Bücher der Reihe Developments in Plant Pathology

Proceedings of the 2nd International Rice Blast Conference, 4-8 August 1998, Montpellier, France

There is an increasing need for an understanding of the fundamental processes involved in the mechanisms by which disease resistances are introduced into crop plants. This book provides a wide-ranging coverage of the successes and failures of the classical techniques; it describes the advances towards modern technology and addresses the problems of pathogen variation. Crop plants that are considered include: cereals (wheat, barley, rice), potatoes, vegetables and soft fruits.

This book is based mainly on invited and offered papers presented at the Second International Symposium on Bacterial and Bacteria-like Contaminants of Plant Tissue Cultures held at University College, Cork, Ireland in September 1996, with additional invited papers. The First International Symposium on Bacterial and Bacteria-like Contaminants of Plant Tissue Cultures was held at the same venue in 1987 and was published as Acta Horticulturae volume 225, 1988. In the intervening years there have been considerable advances in both plant disease diagnostics and in the development of structured approaches to the management of disease and microbial contamination in micropropagation. These approaches have centred on attempts to separate, spatially, the problems of disease transmission and laboratory contamination. Disease-control is best achieved by establishing pathogen-free cultures while laboratory contamination is based on subsequent good working practice. Control of losses due to pathogens and microbial contamination in vitro addresses, arguably, the most importance causes of losses in the industry; nevertheless, losses at and post establishment can also be considerable due to poor quality microplants or micro-shoots. In this symposium, a holistic approach to pathogen and microbial contamination control is evident with the recognition that micropropagators must address pathogen and microbial contamination in vitro, and diseases and microplant failure at establishment. There is increasing interest in establishing beneficial bacterial and mycorrhizal association with microplants in vitro and in vivo.

The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), established in 1962, is an intergovernmental organization of 13 countries: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey. Four institutes (Bari, Italy; Chania, Greece; Montpellier, France; and Zaragoza, Spain) provide postgraduate education at the Master of Science level. CIHEAM promotes research networks on Mediterranean agricultural priorities, supports the organization of specialized education in member countries, holds seminars and workshops bringing together technologists and scientists involved in Mediterranean agriculture and regularly produces diverse publications including the series Options Mediterraneennes. Through these activities, CIHEAM promotes North/South dialogue and international co-operation for agricultural development in the Mediterranean region. Over the past decade, the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza has developed a number of training and research-supporting activities in the field of agroecology and sustainability of agricultural production systems. Some of these activities have been concerned with the rational use of pesticides and more particularly with the implementation of integrated control systems in order to gain in efficacy and decrease both the environmental impact and the negative repercussions for the commercialization of agricultural products.

During the last decade, research on Pseudomonas syringae pathovars and related pathogens has progressed rapidly, opening up many new avenues. The application of molecular genetics has provided new insights into determinants of pathogenicity and virulence. Progress has also been made in elucidating the chemical structures and modes of action of phytotoxins from Pseudomonas syringae; by establishing novel strategies for disease control; in biotechnological applications; by studying the resistant reaction of the plant with a combined biochemical and genetic approach; and in the development of new detection and identification methodologies as tools in epidemiological studies. With such rapid advances it becomes more and more difficult to keep abreast of the developments and concepts within disciplines, all involving research on pathovars of P. syringae. In an attempt to provide a balanced overview, recent developments in these rapidly expanding fields have been critically reviewed at the beginning of each chapter by internationally renowned experts. Our comprehensive coverage has been made possible because all the contributors to this volume presented their latest findings at the `5th International Conference on Pseudomonas syringae Pathovars and Related Pathogens' in Berlin, September 3-8, 1995. In this way, it was possible to bring together contributions from a wide range of fields including phytopathology, genetics, bacteriology, plant breeding, plant protection, and taxonomy. This book is not intended simply as a record of the proceedings of the Berlin Conference, but as an extension of recent findings and hypotheses put forward at the meeting. All papers published in this volume have been reviewed by the Editors.

Provides information on the biology of compatible interactions, forecasting and epidemiology, host specialisation, genetic variability amongst pathogen populations, and novel methods for detection and systematics, and induced resistance. This book focuss on the related oomycete Albugo candida, and provides a valuable comparative pathosystem.

Such techniques include marker genes and other DNA-based techniques, serology using polyclonals or monoclonals, the use of enzymes or secondary metabolite profiles, and `electronic noses' as well as more traditional methods like dilution plating.

Plants interact with a large number of microoganisms which have a major impact on their growth either by establishing mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships or by developing as pathogens at the expense of the plant with deleterious effects.

Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium of the European Foundation for Plant Pathology, September 9-12, 1996, Bonn, Germany

Such techniques include marker genes and other DNA-based techniques, serology using polyclonals or monoclonals, the use of enzymes or secondary metabolite profiles, and `electronic noses' as well as more traditional methods like dilution plating.

The family Trichodoridae was established by Thorne in 1935 but it remained of limited taxonomie interest until 1951 when Christie and Perry associated Trichodorus christie (now Paratrichodorus minor) with a "stubby root disease" that affected certain crops in Florida, USA and interest further increased from 1960 when P.

In 1992 a Concerted Action Programme (CAP) was initiated by Peter Sijmons with the purpose of intensifying collaborations between 16 European laboratories working on plant-parasitic nematodes.

Proceedings of the 3rd Tottori International Symposium on Host-Specific Toxins, Daisen, Tottori, Japan, August 24-29, 1997

Research on the mechanisms of plant defense responses to stress and pathogen attack has attracted much attention in recent years. The 2nd Conference of the European Foundation for Plant Pathology, hosted by the "Societe Fran~aise de Phytopathologie", was devoted to "Mechanisms of plant defense responses" and was held in Strasbourg, France.

The growing body of information on bacteria pathogenic for humans, mammals and plants generated within the past ten years has shown the interesting conservation of newly identified genes that playa direct role in the pathogenic mechanism.

The ICL Y meetings, held approximately every two years, proved to be an immensely valuable forum for all involved in the research and control of L Y. Unfortunately, during the 1980s, as countries learned to live with L Y, most of the national and international funding for L Y research dried up, and so did ICL Y.

Proceedings of the 3rd Tottori International Symposium on Host-Specific Toxins, Daisen, Tottori, Japan, August 24-29, 1997

Addresses the biology of induced resistance in legumes, solanaceae, cucurbits and monocots. This book includes a discussion of the molecular basis of induced resistance, its genetic and evolutionary significance, and practical applications in disease control. It aims to provide a background for those commencing work in the area.

Proceedings of the 2nd International Rice Blast Conference, 4-8 August 1998, Montpellier, France