Pearl Millet


Book Description

In this age of climate change, discover how pearl millet is considered a viable alternative cereal crop for semi-arid and hot areas Pearl millet, a warm-season, dryland cereal crop, is a staple food for over 90 million people in Africa and Asia. Its nutritional superiority relative to other cereal crops, such as rice, wheat, maize, and sorghum, and its hardiness and adaptability to harsh environments and poor soils make it a potentially life-saving resource for poor populations and/or areas hit by damaging climatic conditions. With climate change Placing an ever-greater strain on global agrifood systems, pearl millet has never been a more important crop in the fight against poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. Pearl Millet offers a thorough introduction to this potentially vital grain. Coming on the heels of a 2023 United Nations declaration of the “International Year of Millets,” it is a crucial intervention in an essential humanitarian project. It is the first comprehensive book on the subject to appear in print. Key Features: Analysis of a potential lead crop for climate-change-affected areas Detailed coverage of all pearl millet’s unique features, such as inherent genetic diversity, gluten free applications, and suitability for double cropping An author team with vast research and crop development experience Pearl Millet is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, certified and practicing professionals, as well as industry and academic researchers.




Seed-Borne Diseases Objectionable in Seed Production and Their Management


Book Description

The development of an improved agriculture is an indispensable step towards better living standards. It depends upon improved inputs of which seed is the most significant. Seed has always been regarded as the most vital, basic and critical input. Sage Parashara (circa 400 BC) had said, "the origin of plentiful yield is the seed". Today, more than two millennia later, the statement holds true and it will be hold true as long as humans inhabit the earth. Seed health is a priority area in seed production programme. In recent years, the awareness for seed health has increased among the growers, traders, consumers and policy makers. In post -GATT era and with the emergence of WTO concerns regarding the seed health have acquired high importance. In seed production programme, seed certification standards have been worked out. Several diseases have been designated objectionable at field and seed levels. The book provides comprehensive and integrated information on 57 seed-borne diseases covering about 40 major field and vegetable crops. The information is supplemented with about 127 photographs, explanation of technical words in glossary and further readings. The book will be of great help to the people engaged in seed production (fields and vegetable crops), seed certification, agricultural extension workers, field workers and seed industry. It will be of immense use for all the teachers, students and researchers of seed science and technology. Feature: sRole of seed-borne pathogens. Significance of seed health testing. Seed health testing for seed-borne fungal, bacterial, viral and nematode pathogens. Protocols for some common methods employed in seed health testing. Integrated management of seed-borne diseases. Indian seed certification standards for Field and Vegetable crops. Identification and management of objectionable seed-borne diseases. Information on pathogens, location in seeds, disease-cycle and spread, nature, losses, detection techniques and certification standards of 57 seed-borne diseases, supplemented with 127 black and white photographs. Explanation of about 160 technical words in glossary.




Breeding, Biotechnology and Seed Production of Field Crops


Book Description

In modern days, crop improvement is a multidisciplinary division of agriculture. In this book, entitled, Breeding, Biotechnology and Seed Production of Field Crops, emphasis has been given on principles, methods and practices in plant breeding, biotechnology in crop improvement and seed production of field crops. The book has been written for all sections of learners, educators and staff-members of seed industries. Particular importance has been underlined for postgraduate students who specialize in plant breeding and seed science. Each chapter of the book has been designed as per the recommended of syllabus of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for the postgraduate students of various Agricultural Universities in our country. This book has been divided into two major parts- i) Principles of crop breeding and ii) Methods and practices of crop improvement and seed production of individual field crop. The book contains total of 18 chapteFirst three chapters are related to shed light on the basic-principles and remaining chapters deal with methods and practices of individual crop for improvement and seed production. We hope that the book will be ready to lend a hand to the advanced undergraduate students doing plant breeding in elective, postgraduate students who opted plant breeding, teachers, researchers and staff-members of private seed companies of this field of specialization.




Diseases of Field Crops Diagnosis and Management


Book Description

Plant diseases cause yield loss in crop production, poor quality of produce, and great economic losses as well. Knowledge of the perpetuation and spread of the pathogens and various factors affecting disease development is an important need. Disease diagnosis is the prime requirement for determining preventive or curative measures for effective disease management. This new 2-volume set, Diseases of Field Crops, helps to fill the need for research on plant diseases, their effects, how they spread, and effective management measures to mitigate their harmful consequences. The volumes in this set showcase recent advances in molecular plant pathology and discuss appropriate diagnostic techniques for identification of causal agents and diseases, providing the information necessary to establish management strategies. The chapters in these two volumes include detailed description of symptoms, causal organisms, disease cycles, epidemiology, and management techniques of economically important diseases. The volumes explore existing strategies and offer new methods that can be used in an integrated manner and with a comprehensive approach for the management of major diseases of the field crops. Also taken into consideration is the impact of global climate change on the spread and severity of plant diseases. This volume focuses on a selection of cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food and the diseases that affect them. The crops include rice, maize, wheat, millet, sorghum, jute, and more. Volume 2 covers pulses, oil seeds, narcotics, and sugar crops.







Microbial Plant Pathogens and Crop Disease Management


Book Description

The book presents strategies for the management of crop diseases, and explores means of integrating various strategies to achieve desired levels of suppression. It describes methods of preventing introduction of microbial pathogens, cultural practices that suppress pathogen populations, alternative soil treatments, resistant cultivars, biocontrol a




Diseases of Field Crops Diagnosis and Management, 2-Volume Set


Book Description

This new 2-volume set, Diseases of Field Crops: Diagnosis and Management, helps to fill the need for research on plant diseases, their effects, how they spread, and effective management measures to mitigate their harmful effects. The volumes in this set showcase recent advances in molecular plant pathology and discuss appropriate diagnostic techniques for identification of causal agents and diseases, providing the information necessary to establish management strategies. The chapters in these two volumes include detailed description of symptoms, causal organisms, disease cycles, epidemiology, and management techniques of economically important diseases. The volumes explore existing strategies and offer new methods that can be used in an integrated manner and with a comprehensive approach for the management of major diseases of the field crops. Also taken into consideration is the impact of global climate change on the spread and severity of plant diseases.