• Diseases of Horticultural Crops: Vegetables, Ornamentals & Mushrooms
• Diseases of Field Crops
• Diseases of Oilseed Crops
• Challenging Problems in Horticultural and Forest Pathology
• Recent Trends in Horticulture in the Himalayas
• Propagation of Plants
  
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Fruit plant diseases often are the worst natural hazards in horticulture. New diseases and new biotypes of existing disease-producing organisms appear from time to time in a more virulent form. With the liberalization of import and export of large quantities of horticultural planting materials, the risk of spread of diseases into new areas has also increased. The most startling aspect of fruit plant diseases is that their control cost us a huge sum every year with serious environmental consequences. Therefore, integrated disease management practices need to be adopted to reduce the losses.
In this book, the information on various aspects of diseases of temperate, sub-tropical fruits including integrated disease management strategies has been included. Major focus is on diseases of temperate fruits as these were not given enough attention in earlier books. Besides, the numerous advances made in the etiology of phytoplasmas, viroids and bacterial diseases during the last decade have been thoroughly discussed. The book also includes the role of quarantine and biotechnology in the management of fruit diseases. Recent biotechnological approaches have made it possible to transfer any disease-resistance gene into the fruit crops.
The present volume Diseases of Horticultural Crops: Fruits will enhance the prosperity of Horticulture worldwide and fulfill the expectations of orchardists, scientists, students, teachers, extension workers and quarantine officials.

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Prof. L.R. Verma is presently Vice-Chancellor of University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan (H.P.). Earlier he was a senior professional staff member and project leader of Himalayan Biodiversity Regional Project at ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal. He has also served as Dean and Head of the Biosciences Department of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and Scientific Advisor to Department of Horticulture, Government of Himachal Pradesh. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 1972 from the University of Guelph, Canada and was also Humboldt Research Fellow in Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. In India, he has been principal investigator and coordinator of several R&D projects. Prof. Verma has published more than 250 research papers in international scientific journals and authored/edited seven books and seven more are in press. Prof. Verma is the only Asian who is Honorary Member of APIMONDIA. He is currently associated with various policy making and planning committees at state, national and international levels.

Dr. R.C. Sharma, Associate Professor, Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan (H.P.) did his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Recipient of Himachal Pradesh University Gold Medal, Aspee Gold Medal, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Major J. Sharma Guleri Memorial Gold Medals. Dr. Sharma was awarded French Government Fellowship and worked as Post-Doctoral Fellow in the University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France (1983-84). He was UNDP/FAO Fellow at CSIRO, Canberra, Australia during 1989. He was President of Indian Phytopathological Society (North Zone) for the year 2003 and Councillor during 1992. Dr. Sharma has 85 research papers in Indian and foreign journals, 38 review/book chapters, 2 technical bulletins and 9 books to his credit. He is a fellow of Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi. In recognition of his professional achievements, he has been conferred with honorary appointment to Research Board of Advisors of American Biographical Institute, USA, since 2001.

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