Without sensationalizing or providing technical details that would result in a terrorist's handbook, this volume reflects concerns expressed by experts from 12 states. The book is exceptional because of its focus on indirect impacts on human health and welfare through challenge to the security of food. These urgently need to be recognised and steps taken to counter the threat. The need for protection is weighed against risks of discouraging biotechnological advance.
This book is based on EU-funded project PLANTFOODSEC, covering intentional and unintentional threats to plant biosecurity and to food safety areas. Biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach for analysing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health, and associated risks to the environment. Interest in biosecurity has risen considerably over the last decade in parallel with the increasing trade in food and plant and animal products; higher levels of international travel; new outbreaks of transboundary diseases. Although most diseases outbreaks have natural causes or are the result of inadvertent introductions of pathogens through human activities, the risk of a deliberate introduction of a high consequence plant pathogen cannot be excluded. Vigilance is required to identify, prevent and manage new and emerging issues that could impact on production capacity, plant biosecurity or food safety and food chain resilience. /div
Handbook of Plant Virus Diseases presents basic information about viral-caused and viral-like diseases in many cultivated crops. The editors, internationally known plant pathologists, provide authoritative descriptive symptomatic signatures of virus diseases, to aid in the diagnosis and possible control of viruses. This handbook organizes cultivated plants into groups according to their final destinations and uses after harvest-a useful grouping system that indicates that some diseases, their resultant epidemiology, and control measures are characteristic within different groups.
Around the globe, besides fungal and bacterial diseases, both virus and viroid diseases have acquired greater importance in the realm of plant pathology and call for effective management measures as they are responsible for heavy yield losses and are a matter of vital importance and concern to farmers, horticulturists, gardeners and foresters. Understanding disease epidemiology is of vital importance for formulating viable disease management practices in a given agro-ecosystem. The development and progress of plant disease epidemics are variable from region to region. Epidemiology is not a static process, but rather a dynamic course that varies with a change in the ecology, host, vector and virus systems.
This collection of papers represents some of those given at the International Congress for Plant Pathology held in Turin in 2008 in the session with the title “The Role of Plant Pathology in Food Safety and Food Security”. Although food safety in terms of “Is this food safe to eat?” did not receive much direct attention it is, never theless, an important topic. A crop may not be safe to eat because of its inh- ent qualities. Cassava, for example, is cyanogenic, and must be carefully prepared if toxicosis is to be avoided. Other crops may be safe to eat providing they are not infected or infested by microorganisms. Mycotoxins are notorious examples of compounds which may contaminate a crop either pre- or post-harvest owing to the growth of fungi. Two papers in this book deal with toxins, one by Barbara Howlett and co-workers and the other by Robert Proctor and co-workers. In the first of these, the role of sirodesmin PL, a compound produced by Leptosphaeria ma- lans, causal agent of blackleg disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus), is discussed. The authors conclude that the toxin plays a role in virulence of the fungus and may also be beneficial in protecting the pathogen from other competing micro-organisms but there seem to be no reports of its mammalian toxicity.
Agriculture is often under the threat of invasive species of animal pests and pathogens that do harm to crops. It is essential to have the best methods and tools available to prevent this harm. Biosecurity is a mixture of institutions, policies, and science applications that attempts to prevent the spread of unhealthy pests. Tactical Sciences for Biosecurity in Animal and Plant Systems focuses on the tactical sciences needed to succeed in the biosecurity objectives of preventing plant and animal pathogens from entering or leaving the United States. This book explores a divergence of tactics between plant and animal exotic disease response. Covering topics such as animal pests and pathogens, tactical management, and early detection, this book is an essential resource for researchers, academicians, university faculty, government biosecurity practitioners, customs officers, clinical scientists, and students.
Viral Diseases of Field and Horticultural Crops details the fundamental and applied aspects of the viral diseases of field and horticultural crops. The book opens with a historical introduction to plant virology, important plant virologists, and landmarks. It continues with systematic coverage of viral diseases, their economic significance, disease symptoms, host range, mode of transmission, diagnostic techniques, geographic distribution, epidemiology, yield losses, and control and management of the disease. Contributions from an international group of virologists with a wide range of academic, research, professional, and specialized backgrounds in plant virology makes Viral Diseases of Field and Horticultural Crops a comprehensive and must-have resource for those engaged in the study and research of plant virology, microbiology, and plant pathology particularly viral diseases and their impact on field and horticultural crops. Provides virus characterization according to the disease pattern and symptoms they cause Covers viral diseases of cereals, oil seeds, legumes, commercial crops, spices and condiments, medicinal and aromatic crops, forage crops, vegetable crops, fruit crops, tree nuts, among others Discusses advances like applications in nanotechnology, molecular techniques for the detection and characterization of plant viruses, and the development of technologies for detecting plant viruses
Plant virus and sub-viral pathogens pose severe constraints to the production of wide range of economically important crops worldwide. The crops raised both through true seed and vegetative propagated materials are affected with number of virus and virus-like diseases. The virus may enter into plants through seed planting materials or by vectors. Once the virus is in the field, it multiplies and spreads following definite patterns depending upon the nature of the vector and agro-meteorological conditions. Disease free crops and plants are great economic and social importance in feeding the world's population. Detection of virus and sub-viral agents at initial stages of infection is critical to reduce economic losses. For nearly two decades, ELISA and its variants played a major role in large scale virus testing and also in the production of virus-free planting materials.
A Textbook of Plant Virus Diseases deals with a discussion of different plant viruses, their properties, and the corresponding diseases these viruses cause. It includes a list of host plants of every virus arranged alphabetically. The book discusses the new types of disease vectors, such as root-infesting fungi, nematode worms, mites, and insects that are both biting and sucking. It also discusses the development of new techniques in electron microscopy that is used to characterize in detail the causal viruses of a number of plant virus diseases. Furthermore, it presents the development of plant virus serology, as well as the improved methods of virus isolation that allow the classification of viruses into related groups. The book includes a Bibliography and an Index of Synonyms that can be used in identifying given virus name. In addition, cross-references are included for searching a particular virus under the alternative names. This book will be invaluable to ecologists, environmentalists, agriculturalists, and other scientists interested in plant viruses. Biology students will also find this reference helpful.
It appears that a comprehensive and up-to-date book on the impact of virus diseases on the major crops in developing countries is now much needed, especially as there have been rapid advances in the biological and molecular characterization and detection of the pathogens and possible approaches for their control. On the other hand, the economic losses caused by many of these diseases are tremendous and much of the accumulated knowledge to diminish the crop losses has not filtered through, or cannot be applied. This book is focused on the important crops. Each chapter on a specific crop will include inter alia, geographical distribution, the viruses - symptoms, damage, detection - a brief description of the viruses concerned, and present and future ways for their control. Experts from India, Nigeria, UK, USA, France, Germany, Peru, Japan, Australia, Netherlands, Venezuela, Kazakhstan and Israel (many of them from the International Research Institutions) have contributed chapters to this book.
