Compendium of Alfalfa Diseases and Pests, Third Edition

Section one addresses the commonly occurring infectious fungal diseases of alfalfa, grouped by leaves and stems, lower stems and crowns, and crowns and roots. This section also provides information on bacterial and mollicute diseases, diseases caused by viruses, and those caused by nematodes. The parasitic flowering plant dodder is also discussed. Section two covers arthropod (insect) pests, detailing their life cycles, damage, identifying features, and management. This section describes arthropods that feed on foliage, including many kinds of aphids and caterpillars, crickets, grasshoppers, leafminers, plant bugs, spittlebugs, and weevils. Root and seed pests are given special sections, as is a livestock pest, the blister beetle. Section three, titled ‘Noninfectious Diseases and Abiotic Conditions,’ discusses the effects and management of genetic variations and abnormalities, herbicide injury, high-temperature flooding injury, nutrient deficiencies and toxicities, foliar freeze injury, and winter injury. The appendix presents an updated list of common names of diseases of alfalfa caused by microbes, nematodes, and viruses, as well as arthropod insect pests of alfalfa.