Recent Developments in Management of Plant Diseases

Plant disease management remains an important component of plant pathology and is more complex today than ever before including new innovation in diagnostic kits, the discovery of new modes of action of chemicals with low environmental impact, biological control agents with reliable and persistent activity, as well as the development of new plant varieties with durable disease resistance. This book is a collection of invited lectures given at the 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP 2008), held in Torino, August 24-29, 2008 and is part of a series of volumes on Plant Pathology in the 21st Century. It focuses on new developments of disease management and provides an updated overview of the state of the art given by world experts in the different fields of disease management. The different chapters deal with basic aspects of disease management, mechanisms of action of biological control agents, innovation in fungicide application, exploitation of natural compounds and resistance strategies. Moreover, the management of soil-borne diseases and disease management in organic farming are covered.

Ulrich Gisi is a professor of plant pathology and soil ecology at the University of Basel (Switzerland) and a long experienced scientist and expert in agrochemical industry (Syngenta) for fungicide mode of action, resistance and population biology.

Ilan Chet is a professor of microbiology. He was dean V.P. at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, and President of the Weizman Institute. Professor Chet is recipient of the Wolf, Israel, Rothschild, EMT and Max Planck prizes.

Maria Lodovica Gullino is a professor of plant pathology at the University of Torino and President of the International Society for Plant Pathology. She has long term experience in plant disease management.