Plant disease : the Jamaican experience / Phyllis Coates-Beckford and Paula Tennant.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Plant Disease in Jamaica -- Part 1: Tree, Field and Plantation Crops: 2. Banana and Plantain -- 3. Citrus -- 4. Cocoa -- 5. Coconut -- 6. Coffee -- 7. Papaya -- 8. Sugar Cane -- 9. Miscellaneous Tree and Field Crops -- Part 2: Shrubs and Herbaceous Crops: 10. Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs and Spices -- 11. Legumes -- 12. Ornamentals -- 13. Root and Tuber Crops -- Part 3: Legal Framework: 14. Regulatory Aspects of Plant Disease Management in Jamaica -- Appendices: 1. Viruses and Viroids Associated With Plants in Jamaica -- 2. Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Associated With Plants in Jamaica -- 3. Pesticides Used in Plant Disease Control -- 4. Plant Diseases and Pathogens of Quarantine Importance in Jamaica -- 5. Uses and Economic Importance of some Jamaican Trees -- 6. Cultivars and Disease Resistance of some Herbaceous Crops Distributed in Jamaica -- 7. Map of Jamaica Showing Parishes and Places Mentioned in the Text -- Glossary -- General Index -- Index of Animals -- Index of Diseases on Cultivated Plants -- Index of Microbes -- Index of Pesticides -- Index of Plants: Botanical Names -- Index of Plants: Common Names.

Interesting studies of plant diseases in Jamaica have been conducted since the early twentieth century. This book gives an account of the history and development of the science of plant pathology and of plant disease control in Jamaica and shows how the activities have contributed to the development of the island's agricultural heritage. Coates-Beckford and Tennant draw together and integrate a wide range of material to provide a unique insight into how the major plant diseases in Jamaica have been, and still are being, overcome. The existing literature on tropical plant diseases is by no means extensive. While there are some up-to-date texts which give details of the diseases (and pests) of individual crops or pathogen groups, none of these give historical accounts of the overall background information on some of the main problems covered in this work. Three main sections deal separately with tree, field and plantation crops; shrubs and herbaceous crops; and the legal framework for plant disease control. For each crop discussed, its history in Jamaica is given, as well as the history, biology and management of the diseases. Coates-Beckford and Tennant have produced a significant and novel contribution to the literature on tropical plant pathology. This richly illustrated book is an essential reference for biologists, tropical agriculturalists and policymakers in the region. Phyllis Coates-Beckford is Professor Emerita of Plant Pathology, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. Paula Tennant is Professor of Molecular Plant Pathology, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica Publisher's note.

NLJCols20082021