Rice is one of the most important foods in the world. As the demand for rice continues to increase, there is an urgent need to increase yields in the face of such challenges as climate change, threats from pests and diseases and the need to make cultivation more resource-efficient and sustainable. Drawing on an international range of expertise, this collection focuses on ways of improving the cultivation of rice at each step in the value chain, from breeding to post-harvest storage. Volume 2 reviews research in improving cultivation in such areas as irrigation and nutrition as well as developments in disease and pest management. Achieving sustainable cultivation of rice Volume 2: Cultivation, pest and disease management will be a standard reference for rice scientists in universities, government and other research centres and companies involved in rice cultivation. It is accompanied by Volume 1 which reviews research in breeding, nutritional and other aspects of rice quality.

Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of sesquiterpene lactones are derived from carotenoids and contain a large four ring backbone. Biosynthesis occurs mainly in roots and isolated from roots of a variety of plant species. SLs have three distinct biological activities: Induction of seed germination of root parasitic seeds, induction of hyphal branching of Arbascular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and inhibition of shoot branching in plants.