Covering the key techniques used when working with fungal plant pathogens, this practical manual deals with recognition of disease symptoms, detection and identification of fungi and methods to characterise them well as curation, quarantine and quality assurance. The book is unique in its practical focus, providing an overview of both traditional and emerging methods and their applications, and detailed protocols on completion techniques such as microscopy, PCR, ELISA, freeze drying and DNA storage. Fungal Plant Pathogens provides a valuable guide to investigating fungal plant diseases and interpreting laboratory findings for postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students, extension plant pathologists, consultants and advisers in agriculture and horticulture and the food supply chain.

Main Contents

1. Introduction to Fungal Plant Pathogens
2. Examination of Plant Material
3. Detection of Fungal Plant Pathogens from Plants, Soil, Water and Air
4. Detection of Fungal Plant Pathogens in Seeds
5. Identification of Fungi Based on Morphological Characteristics
6. Cultural Characterization
7. Serological Techniques for Diagnosis
8. Nucleic Acid-based Techniques for Diagnosis
9. Fingerprinting Techniques
10. Maintenance and Storage of Fungal Plant Pathogens
11. Quarantine Procedures for Working with Fungal Plant Pathogens
12. Quality Assurance and Quality Systems