxa or diseases. This book deals with comparative research on plant disease epidemics. Comparisons are done in specifically designed experiments or with posterior analyses. From the apparently unlimited diversity of epidemics of hundreds of diseases, comparative epidemiology may eventually extract a number of basic types. These findings are very important to crop protection. Plant disease epidemiology, being the ecological branch of plant pathology, may also be of value to ecologists, but also epidemiologists in the areas of animal or human diseases may find interesting results, applicable to their areas of research.

The National Botanical Research Institute came into being as the 13th among a chain of National Laboratories established during April, 1953 under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research by the Govt. of India for advanced research in fields of specialisation which have a direct bearing on socio-economic, industrial and scientific advancement of the nation. Christened initially as National Botanic Gardens, the nucleus around which the institution took shape under its founder- Director Late Prof. K. N. Kaul, was a large herbarium of Indian flora and a centu- old botanical garden spread over 35 ha of land on the banks of River Gomti in the heart of Lucknow city. It's a matter of great pleasure and profound satisfaction to me that a Golden Jubilee volume entitled, "Pteridology in the New Millennium" is being published and released during the Golden Jubilee year of NBRI in the honour of Professor B. K. Nayar who laid the foundation of the Pteridology Laboratory of the NBRI, which is now a well equipped laboratory for the study of Indian pteridophytes. Professor Nayar is a holistic Botanist as evident through his contributions and publications in almost all the areas of study of Pteridophyta. The contribution of Professor Nayar towards the development of modern Pteridology and the role of NBRI in it is indeed great and very important. His publications will be valuable for the younger generation of scientists in the field as well as for the more mature research workers and teachers.

The coconut palm occupies a significant place in the world economy as an important subsistence crop in all the areas in which it is grown. Relatively few countries are able to export any quantity of coconut products because of increasing home demands coupled with low productivity. Yields are generally well below potential despite recent developments with improved planting stock and agronomic practices. In the last 50 years, both these aspects have received considerable attention, but the focus is shifting to investigate how the use of recently developed biotechnological techniques- can benefit the coconut industry. This volume, the result of the International Symposium on Coconut Biotechnology (held in December 1997 in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico), describes recent research in three important areas. Standard plant breeding techniques used with coconut have produced improved planting material, but progress is inevitably very slow. Can more rapid genetic improvement be obtained using molecular techniques? The papers presented in this section suggest that such techniques will open up exciting new prospects, but only after basic information has been gathered on the genetic status of existing coconut stocks. Research using microsatellite techniques seems to provide a useful tool to help to classifying these stocks. However, only a combination of classical breeding methods with modem techniques will lead to the rapid improvement which is required to supply material for urgent replanting programs.

Due to the huge quantity and diverse nature of their metabolic pathways, fungi have great potential to be used for the production of different biofuels such as bioethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel. This book presents recent advances, as well as challenges and promises, of fungal applications in biofuel production, subsequently discussing plant pathogenic fungi for bioethanol and biodiesel production, including their mechanisms of action. Additionally, this book reviews biofuel production using plant endophytic fungi, wood-rotting fungi, fungal biocontrol agents, and gut fungi, and it investigates highly efficient fungi for biofuel production and process design in fungal-based biofuel production systems. Finally, life cycle assessment of fungal-based biofuel production systems are discussed in this volume.

The losses caused to staple crops by diseases and disorders and by depredations of pests are a worldwide problem at a time of population increase and food shortage. Plant pathology - basically the study of infectious diseases of plants - is therefore an increasingly important branch of applied science. An attempt is here made to provide a concise and straightforward account of the historical development of the diverse and interwoven themes of which the subject is composed. This may be read without reference to the documentation, which gives supplementary information and additional clues. The standpoint from which this survey is written is that, as for medicine, the right end of plant pathological practice is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and disorders. Emphasis throughout is therefore on the more practical aspects of plant pathological endeavour.

This book is about how plants get diseases, from the origins and evolution of parasites to how the great plant epidemics developed. The basic premise of the book is that the conditions favouring disease are inherent in agriculture and that diseases become destructive because of human activities. It also deals with how people have dealt with plant diseases in history. Included in the book are the natural histories of some of the most damaging plant diseases, worldwide, with discussions of why each became destructive. Diseases are grouped according to the most significant factors in the development of epidemics: in every case this is due to a human factor. Discussion of each model disease proceeds from observable facts to more complex concepts; thus, the reader with little knowledge of plant pathology should find the book easily understandable.

