The book is a comprehensive resource that provides in-depth insights into the identification, epidemiology, and control of major diseases affecting agricultural and horticultural crops. Designed for students, extension professionals, researchers, and farmers, this book serves as a practical guide to protect crops from pathogen-induced losses and ensure sustainable agricultural productivity.
The book is systematically divided into two main sections: field crops and horticultural crops. In the field crops section, it covers a wide range of cereals (rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, bajra, finger millet), pulses (gram, pea, black gram, green gram), oilseeds (mustard, groundnut, soybean, sunflower), and cash crops like sugarcane and cotton. For each crop, the book presents common diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes, along with integrated disease management (IDM) strategies.
The horticultural section offers detailed accounts of fruit crops (citrus, banana, mango, papaya, apple, pomegranate, grapes, etc.), plantation crops (tea, coffee, coconut), and vegetables (potato, tomato, brinjal, chilli, cucurbits, cruciferous vegetables, bhendi). It also includes spices and ornamental plants like turmeric, coriander, marigold, and rose. The text provides clear explanations of disease symptoms, pathogen biology, disease cycles, and practical control measures including cultural practices, resistant varieties, chemical and biological control.
Richly illustrated and aligned with current agricultural practices, this book is a vital tool for crop health management in diverse agro-climatic zones of India and beyond.
Sanjeev Kumar is Assistant professor/Scientist, Department of Plant Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. He is very sincere and hard working teacher. He has taught many undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D courses with great dedication to the great satisfaction of the students and actively involved in all teaching activities. Dr. Kumar has guided fifteen M.Sc and one Ph.D student and has been actively involved in his research and extension activities too. As a researcher, he has been associated with 8 major research projects sponsored by ICAR, NATP,TSP and JICA, Japan. He has published 68 research and reviews papers, 25 book chapters, 105 popular articles, 1 research bulletin and 3 technical folders. He is an active member of over six National and International Societies. He is the fellow member of Indian Phytopathological Society, IARI New Delhi, Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology,Udaipur, Rajasthan and Society of Biocontrol Advancement, Banguluru . He has attended many conferences, symposia, workshops and presented papers. He has also attended the World Soybean Research Conference held in Durban, South Africa.
