Diseases of Small Grain Cereal Crops: A Colour Handbook

The small grain cereals wheat, barley, oats and rye are cultivated worldwide. They form the foundation of most agricultural systems and are essential in the manufacture of staple products such as bread, pasta and fermented beverages. Reflecting the global and economic importance of cereal crops, the Colour Handbook aims to make identification of diseases afflicting them easier. Covering 40-50 of the most important pathogens in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, the handbook contains superb colour photographs accompanied by clear, concise descriptions of diseases with advice on their control. Diseases are illustrated at varying stages of development and entries follow an easy-to-use format. First the pathogens involved and their symptoms are described; next information on the disease cycle is given, covering epidemiological features and the form taken by the pathogen in different climates. The section on economic significance deals with effects on yield and the ecosystem, while that on control advises growers on measures and techniques to combat the outbreak of disease, including the latest chemical treatments. For each disease, detailed references provide a key to further reading. The final chapter shows the microscopic appearance of pathogens. The colour handbook is competitively priced and will be of use to plant health professionals and scientists, growers, farmers, and students of agriculture.Murray, Timothy is the author of 'Diseases of Small Grain Cereal Crops: A Colour Handbook', published 2008 under ISBN 9781840761047 and ISBN 1840761040.