Publications

Volume 1: Introduction of Plant Viruses and Sub-Viral Agents, Classification, Assessment of Loss, Transmission and Diagnosis. This book provides the latest valuable overview of the plant virus and virus-like diseases in tropical countries on aspects like introduction about plant viruses, their classification; transmission and diagnostic techniques; the well written chapters are thoroughly up-to-date and amply and clearly illustrated with numerous photographs. It is a good source of information on plant virus and sub-viral pathogens to all plant virologists, students, faculty, research and quarantine organizations.
 

 The rhythm of life on Earth includes several strong themes contributed by Kingdom Fungi. So why are fungi ignored when theorists ponder the origin of life? Casting aside common theories that life originated in an oceanic primeval soup, in a deep, hot place, or even a warm little pond, this is a mycological perspective on the emergence of life on Earth. The author traces the crucial role played by the first biofilms – products of aerosols, storms, volcanic plumes and rainout from a turbulent atmosphere – which formed in volcanic caves 4 billion years ago. Moore describes how these biofilms contributed to the formation of the first prokaryotic cells, and later, unicellular stem eukaryotes, highlighting the role of the fungal grade of organisation in the evolution of higher organisms. Based on the latest research, this is a unique account of the origin of life and its evolutionary diversity to the present day.

Volume 1: Characteristics of Biological Control Agents Series: Progress in Biological Control, Vol. 15. 1. Introduction 2. Detection and identification of fungal biological control agents 3. Mechanisms of action of fungal biological 4. Detection and identification of bacterial biological control agents 5. Mechanisms of action of bacterial biological control agents 6. Detection and identification of viral biological control agents 7. Genetic engineering for improving the performance of biotic biological control agents 8. Abiotic biological control agents for crop disease management
Volume 2: Integration of Biological Control Strategies with Crop Disease Management Systems. 1. Introduction 2. Cultural practices influencing biological management of crop diseases 3. Physical techniques for biological crop disease management 4. Biological control of microbial plant pathogens in alternative sources of infection 5. Development of formulations and commercialization of biological products 6. Biological disease management systems for agricultural crops 7. Biological disease management systems for horticultural crops

Metabolomics, the global characterization of the small molecule complement involved in metabolism, has evolved into a powerful suite of approaches for understanding the global physiological and pathological processes occurring in biological organisms. The diversity of metabolites, the wide range of metabolic pathways, and their divergent biological contexts require a range of methodological strategies and techniques. Methodologies for Metabolomics provides a comprehensive description of the newest methodological approaches in metabolomic research. The most important technologies used to identify and quantify metabolites including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry are highlighted. The integration of these techniques with classical biological methods is also addressed. Furthermore, the book presents statistical and chemometric methods for evaluation of the resultant data. The broad spectrum of topics includes a vast variety of organisms, samples, and diseases, ranging from in vivo metabolomics in humans and animals, to in vitro analysis of tissue samples, cultured cells and biofluids. 

The Garden and Greenhouse Flowers manual is a reference manual on diseases which attack garden and greenhouse flowers. The manual identifies various types of diseases which are known to invade these plants located throughout North, Central, and South America. The recordings include diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas, and nematodes. Causal disease agents are described and illustrated in some cases and diseases and disease control measures are also discussed. Content: Preface, Illustrations, Disease Control and Management, Host Plants and Their Diseases, Headings Under Which Diseases Are Described, List of Land-Grant Institutions and Agricultural Experiment Stations in the United States, Glossary. 

1. Roles of Cis-acting Elements in Translation of Viral RNAs 2. Replication of Plant RNA viruses 3. Plasmodesmata as Active Conduits for Virus Cell-to-Cell Movement 4. Systemic Movement of Viruses Via the Plant Phloem 5. Functions of Virus and Host Factors During Vector-mediated Transmission 6. RNA Silencing and the Interplay Between Plants and Viruses 7. Mechanism of Action of Viral Suppressors of RNA Silencing 8. NB-LRR Immune Receptors in Plant Virus Defense 9. Plant Resistance to Viruses Mediated by Translation Initiation Factors 10. Advanced Breeding for Virus Resistance in Plants 11. Sustainable Management of Plant Resistance to Viruses 12. Integrated Control Measures Against Viruses and Their Vectors 13. Population Dynamics and Genetics of Plant Infection by Viruses 14. Evolutionary Constraints on Emergence of Plant RNA Viruses 15. Emergence of Begomovirus Diseases 16. Genomic Approaches to Discovery of Viral Species Diversity of Non-cultivated Plants 17. Endogenous Viral Sequences in Plant Genomes 18. Virus Particles and the Uses of Such Particles in Bio- and Nanotechnology 19. Plant Viral Vectors for Protein Expression
 

The information on recent advances in crop protection (involving bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects, mites and weeds) is scattered. The book delves upon the most latest developments in crop protection such as avermectins, bacteriophages, biofumigation, biotechnological approaches; bio-priming of seeds; disguising the leaf surface; use of non-pathogenic strains, plant defense activators, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, pathogenesis-related proteins, strobilurin fungicides, RNA interference, and variety of mixtures/cultivar mixtures/multilines; soil solarization; biointensive integrated pest management; among several others (fusion protein-based biopesticides, seed mat technology and environmental methods). This book is a ready reference for students, policy-makers, scientists, researchers and extension workers.
 

The seminal text Plant Virology is now in its fifth edition. It has been 10 years since the publication of the fourth edition, during which there has been an explosion of conceptual and factual advances. The fifth edition of Plant Virology updates and revises many details of the previous edition while retaining the important earlier results that constitute the field`s conceptual foundation. Revamped art, along with fully updated references and increased focus on molecular biology, transgenic resistance, aphid transmission, and new, cutting-edge topics, bring the volume up to date and maintain its value as an essential reference for researchers and students in the field.
 

Westcott’s Plant Disease is a reference book on diseases which attack plants. Diseases of plants are found on most all plants including trees, shrubs, grasses, forage, fruits, vegetables, garden and greenhouse plants as well as native wild flowers and even weeds. The Plant Disease Handbook identifies various types of diseases which are known to invade these plants located throughout North and South America. The recordings include diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, viroids and nematodes. Causal disease agents are described and illustrated in many cases and diseases and disease control measures are also discussed. A book such as this is never finished since new reports of diseases are continuously reported. This includes new diseases and previously known diseases which occur on both presently recorded plants and on new plants found to be susceptible to diseases. For example, in the year 2010 more than 140 new diseases were reported throughout North and South America. Westcott’s Plant Disease handbook provides a reference and guide for identification and control of these plant disease problems. 

Allelopathy is an ecological phenomenon by which plants release organic chemicals (allelochemicals) into the environment influencing the growth and survival of other organisms. In this book, leading scientists in the field synthesize latest developments in allelopathy research with a special emphasis on its application in sustainable agriculture. The following topics are highlighted: Ecological implications, such as the role of allelopathy during the invasion of alien plant species; regional experiences with the application of allelopathy in agricultural systems and pest management; the use of microscopy for modeling allelopathy; allelopathy and abiotic stress tolerance; host allelopathy and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; allelopathic interaction with plant nutrition; and the molecular mechanisms of allelopathy. This book is an invaluable source of information for scientists, teachers and advanced students in the fields of plant physiology, agriculture, ecology, environmental sciences, and molecular biology.