Fungal Plant Pathogens (Principles and Protocols Series)

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 characterize them, as 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 (polymerase chain reaction), 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 undergraduates students, extension plant pathologists, and consultants and advisers in agriculture and horticulture and the food supply chain.

Charles Lane is a senior plant pathologist at FSL. Ltd based in York with over 25 years experience in the diagnosis of fungal plant pathogens. Following a Ph.D. investigating a mycoparasite of the cultivated mushroom, he joined the plant pathology laboratory in Harpenden before moving to Yorkshire in 1996. Since then he has predominantly worked on the identification of quarantine fungi such as Colletotrichum, Monilinia, Alternaria, Phytophthora and Hymenoscyphus. He helped found the UK's largest commercial Plant Clinic providing diagnostic services to growers and consultants both in the UK and overseas. Currently, is developing and delivering plant health and biosecurity advice, guidance and training to a wide-range of stakeholders and citizen scientists.

Paul Beales is a senior plant pathologist who works for the UK's plant health and seeds inspectorate. Completing his Ph.D. at the University of Hertfordshire on Rhododendron powdery mildew, he took up the role of plant disease diagnostician at the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera Science Ltd.) before moving to the animal and plant health agency where he heads up its plant technical extension team. He is a specialist in both indigenous and non-indigenous plant pathogens, and has been involved with identifying, discovering, researching and publishing new pathogens from around the world. In his current role, he works closely with Defra, consulting on new plant pest and disease threats and raising awareness of plant health to the trade and public through publications, engagement and training activities.

Kelvin Hughes obtained a Ph.D. in Molecular methods for the detection of fungal plant pathogens with the University of Bristol. He has developed international standards for molecular diagnosis of the EC plant pathogens Tilletia indica, Monilinia fructicola and Colletotrichum acutatum as well as real-time field assays used by the UK Plant Health inspection service for Phytophthora kernoviae and P. ramorum. He also established Fera's ISTA accredited seed health laboratory and has represented the UK on quality assurance panels for the European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) and the International Standards Organization (ISO). Having gained experience with numerous National Plant Protection Organizations including New Zealand MAF and the Kenyan Plant Health Inspection Service (KEPHIS), Dr. Hughes is currently Fera's Principal Plant Health and Seeds Inspector with national responsibility for the export of plants, plant products and seeds.