Publisher Description

This book is about how plants get diseases, from the origins and evolution of parasites to how the great plant epidemics developed. Conditions favoring disease are inherent in agriculture and diseases became destructive because of human activities. This book also deals with how people have dealt with plant diseases in history, and includes the natural histories of some of the most damaging plant diseases worldwide, with discussions of why each became destructive. It classifies diseases according to the most significant factors in the development of epidemics: every case involves a human factor. Each model disease proceeds from observable facts to more complex concepts.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; 1. Perspective; Part I. Biology and Control of Plant Diseases: 2. Causes and spread of plant disease; 3. How pathogens attack plants; 4. How plants defend against pathogens; 5. Ecological considerations; 6. Disease controls and their limitations; Part II. Natural History of Some Destructive Diseases: 7. Native plants, alien pathogens; 8. Alien plants, native pathogens; 9. Pathogens overtake movement of crop plants; 10. Monoculture: removal of ecological restraints; 11. Monoculture: pathogen adaptability; 12. Monoculture: Cochliobolus diseases with toxins; 13. Monoculture: Alternaria diseases with toxins; 14. Diseases amplified by changes in agriculture; 15. Anthropogenic reintroduction each year; 16. Abiotic diseases: damage from air pollution; 17. Prospectus; Glossary: technical terms used in the texts; References; Index.

Review

'Disease ecology is a growing and vibrant field. This book is a valuable contribution with its detailed coverage of the basic pathology of important plant diseases combined with a strong emphasis on their history, geography and ecology, and their socio-economic impacts. Anyone with an interest in disease from any of the above perspectives will find something of value here.' Keith Clay, Trends in Ecology and Evolution '... an enlightening book, and deserves to be read for the sheer pleasure of seeing a life-time of understanding digested and set down in clear and arresting prose.' Brian J. Ford, Biologist '... the work of a true scholar ... [the] case-study approach is marvelously holistic, detailed and informative.' Andrew Bent, Trends in Plant Science

Promotional

This book discusses all aspects of plant disease, highlighting the involvement of human activities.

Promotional "Headline"

This book discusses all aspects of plant disease, highlighting the involvement of human activities.

Description for Bookstore

This book is about how plants get diseases, from the origins and evolution of parasites to how plant epidemics develop. 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.

Description for Library

This book is about how plants get diseases, from the origins and evolution of parasites to how plant epidemics develop. 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.

Details