Just like humans, animals and plants suffer from infectious diseases, which can critically threaten biodiversity. This book describes key studies that have driven our understanding of the ecology and evolution of wildlife diseases. Each chapter introduces the host and disease, and explains how that system has aided our general understanding of the evolution and spread of wildlife diseases, through the development and testing of important epidemiological and evolutionary theories. Questions addressed include: How do hosts and parasites co-evolve? What determines how fast a disease spreads through a population? How do co-infecting parasites interact? Why do hosts vary in parasite burden? Which factors determine parasite virulence and host resistance? How do parasites influence the spread of invasive species? How do we control infectious diseases in wildlife? This book will provide a valuable introduction to students new to the topic, and novel insights to researchers, professionals and policymakers working in the field.

Biocontrol of major grapevine diseases provides a timely research update on the use of biological control agents and plant resistance inducers against phytopathogenic infections of the grapevine by fungi, oomycetes, bacteria and phytoplasma.Taking a holistic approach, this book presents in detail the ecology, mechanisms and the application methods of these agents. Its 19 chapters, authored by international experts, cover diseases such as grey mould, trunk diseases, powdery and downy mildews, as well as phytoplasma diseases, and, by nature, emphasise applications of biocontrol in organic viticulture and as part of integrated pest management systems.

Understanding the symbiosis between plants and pathogenic microbes is at the core of effective disease management for crops and managed forests. At the same time, plant-pathogen interactions comprise a wonderfully diverse set of ecological relationships that are powerful and yet so commonplace that they often go unnoticed. Ecologists and evolutionary biologists are increasingly exploring the terrain of plant disease ecology, investigating topics such as how pathogens shape diversity in plant communities, how features of plant-microbe interactions including host range and mutualism/antagonism evolve, and how biological invasions, climate change, and other agents of global change can drive disease emergence. Traditional training in ecology and evolutionary biology seldom provides structured exposure to plant pathology or microbiology, and training in plant pathology rarely offers depth in the theoretical frameworks of evolutionary ecology or includes examples from complex wild ecosystems. This novel textbook seeks to unite the research communities of plant disease ecology and plant pathology by bridging this gap.

In this book, the authors gather and present topical research in the study of aquatic plants and plant disease. Topics discussed include the diagnosis and treatment of Sharka disease; the biology of the aquatic plant Wolffia arrhiza (Lemnaceae); the bioactive metabolites of plant herbivores and species immunity for preventing infectious diseases in plants, animals and humans.

The biological ways in which diseases of plants, caused by pathogenic microbes can be controlled without the use of chemical pesticides is the subject of this book. The basis of biocontrol (in microbiology, ecology, and plant pathology) is described and many examples of control measures in commercial use or development are given. There is increasing interest in biocontrol from the general public, environmentalists and the major world agrochemical companies, and this easily read text presents recent developments in the subject. The book provides the necessary references and literature citations to allow a more detailed investigation of particular diseases or control systems to be made. This is an important book that will be especially helpful to graduate and undergraduate students in botany, biology, microbiology, plant pathology, agriculture, horticulture, crop science and related courses.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria use Cry proteins to kill their insect larval hosts. The expression of certain Cry toxins in transgenic crops has been widely used to achieve efficient control of insect pests. This book describes the use of Bt crops and the emerging problem of resistance, recent progress in understanding the mechanism of action of Bt toxins, different resistance mechanisms and strategies to cope with resistance in the field. It describes resistant insects found in the field in different countries, particularly in the developing world, and ways to counter resistance such as gene stalking, refuges, modified toxins and gene discovery of novel toxins with different mode of action.

The Pictorial Atlas of Soilborne Fungal Plant Pathogens and Diseases describes the soilborne fungal diseases caused by Oomycetes, Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, and Deuteromycetous (Anamorphic) fungi. Soilborne fungal diseases are significant as both environmental and agricultural problems, yet it is difficult to understand the ecology of pathogenic fungi and its effective control. This book provides very detailed information on many of the commonly and not so commonly encountered groups of soilborne fungi diseases. It will be a useful reference for those teaching and conducting research in mycology, plant pathology, soilborne plant diseases, and the ecology of fungal communities.

