Postharvest Pathogens and Disease Management

P. NARAYANASAMY, PhD, is a former department head and professor of plant pathology at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore, India. He is the author of four other books on plant pathology.

• Preface. Acknowledgments.PART I: CAUSES AND EFFECTS.1. Introduction.1.1 Importance of postharvest diseases.1.2 Factors favoring development of postharvest diseases.1.3 Development of disease management strategies.Summary.References.2. Detection and Identification of Postharvest Microbial Pathogens.2.1 Microbial pathogens in seeds.2.2 Microbial pathogens in propagative plant materials.2.3 Microbial pathogens in fruits.2.4 Microbial pathogens in vegetables.Summary.Appendix.References.3. Ecology of Postharvest Microbial Plant Pathogens.3.1 Seed microflora.3.2 Fruit microflora.3.3 Vegetable microflora.Summary.References.4. Disease Development and Symptom Expression.4.1 Seed infection.4.2 Seed deterioration.4.3 Infection of fruits and vegetables.Summary.Appendix.References.PART II: FACTORS INFLUENCING DISEASE DEVELOPMENT IN STORAGE.5. Influence of Cultivation Practices and Harvesting Methods.5.1 Cultivation practices.5.2 Harvest-related operations.Summary.References.6. Influence of Postharvest Handling and Storage Conditions.6.1 Postharvest handling.6.2 Storage conditions.Summary.References.PART III: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF POSTHARVEST DISEASE MANAGEMENT.7. Preventive and Physical Methods of Disease Management.7.1 Seeds and propagative materials.7.2 Fruits and vegetables.Summary.References.8. Genetic Resistance of Host Plants for Disease Management.8.1 Molecular biology of host plant resistance.8.2 Resistance to seed infection.8.3 Development of disease resistant cultivars.Summary.Appendix.References.9. Biocontrol Agents for Disease Management.9.1 Biological control of postharvest diseases of fruits.9.2 Biological control of postharvest diseases of vegetables.9.3 Biocontrol of seed spoilage.9.4 Mechanisms of biocontrol.9.5 Enhancement of efficiency of biocontrol agents.9.6 Formulation of biocontrol agents.9.7 Natural compounds.Summary.Appendix.References.10. Biotechnology for Improvement of Resistance to Postharvest Diseases.10.1 Genetic manipulation.10.2 Activation of natural host defense mechanisms.10.3 Mycotoxin management through transformation.Summary.Appendix.References.11. Postharvest Disease Management through Chemicals.11.1 Fumigants.11.2 Chemicals used as dips.11.3 Chemicals applied as sprays or dusts.11.4 Assessment of fungicidal activity.11.5 Chemicals as alternative to fungicides.11.6 Seed treatment with chemicals.11.7 Development of resistance to fungicides.11.8 Assessment of fungicide residues.11.9 Control of fresh-cut produce-borne pathogens.Summary.Appendix.References.12. Integrated Systems of Management of Postharvest Diseases.12.1 Seedborne diseases.12.2 Postharvest diseases of perishables.Summary.References.Addendum: Basic Methods .References.Index.

"This book will be useful for researchers, teachers, and students in plant pathology and food microbiology." (The Quarterly Review of Biology, September 2006) "...efficient, economical and environmentally friendly..."(Food Science and Technology Abstracts,January 2007)