Canberra: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, 2008. — 210 pp.
ISBN 978 1 921434 18 1 (print).
ISBN 978 1 921434 19 8 (online).Plant diseases continue to cause significant crop losses in Vietnam and other regions of tropical South-East Asia.
The accurate diagnosis of the cause of a disease is essential to the success of control measures. However, many diseases produce similar symptoms, making diagnosis in the field difficult or impossible. Hence, diagnostic laboratories are an essential component of a plant protection network. Staff assigned to diagnostic work require intensive training at the undergraduate and graduate level in both field and laboratory skills, and in the basic concepts of plant disease and integrated disease management.
Accurate diagnosis of diseases is also essential to the development of a scientifically sound national database on plant diseases. A database on diseases in Vietnam will be a critical part of successful plant quarantine operations. Furthermore, a national database is a critical element of the biosecurity measures that relate to trade in agricultural products, especially for members of the World Trade Organization.
This manual is designed to help plant pathologists develop basic skills in the diagnosis of the cause of diseases, focusing on fungal diseases of the roots and stems. These diseases are insidious, and cause significant socioeconomic losses in Vietnam.
Contents:
Introduction.
References.
General plant health.
Weeds.
Pests.
Pesticides.
Nutrition.
Soil conditions.
Environment.
Crop history.
The diagnostic process.
Case studies.
Symptoms of disease.
Common symptoms.
Diseases of foliage, flowers or fruit.
Diseases of roots, crown and stem.
References.
In the field.
Field equipment for diagnostic studies.
Conducting a field survey.
In the laboratory.
Laboratory examination of the samples.
Microscopy.
Isolating fungal pathogens.
Subculturing from isolation plates.
Purification of cultures.
Recognising pure cultures.
Identification of fungal pathogens.
References.
Fungal taxonomy and plant pathogens.
Key features of fungi and fungal-like organisms.
Classification of plant pathogenic fungi.
References.
Pathogenicity testing.
Techniques of pathogenicity testing.
Preparation of inoculum for pathogenicity testing.
Integrated disease management.
Crop rotation.
Crop management.
Pathogen-free transplants, seed, and other planting material.
Quarantine.
Resistant or tolerant cultivars.
Grafting to resistant rootstock.
Fungicides.
Hygiene.
References.
Root and stem rot diseases caused by pathogens that survive in soil.
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
Sclerotium rolfsii.
Rhizoctonia species.
Phytophthora and Pythium.
Fusarium species.
Verticillium albo-atrum and V. dahliae - exotic fungal wilt pathogens.
Plant parasitic nematodes.
Diseases caused by bacterial pathogens.
Diseases caused by plant viruses.
References.
Common diseases of some economically important crops.
Common diseases of chilli.
Common diseases of tomato.
Common diseases of peanut.
Common fungal diseases of onions.
Common fungal diseases of maize.
Fungi, humans and animals: health issues.
Key mycotoxigenic fungi in Vietnam.
Mycotoxigenic Aspergillus species.
Mycotoxigenic Fusarium species.
The diagnostic laboratory and greenhouse.
The diagnostic laboratory.
Laboratory layout.
Laboratory equipment.
Greenhouse for plant disease studies.
Appendix. Making a flat transfer needle.
Appendix. Health and safety.
Appendix. Acronyms and abbreviations.
Glossary.
