Plant diseases cause yield loss in crop production, poor quality of produce, and great economic losses as well. Knowledge of the perpetuation and spread of the pathogens and various factors affecting disease development is an important need. Disease diagnosis is the prime requirement for determining preventive or curative measures for effective disease management. This new 2-volume set, Diseases of Field Crops, helps to fill the need for research on plant diseases, their effects, how they spread, and effective management measures to mitigate their harmful consequences.

The volumes in this set showcase recent advances in molecular plant pathology and discuss appropriate diagnostic techniques for identification of causal agents and diseases, providing the information necessary to establish management strategies. The chapters in these two volumes include detailed description of symptoms, causal organisms, disease cycles, epidemiology, and management techniques of economically important diseases. The volumes explore existing strategies and offer new methods that can be used in an integrated manner and with a comprehensive approach for the management of major diseases of the field crops. Also taken into consideration is the impact of global climate change on the spread and severity of plant diseases.

This volume focuses on a selection of cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food and the diseases that affect them. The crops include rice, maize, wheat, millet, sorghum, jute, and more. Volume 2 covers pulses, oil seeds, narcotics, and sugar crops.

J. N. Srivastava, PhD, is Associate Professor/Sr. Scientist (plant pathology) at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India. Formerly, he was Assistant Professor/Jr. Scientist (plant pathology) at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Jammu and Kashmir, India. He has acted as principal investigator and co-principal investigator for several projects on biological control/integrated disease management. Dr. Srivastava has published many research papers, book chapters, popular articles, practical and technical bulletins, and leaflets and has received many awards for achievement and teaching. A. K. Singh, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Division of Plant Pathology at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu and Kashmir, India. He has been engaged for more than 12 years in teaching and research and is also involved in the transfer of technology through extension activities. He has published more than 30 research papers in national and international journals, one practical manual, several book chapters, and popular articles and has presented many research papers at international, national and regional symposiums and seminars. He is a recipient of several prestigious awards for his research contributions.