Phytoplasmas: Plant Pathogenic Bacteria - II

Phytoplasma-associated diseases are a major limiting factor in the context of the quality and productivity of many ornamental, horticultural and other economically important agricultural crops worldwide. Annual losses due to phytoplasma diseases vary, but under pathogen-favorable conditions they have disastrous consequences for the farming community. As there is no effective cure for these diseases, the management options focus on their exclusion, minimizing their spread by insect vectors and propagation materials and on the development of host plant resistance.This book discusses the latest information on the epidemiology and management of phytoplasma-associated diseases, providing a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of distribution, occurrence and identification of the phytoplasmas, recent diagnostics approaches, transmission, losses and geographical distribution as well as management aspects.

Chapter 1. Insects as phytoplasma vectors: ecological and epidemiological aspects.- Chapter 2. The biology and ecology of leafhopper transmission of phytoplasmas.- Chapter 3. Psyllid vectors.- Chapter 4. Vector role of cixiids and other planthopper species.- Chapter 5. Transovarial transmission in insect vectors.- Chapter 6. Phytoplasma transmission by seed.- Chapter 7. Transmission of phytoplasmas by agronomic practices.- Chapter 8. Control of phytoplasma diseases through resistant plants.- Chapter 9. Phytoplasma elimination from perennial horticultural crops.- Chapter 10. Microbes relationship with phytoplasmas in plants and insects.- Chapter 11. Integrated management of phytoplasma diseases.