Diseases of Small Grain Cereal Crops: A Colour Handbook PDF

Preface

Practitioners of plant pathology need to make visual diagnoses of disease symptoms regularly; these may then be supported and confirmed by detailed cultural, physiological and molecular laboratory tests. A Colour Handbook of Diseases of Small Grain Cereal Crops makes the diagnosis of diseases of wheat, barley, oats, and rye easier for growers, farmers, agricultural specialists and consultants, plant scientists, those in the agrochemical and breeding industries, and students alike.

High quality photographs of diagnostic symptoms and pathogen structures are combined with text that describes the geographic distribution, pathogen symptoms, economic importance, disease cycle, and disease control. The diseases are organized first by the part of the plant affected (Ear and Grain, Leaf and Stem, and Stem Base and Root, Sections 1-3), and within these by type of disease symptom (blights, bunts/smuts, rust, mildew, and so forth). This approach enables the user readily to narrow the list of diseases under consideration.

Several graphic features are provided throughout the book to ensure it is as convenient to use as possible. Beside each disease title are cereal icons - those highlighted (in colour rather than grey) show the species affected - and maps on which worldwide distribution is shown by the shading.

To serve as an introduction to plant pathology, the basic principles are given (pp. ix-xiii), and a simple diagnostic guide is provided (pp. xv-xviii). For readers who have a ×10 hand lens or access to basic microscopic facilities, spore types of most of the major fungal pathogens are provided as an additional aid to diagnosis (Section 4). In addition, Appendix Tables (pp. 129-132) summarize, for the most important diseases, the diagnostic features, worldwide distribution, and cereals affected. A Glossary (pp. 125-128) and Bibliography (pp. 133-137) are also provided.

The authors trust that this book will not languish on library and office shelves, but will provide excellent service in the field.