Plant Protection In Medicinal And Aromatic Plants

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) form one of the important groups due to their demand in various cosmetic, food, flavoring, perfumery and pharmaceutical industries and also to earn foreign exchange by way of export. The area under cultivation of MAPs is low, but the cash returns are high because of intensive cropping. More than three quarters of the world's population relies mainly on plants and plant extracts for health care. The aromatic plants provide raw material for the production of flavors, herbal cosmetics, perfumery etc. Pests (insect, mite and nematode pests, and diseases caused by fungi, bacteria and virus) are one of the important limiting factors in the production of medicinal and aromatic crops. Monoculture, the characteristic feature of these crops, provides congenial environment for one or the other pest, the population of which if unchecked may touch an alarmingly high level and may even wipe out the whole crop. The information on pests, diseases and nematodes on medicinal and aromatic crops is very much scattered. There is no book at present which comprehensively and exclusively deals with the above aspects on these crops. The present book deals with pest, disease and nematode management in medicinal and aromatic plants in detail using regulatory, physical, cultural, chemical, biological, host plant resistance and integrated methods. The book is extensively illustrated with excellent quality photographs enhancing the quality of publication. The book is written in lucid style, easy to understand language along with adoptable recommendations involving eco-friendly components of IPM. This book is a practical guide to growers of medicinal and aromatic crops. Further, it is a useful reference book to policy makers, researchers and extension workers. The book can be used for teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well.