Y. S. Ahlawat, K. P. Srivastava Virus Diseases Of Fruit Crops And Management

Annotation

It had been long felt need by plant Virologists in India and abroad to bring out a comprehensive publication on virus and virus-like pathogens infecting fruit crops with special emphasis to the research work done in the Indian subcontinent. Therefore, I decided to write my experiences on fruit viruses gained in India and abroad with a joint authorship with a well known Entomologist, Dr. K.P. Srivastava. I gained on hand experience on virus and virus like diseases of fruit crops while working at the Regional stations of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) at Shimla and Kalimpong. I was exposed to viruses of fruit crops while working at the University of California, INRA Bordeaux, France and several Research Institute at Brazil and my visit to CREC, University of Florida, Australia, China and some other places. Finally, I gained long exposure on viruses at the Advanced Centre for Plant Virology at IARI, New Delhi through National and International projects. Diseases particularly of virus nature posed serious threat to fruit industry as these pathogens are difficult to manage. Viruses of vegetative propagated fruit crops such as apple, peach, citrus and banana etc. are much more important economically due to perpetuation of these pathogens in these crops. Inadvertent propagation from contaminated sources is responsible for wide spread of these diseases and pathogens to wider areas in different geographic regions. About 288 Virus, Phytoplasma and Varied diseases of 35 fruit crops, apple, pear, quince, apricot, almond, cherry, peach, plum walnut, pecan, chestnut, hazelnut, Kiwi, persimmon, avocado, banana, citrus, papaya, olive, coconut, date palm, oil palm, fig, jujube, pomegranate, bale, mulberry, pineapple, grapevine, strawberry, raspberry, blue berry, gooseberry, black currant and red currant have been described. Detailed information has been provided on distribution and economic importance of these diseases. There are six major chapters in the book. Each chapter carries information on disease symptoms, transmission, vector(s), host range, indicators, associated pathogen, their taxonomic position, diagnosis and management. In total 52 figures and 65 cooler plates relevant to disease, in question, have been put in the book. The book entitled VIRUS DISEASES OF FRUIT CROPS AND MANAGEMENT written by Professor Y.S. Ahlawat and Dr. K.P. Srivastava is aimed to describe fruit crop diseases caused by viruses and allied pathogens will certainly be very helpful to the students and teachers of plant virology, plant pathology and horticulture including to grow virus-free fruit plantations in developing countries.