For a great resource for learning about plant diseases, I recommend
the text book we used for the Plant Diseases class at Merritt College last
fall. Essential Plant Pathology was
written by Dr. Gail L Schumann and Dr. Cleora J. D’Arcy, and published by
American Phytopathological Society Press in 2010 (Second Edition).
It is not your standard text book, in that the text is very
accessible (except for a few deep-dives into genetics), and it is filled with
graphics, photos, case histories, high-level summaries, references, web
resources, and a CD, all of which are great for visual learners. Case
histories, called Disease Classics, appear throughout the text, and describe
Host, Pathogen, Symptoms and Signs, Disease Cycle, Management, and Significance.
A glossary and index help the reader grapple with new concepts and terminology.
The presentation is organized around plant diseases from the
five kingdoms – fungi, bacteria, animals, plants, and protoctista, as well as
viruses and environmental factors. The idea is that by understanding the phylogeny
of organisms, you can use the information to identify the pest or disease,
understand its life cycle, and use the knowledge to mitigate the problem. The
book’s emphasis is on learning a system for diagnosing plant diseases, rather
than memorizing many plant diseases.
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