Biological Control of Crop Diseases (Books in Soils, Plants, and the Environment)

With contributions from more than 30 internationally renowned experts, this book combines coverage of theory with coverage of global practices. Highlighting the day-to-day challenges of organic crop management for cost-effective real-world application, the book explores the biological control of diseases in 12 major crops. It focuses on the use of host plant resistance through transgenics and induced systemic resistance as a part of biological control. Topics covered include the role of biocontrol agents for signalling resistance, effective ecofriendly alternative to combat bacterial, fungal, and viral infestation, and transgenic crops in disease management. This innovative reference combines theory with current global practices involved in the biological control of diseases in 12 major crops-highlighting the day-to-day challenges of organic crop management for cost-effective real-world application. Considers the use of host plant resistance through transgenics and induced systemic resistance as a part of biological control. Containing over 1800 citations and contributions by more than 30 internationally renowned experts, Biological Control of Crop Diseases is an essential reference for microbiologists; mycologists; organic chemists and biochemists; environmental, agricultural, soil, and crop scientists; agronomists; plant nutritionists, pathologists, physiologists, and virologists; horticulturists; botanists; and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines. The term biological control was coined by the late Harry Smith of the University of California, who defined it as "the suppression of insect populations by the actions of their native or introduced enemies".