Pine forests face a global threat of pine wilt disease, which is being spread by vector beetles carrying pathogenic nematodes from dead trees to healthy ones. Among the host pines there are varying degrees of susceptibility, and nematode strains also contain a variety of virulences, both of which factors help to determine whether infected host trees will die or survive. As well, biotic and abiotic environmental factors influence the fate of infected trees. This book describes the history of the disease, pathogenic nematodes, vector beetles, the etiology and ecology of the disease, microorganisms involved, and control methods that utilize host resistance and biological control agents. Concrete, comprehensive, and the most up-to-date knowledge about this worldwide forest epidemic is presented for readers, enabling them to understand the nature and epidemic threat of pine wilt disease.

Pine forests face a global threat of pine wilt disease, which is being spread by vector beetles carrying pathogenic nematodes from dead trees to healthy ones. Among the host pines there are varying degrees of susceptibility, and nematode strains also contain a variety of virulences, both of which factors help to determine whether infected host trees will die or survive. As well, biotic and abiotic environmental factors influence the fate of infected trees. This book describes the history of the disease, pathogenic nematodes, vector beetles, the etiology and ecology of the disease, microorganisms involved, and control methods that utilize host resistance and biological control agents. Concrete, comprehensive, and the most up-to-date knowledge about this worldwide forest epidemic is presented for readers, enabling them to understand the nature and epidemic threat of pine wilt disease.

Fear spreads among the students of a local high school when the news circulates of a mysterious videotape which brings death to those who watch it. TV reporter Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) sets out to investigate, finds a copy of the tape in a deserted cabin and falls victim to its awful curse. With only one week left to live, her only hope is to uncover the story behind the tape, to find out where it came from and why it wields such terrible powers.

The complete trilogy of Hideo Nakata's dark and chilling tales of a deadly virus that can be caught simply by watching a cursed videotape, which prompted a US remake starring Naomi Watts in 2002. In 'Ring 1' (1998), fear spreads among the students of a local high school when news circulates of a mysterious videotape which brings death to those who watch it. TV reporter Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) sets out to investigate, finds a copy of the tape in a deserted cabin and falls victim to its awful curse. With only one week left to live, her only hope is to uncover the story behind the tape, to find out where it came from and why it wields such terrible powers. In the sequel, 'Ring 2' (1998), journalist Mai Takano (Miki Nakatani) begins her own investigation into the mysterious haunted videotape that kills all those who see it. Along the way she discovers that Youichi, the son of tape victim Ryiji, has begun to develop many of the same supernatural powers that Sadako had when she was still alive. Now Mai must do her best to protect both herself and Youichi from the evil undead Sadako as the tape's curse continues to exert its terrifying power. In 'Ring 0' (2002), the final part of the trilogy and a prequel to the original film, it's the 1950s and Sadako, the evil spirit who wreaks havoc in the later stories, is a young woman and aspiring actress around whom strange things happen. Under suspicion from her peers she eventually takes part in a paranormal demonstration in front of the media. One by one the journalists present start to die as the fiancée of one of the dead tries to unlock the mystery of the tape-recording of Sadako's voice.