Publications

The domestication of grapes dates back five thousand years ago and has spread to nearly all continents. In recent years, grape acreage has increased dramatically in new regions, including the United States of America, Chile, Asia (China and India), and Turkey. A major limiting factor to the sustained production of premium grapes and wines is infections by viruses. The advent of powerful molecular and metagenomics technologies, such as molecular cloning and next generation sequencing, allowed the discovery of new viruses from grapes. To date, grapevine is susceptible to 64 viruses that belong to highly diverse taxonomic groups. Recently, two new disease syndromes have been recognized: Syrah decline and red blotch. Losses due to fanleaf degeneration are estimated at $1 billion annually in France alone. Other diseases including leafroll, rugose wood, Syrah de cline and red blotch can result in total crop loss several years post-infection. This situation is further exacerbated by mixed infections with multiple viruses and other biotic as well as adverse abiotic environmental conditions, such as drought and winter damage, causing even greater destruction. The book builds upon the last handbook (written over twenty years ago) on the part of diagnostics and extensively expands its scope by inclusion of molecular biology aspects of select viruses that are widespread and economically most important. This includes most current information on the biology, transmission, genome replication, transcription, subcellular localization, as well as virus-host interactions. It also touches on several novel areas of scientific inquiry. It also contains suggested directions for future research in the field of grapevine virology.

This comprehensive new diagnostic and management guide is the largest, most comprehensive APS compendium published to date. Nearly triple the thickness of the previous edition, it collectively covers nearly 150 diseases, pests, and disorders of blueberry, cranberry, and lingonberry crops. It is ideal for large and small commercial growing operations, nurseries, as well as the advisors that serve them, including universities, extension offices, independent consultants, and diagnostic labs. The highly anticipated second edition of this book, published nearly two decades after the first edition, offers the most practical, up-to-date, and comprehensive information in existence for diagnosing and managing diseases and disorders of blueberries (highbush, lowbush, and rabbiteye), cranberries, and lingonberries. It includes nearly 400 images and management recommendations from top researchers across the world, enabling users to more confidently scout, identify, and manage problems in the field before they become economically significant.

This work is to compile our current knowledge on GY phytoplasma biology at the genomic, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics level, as well as to summarize the approaches for their detection.Phytoplasma are the most poorly characterized plant pathogenic bacteria from the Mollicutes class. In recent years new biostatistics and bioinformatics approaches have improved our understanding of their biology and interactions with host grapevines and a great improvement has been made toward their molecular detection, both in laboratories and on-site. They have a broad range of plant hosts among the monocots and dicots, and diseases of many important crops are associated with these pathogens. At least ten taxonomically unrelated phytoplasmas, one of them a quarantine pest in Europe, have been associated with grapevine yellows diseases (GY), which have great economic impact on viticulture worldwide.

The fungal genus Botrytis is the focus of intensive scientific research worldwide. The complex interactions between this pathogen and the plants it infects and the economic importance of the diseases caused by Botrytis (principally grey mould) on more than 1400 species of cultivated plants pre- and post-harvest, render this pathogen of particular interest to farmers, advisers, students and researchers in many fields worldwide. This 20-chapter book is a comprehensive treatise covering the rapidly developing science of Botrytis and reflecting the major developments in studies of this fungus. It will serve as a source of general information for specialists in agriculture and horticulture, and also for students and scientists interested in the biology of this fascinating, multifaceted phytopathogenic fungal species.

In recent years, consumer demands for more nutritious salad products have brought major changes in the types of lettuce produced and in the methods of their cultivation. These changes have also brought new challenges to disease and pest management in lettuce production. The new Compendium of Lettuce Diseases and Pests, Second Edition, addresses these changes and challenges by providing the most up-to-date and comprehensive resource available on lettuce diseases and pests, as well as their management. It offers solutions to help users identify and manage infectious diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, nematodes, viruses, as well as noninfectious disorders such as air pollution, allelopathy, bolting, mineral deficiencies, toxicities, pesticide related injury, rib blight, tipburn, and many others. This concise yet comprehensive book is ideal for large and small commercial growing operations, as well as the advisors that serve them, including plant pathologists, entomologists, breeders, seed company personnel, crop production specialists, growers, diagnosticians, students, regulatory personnel, crop consultants, educators, researchers, extension personnel, and others involved in the diagnosis and management of lettuce diseases, pests, and disorders.

The world’s interest in Phytophthora species has been growing in recent years—to the point where more research projects on this important pathogen are expected. This new compilation of working protocols for Phytophthora research was created to meet this demand and serve the growing need for a coherent collection of methods to study members of this genus. Phytophthora Protocols is a fully online and continually updated resource that includes step-by-step instructions and images to ensure the accuracy and consistency of your Phytophthora research techniques. Phytophthora Protocols can be used as a baseline for optimizing lab research, developing custom research techniques, and other research applications.

Plant pathogens and diseases are among the most significant challenges to survival that plants face. Disease outbreaks caused by microbial or viral pathogens can decimate crop yields and have severe effects on global food supply. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying plant immune response and applying this understanding to develop biotechnological tools to enhance plant defense against pathogens has great potential for moderating the impact of plant disease outbreaks. Plant Pathogen Resistance Biotechnology’s main focus is an in depth survey of the biological strategies being used to create transgenic disease resistant plants for sustainable plant resistance. Plant Pathogen Resistance Biotechnology is divided into four sections. The first section covers biological mechanisms underpinning disease resistance in plants, while the second highlights case studies of important pathogen-crop groups and then considers why the application of important pathogen-crop groups, transgenic-based strategies designed to selectively target pathogens could benefit crop production. The third section provides information on the status of transgenic crops around the world, and finally the last part explores high-tech alternatives to genetic engineering for developing disease resistant traits in plants. Edited and authored by leaders in the field, Plant Pathogen Resistance Biotechnology will be an invaluable resource to those studying or researching plant biotechnology, plant pathology, plant biology, plant and crop genetics, in addition to crop science.

Rice is among the most significant food crops on the planet, covering an area of more than 154 million hectares, according to the International Rice Research Institute. And while consumption of rice increases each year, the spread and increased incidence of various rice diseases, disorders, and pests pose greater risks to production. Better, more up-to-date management practices are needed to keep feeding the world. The Compendium of Rice Diseases and Pests, Second Edition, was developed to help agricultural professionals and academics get the latest information on the management of diseases, insect pests, and abiotic disorders of this important crop. Published more than 25 years after the first edition, this new full-color update presents the major shifts in rice cultivation, including the more extensive use of hybrid rice, herbicide resistance, new biotechnologies and fungicides, the continued shrinkage of genetic diversity, and more intense cultural management systems. To help foster worldwide communication and information exchange on rice and its many production challenges, a group of top rice experts from various areas of the world were tapped as editors, along with a team of contributing authors specializing in key areas of rice health. Together they updated much of the information in the first edition, as well as added important newly discovered diseases and pests, ultimately providing better and fresher insights into the diseases, disorders, and pests that affect the world’s most predominant human food crop.