Fungal Plant Pathogens - 9781845936686

Fungal plant pathogens can threaten food security, economic prosperity and the natural environment. Changing factors such as pesticide usage, climate change and increasing trade globalization can bring new opportunities to plant pathogens, and new challenges to those attempting to control their spread.

Covering the key techniques used when working with fungal plant pathogens, this practical manual deals with the recognition of disease symptoms, detection and identification of fungi and methods to characterize them, as well as curation, quarantine and quality assurance. It is unique in its practical focus, providing an overview of both traditional and emerging methods and their applications, and detailed protocols on techniques such as microscopy, antibody detection using ELISA methods and lateral flow devices, molecular methods using PCR and fingerprinting and preservation techniques including freeze drying. For postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students of mycology and plant pathology Fungal Plant Pathogens provides an invaluable guide to investigating fungal plant diseases and interpreting laboratory findings. It is also a useful tool for extension plant pathologists, consultants and advisers in agriculture, horticulture and the food supply chain.