Written primarily for 16-19 year old students, this primer aims to extend students' knowledge and inspire them to take their school-level learning further. It explores topics that are familiar from the curriculum and also introduces new ideas, giving students a first taste of the study of biology beyond school-level and demonstrating how concepts frequently encountered at school are relevant to and applied in current research. This is the ideal text to support students who are considering making the transition from studying biology at school to university. For many years, much of the human population has lived in ignorance of plant disease - yet the presence or absence of disease in a crop, or a forest, can mean the difference between economic success or disaster, and - even in the 21st century - the difference between life and death for millions of people. This primer raises the profile of plant infectious diseases, highlighting the scale of the problem, the risks to biosecurity, and the advances in science which are impacting on surveillance, diagnosis and prevention of disease. This text opens with an overview of the importance of plant disease in human history, before reviewing the structure and function of the main types of pathogens involved in plant infectious diseases (bacteria, viruses, fungi and fungi-like pathogens), focusing on unusual and interesting examples. It then explores how plant diseases can be accurately diagnosed, explaining a variety of ways in which specific pathogens can be identified including the most recent developments in molecular analysis as well as cultural and serological techniques. The primer then moves on to consider disease surveillance, which still relies heavily on traditional techniques based on human observation. It also considers emerging techniques involving epidemiological models, remote monitoring, the monitoring of air and water, satellite tracking and genetic modification of crops. Disease management - ways in which plant diseases can be controlled and their spread halted - is then discussed. This area encompasses techniques spanning chemical control of insect, fungal and bacterial pests to genetic modification of crops to introduce disease resistance. The final section of the primer explores plant biosecurity and how it can be maintained - an ever-more important issue given the continued globalisation of trade - and the impact of global warming on where both plants and plant pathogens can grow and thrive.

Praise for the First Edition: Association of American Publishers Professional and Scholarly Division Award Winner (Life Sciences)"One of the ten best horticultural books of the century." The Washington Post"Diseases of Trees and Shrubs is by far the best book currently available for the horticulturist, arborist, or forester who wishes to identify disorders of forest and shade trees and woody ornamentals." The Public Garden"It may be used by anyone with knowledge of general biology as well as by someone with specialized plant knowledge for diagnosing plant disease problems. Highly recommended." Library Journal"This book is a remarkable contribution to the literature on tree pathology, providing a valuable source of reference on tree disease for all with an interest in the subject. It must surely be almost obligatory reading for the specialist tree pathologist, and will prove of great value to all tree care professionals. . . . It will fascinate any tree lovers who wish to find out more about the diseases and disorders that may afflict trees." Arboricultural Journal"It is well written and it is illustrated with photographs of such high quality that in this respect it could be described as a 'coffee table' book of forest pathology." ForestryFirst published in 1987, Diseases of Trees and Shrubs has become a standard reference for plant health specialists, plant diagnosticians, horticulturists, arborists, foresters, and their students. Now thoroughly revised, fully updated, and illustrated with more than 2200 digitally optimized color images in 261 full-color plates and more than 350 black-and-white photographs and drawings, the second edition is an unrivalled survey of the diseases of forest and shade trees and woody ornamental plants in the United States and Canada. The book is both an authoritative reference book and a powerful diagnostic tool. Organized according to type of disease-inducing agent, the second edition is also designed to be helpful in classroom and field instruction. Symptoms, signs, and cycles of hundreds of diseases are described and microscopic features of many pathogens are depicted in photos and line drawings. A searchable CD-ROM included with the book contains bibliographic entries for more than 4500 works that readers can consult for additional information or images. This remarkable scholarly work praised as one of the best horticultural books of the twentieth century lays claim to the same accolade for the twenty-first century."

The Biopesticides Manual provides information resources and technical advice in order to support the deployment of biopesticides. It is a one-stop-shop to address the information needs of the key groups who are responsible for selecting, sourcing and using biopesticides in the tobacco production system. Biopesticides are a key component of integrated pest management (IPM) in tobacco. IPM seeks to reduce the risk of harm to people and the environment. When used in conjunction with good crop management, biopesticides can help to keep pest levels under control, reducing the need to apply conventional pesticides.

This edited book provides an overview of omics technologies and methods for integration across multiple omics layers used in the plant disease diagnosis and developing management strategies. The book concentrates on the prevalence of soil-borne disease management in various important crops with use of different strategies, including host resistance and biological control etc. The special focus is on the resolving practical problems encountered after the resistance development in the pathogens against several chemical pesticides. Further, special attention is given to the emergence of new diseases or the re-emergence of old ones on several crops, and on the results and problems encountered by using microbial inoculants, biofumigation and other non-chemical control methods. This book has 18 contributory chapters from the eminent experts in the field of plant pathology, microbiology and biotechnology working on different aspects of soil-borne diseases of important agricultural crops. This edited volume is of interest and useful to researchers in plant pathology, agriculture sciences, plant genomics ecology, policy makers, also it is a valuable source of reference to the relevant researchers and students globally.