Crop Protection Ecofriendly Approaches

intensive farming system warranted the use of high doses of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and plant protection chemicals which have damaged the soil health (soil flora and fauna), productivity and also sustainability. Pesticides cause soil pollution and adversely affect useful microflora and fauna which interact with pathogens at the soil-root interface. Therefore, lack of sustainability in production in recent years has encouraged researchers to look for eco-friendly and safer ways of pest management. The information on eco-friendly pest management (insect, mite and nematode pests; bacterial, fungal and viral diseases) in horticultural crops (fruits, vegetables, plantation, spice, tuber, ornamental, medicinal and aromatic crops) is very much scattered. There is no book at present which comprehensively and exclusively deals with the above aspects on horticultural crops. The present book deals with eco-friendly pest management practices using regulatory, physical, cultural, botanical, biological, semiochemicals, host resistance, integrated methods and novel approaches [biotechnological approaches, biofumigation, variety mixtures, disguising the leaf surface, avermectins, bacteriophages, bio-priming of seeds, non-pathogenic strains, plant defense activators, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), soil solarization, strobilurin fungicides, RNA interference (RNAi), pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), fusion protein-based biopesticides and seed mat technology]. The book is 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 for enhancing the productivity. This book can serve as a practical guide to practicing farmers of horticultural crops. Further, it is a useful reference to policy makers, research and extension workers and students. The material can also be used for teaching post-graduate and under-graduate courses.