Contents: Chapter 1. Introduction and History Introduction, importance, sub-divisions, some common ,terminology, plant pathogens, causes of plant diseases,classification of diseases, disease epidemiology, disease,symptomatology, pathogenicity and pathogenesis, plant disease,clinic and requirements for plant disease clinic. Chapter 2. Mycology – study of fungi Introduction and history, culture collection, fungi and their morphology, classification of fungi, rhizomorphs and mycorrhiza, lichenology, variations in fungi, physiology of fungi, nutritional requirements in fungi, enzymes and their importance, growth and growth factors, mushroom and their cultivation, mycotoxins and their types, reproduction in fungi,mycological laboratory organization and mycological laboratory techniques. Chapter 3. Fungal Diseases of Crops Cereal diseases - diseases of wheat, barley, paddy, sorghum and other cereals; diseases of pulse crops- chick pea, cowpea,soybean, lentil, pigeon pea, black gram and pea; diseases of oil seeds – groundnut, linseed, mustard, rapeseed, sunflower, safflower and sesame; Industrial crop diseases- sugar beet,sugarcane, potato, cassava, cotton and jute; diseases of vegetables- cole crops, cauliflower, cabbage, turnip and other crucifers, radish, cucurbits, water melon, elephant foot yam, beans, lablab beans, lima beans, colocassia, egg plant, tomato,beet, spinach, onion, okra, garlic; diseases of fruits - Almond,apple, citrus, banana, cashew nut, grape, guava, jack fruit,mango, loquat, Jamun, water melon, musk melon, papaya, pine apple, plum, pomegranate, peach, cherry and walnut; diseases of arecanut, cocoa, coconut, coffee, tea and rubber; diseases of spices- ginger, coriander, turmeric and chilli. Chapter 4. Plant Bacteriology – study of bacteria Definition and history, prokaryotes and their kinds, plant bacteriology, pioneers in the field of bacteriology, economic importance, morphology and structure, bacteriophages and their classification, growth and physiology, common terminology, cultivation of bacteria, infection and pathogenicity, bacteria and enzymes, synchronous and continuous cultures, prokaryotic metabolism, bacterial genetics, mutation in bacteria, auxotrophs and prototrphs,analysis of structure of DNA, plasmids and their importance,recombinant DNA technology, bacteriological laboratory techniques, plant pathogenic bacteria. Chapter 5. Bacterial Diseases of Plants Diseases of cereals – wheat, barley, maize, oat, rice and sorghum; diseases of pulses - cowpea, pea, pigeon pea and soybean; diseases of oil seed crops - castor, sunflower, safflower and sesamum; industrial crop diseases - sugarcane, betel vine, cotton, tobacco, jute and poppy; plantation diseases – coffee and tea; diseases of grasses-sudan grass, lucern, Indian clover and alfalfa; diseases of tuber crops; diseases of fruit crops;diseases of vegetables. Chapter 6. Plant Virology – study of viruses Definition and history, characterization of viruses, morphology and structure, economic importance, classification, viroids and their classification, isolation and purification, physical properties, pathogenicity test in viruses, detection of viruses, different methods of transmission, symptomatology, inclusion bodies and phytotoxaemia, common terminology, serology and serological reactions. Chapter 7. Viral Diseases of of Crops Virus diseases of vegetables - tomato, egg plant, cabbage,radish, turnip and lily, cucumber, melon, water melon, bean, broad bean pea, cow pea, carrot, celery, parsnip, lettuce and spinach; industrial crop diseases- Virus diseases of sugarcane, sunflower soybean sugar beet, potato, tobacco, hop, peanut;diseases of fruit crops. Chapter 8. Phyto-nematology – study of plant nematodes Introduction and history, progress in the science of nematology,characteristics of nematodes, nature and distribution, kinds of nematodes, economic importance, morphology and life cycle,pathogenicity, classification and grouping, characteristics of different orders and families, detection of plant parasitic nematodes Chapter 9. Nematode diseases of Crops Diseases of cereal crops, diseases of vegetables & spices, diseases of ornamentals, medicinal and narcotics, diseases of industrial crops and diseases of fruits and plantation crops. Chapter 10. Abiotic Plant Pathogens Physiological diseases, different causes of abiotic discusses,environmental constraints, important symptoms due to nutritional in balances, symptoms of nutritional toxicities. Chapter 11. Abiotic Plant Diseases Keys to diseases and symptoms of nutritional imbalances, Nutrients deficiency diseases in different crops. Chapter 12. Phanerogamic Plant Parasites Seed plant parasites, some examples, parts of the hosts attacked by such parasites, different kinds of seed plant parasites, Stem parasites, semi-stem parasite, holo stem parasite, Root semi root parasite and holo-root parasite, disease cycle of dodder,patho-genic behaviour of Giant mistletoe, important characteristics of Giant mistletoe, pathogenic effects of Giant mistletoe, Broomrape as holo root parasite, general characteristics of Broomrape, management of Broomrape, Witch weed (Striga species), general characteristics of Witch weed, management of witch weed (Striga species), dwarf mistletoes, disease cycle of dwarf mistletoe and management of dwarf mistletoes. Chapter 13. Seed Pathology Role of seed in plant pathology, association of pathogens with seeds, scientists who reviewed method of detection of seed borne pathogens, objectives of detection of seed borne microorganisms, information desirable for seed health testing, common methods of detection of seed borne microorganisms,important characteristics recorded during examination of dry seeds, examination after softening and soaking of seeds,examination of seed washings, incubation method of seed testing, blotter method of seed testing, Agar plate method of seed testing, rolled paper towel method of seed health testing, 2, 4-D method of seed health testing, some other methods of seed health testing, different kinds of seed borne pathogens,destruction of seed borne pathogens, use systemic fungicide, use insecticides that are compatible with the Thiram, protectant fungicides and seed certification? Chapter 14. Management of Crop Diseases Conditions for management of plant diseases, basic categories for disease management, prophylaxis, prophylactic measures, curative measures, important curative measures, important precautions for avoidance of pathogens, important curative measures, exclusion of inoculum, eradication of pathogen, protective measures, cultural control measures, different methods of obtaining resistance in hosts, classification of fungicides, different kinds of fungicides, important characteristics of good fungicides, different methods of application of fungi-toxicants/ fungicides, biological control, biotechnology for disease resistance, tissue culture techniques, principles behind tissue culture and recombinant DNA technology. Glossary of terms Some Important Publications Appendix about the Author: D P Tripathi was born in Uttar Pradesh. As a student, Tripathi was president of Jawaharlal Nehru Students' Union and later taught at Allahabad University as a professor of politics. During 1980's he became one of the aides of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Presently Tripathi is the Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and General Secretary and chief spokesman of the Nationalist Congress Party. He is the editor-in-chief of the quarterly journal Think India. Some of his works includes Praroop (Collection of Hindi Poems), Allahabad, 1973; Congress and Independent India (1985); and Jawahar Shatakam (Sanskrit Poems), National Publishing House, New Delhi, 1989. He has edited works such as Celebrating Faiz (2011), Nepal (2011), and Indian Economy (2011). Beside his research contribution to Think India quarterly, Tripathi has also toured various universities abroad and spoken on varied topics.