This comprehensive book examines how mineral nutrition affects plant disease. Minerals improve the overall quality and health of plants. Knowing how each individual mineral affects a plant is beneficial for efficiency in production and sustaining the ecosystem. From a plant pathology perspective, Mineral Nutrition and Plant Disease brings the discussion of plant disease diagnosis and management to a new level. Mineral nutrients are important in production agriculture and horticulture because they can often be the first line of defense against plant diseases. It is an area of knowledge that can be misunderstood or overlooked in the study of diseases and their diagnosis. This reference succeeds in organizing what we know and explaining the interactions at work. Mineral Nutrition and Plant Disease is the first book to successfully combine two important plant science disciplines, nutrition and pathology, to provide current information on theoretical aspects of nutrition in disease physiology while contributing a wealth of basic practical information for obtaining immediate disease suppression with specific fertilizers.

Special features:

• Provides a holistic overview of how minerals are made available in soil and their basic function in plants
• Helps you understand the interacting affects of minerals on all types of diseases – Abiotic as well as biotic
• Identifies mineral nutrient forms, physiological functions, and interactions with numerous diseases
• Provides valuable tables showing nutrient-disease interactions that facilitate the use of nutrients to manage diseases 
• Tabulates extensive literature reviews with tables to help you perform quick searches for any host/disease system

The book is peer-reviewed and multi-authored by scientists with expertise relating to each specific mineral element. A user-friendly benefit of this book is that each chapter focuses on one specific mineral element and explains the relationship between the nutrient and its affect on plant diseases. Each chapter describes the critical levels of each element involved in plant disease interactions, the effects of these elements on pathogens and plants, and the known mechanisms of how these elements suppress plant diseases. Benefits of specific mineral nutrients in each chapter recognize their interdependent interaction with each other and all aspects of the plant physiology, genetics, and the environment. These mineral nutrient chapters are preceded by two helpful chapters on the “Chemistry of Plant Nutrients in Soil” and “The Physiological Role of Minerals in the Plant.” 

The purpose of this important treatise is to outline the current knowledge of mineral nutrition and plant diseases. Readers will gain practical information for immediate disease management and understand the physiological role of each element in the plant and how it contributes to disease. Editors Datnoff, Elmer, and Huber, have done a commendable job in collaboration with their expert contributors. This book is pertinent to plant scientists worldwide including agronomists, plant physiologists, horticulturists, extension scientists, soil scientists, plant pathologists, and librarians who serve them. It will also be useful as a fundamental text to use for introductory courses in these disciplines. 

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Thank you to the sponsors of Mineral Nutrition and Plant Disease.

Calcium Silicate Corporation
Excell Minerals
International Potash Institute
Mosiac Crop Nutrition, LLC
Potash and Phosphate Institute
Salt Institute
The Scotts Company
Simplot Partners

Mineral Nutrition and Plant Disease

Chapter 1: Chemistry of Plant Nutrients in Soil

Samira H. Daroub and George H. Snyder

Chapter 2: The Physiological Role of Minerals in the Plant

Ronald W. Rice

Chapter 3: Nitrogen and Plant Disease

Don M. Huber and Ian A. Thompson

Chapter 4: Phosphorus and Plant Disease

Anne S. Prahbu, Nand K. Fageria, Rodrigo F. Berni, and Fabrício Á. Rodrigues

Chapter 5: Potassium and Plant Disease

Anne S. Prabhu, Nand K. Fageria, Don M. Huber and, Fabrício Á. Rodrigues

Chapter 6: Calcium and Plant Disease

M. Rahman and Z. K. Punja

Chapter 7: Magnesium and Plant Disease

Jeff B. Jones and Don M. Huber

Chapter 8: Sulfur and Plant Disease

Silvia Haneklaus, Elke Bloem and Ewald Schnug

Chapter 9: Iron and Plant Disease

Dominique Expert

Chapter 10: Manganese and Plant Disease

Ian A. Thompson and Don M. Huber

Chapter 11: Zinc and Plant Disease

Brion Duffy

Chapter 12: Copper and Plant Disease

Ieuan Evans, Elston Solberg and Don Huber

Chapter 13: Chlorine and Plant Disease

Wade H. Elmer

Chapter 14: Molybdenum and Plant Disease

Robin D. Graham and James C. R. Stangoulis

Chapter 15: Boron and Plant Disease

James C. R. Stangoulis and Robin D. Graham

Chapter 16: Nickel and Plant Disease

Bruce W. Wood and Charles C. Reilly

Chapter 17: Silicon and Plant Disease

Lawrence E. Datnoff, Fabrício Á. Rodrigues, and Kenneth W. Seebold

Chapter 18: Aluminum and Plant Disease

H. D. Shew, E. J. Fichtner, and D. M. Benson

Index

“Many people do not think about the role of mineral nutrition during disease development. This book compiles very interesting information that I was not aware of and helped spike my interest on this topic. ”
—Leonardo De La Fuente, APS PRESS Senior Editor and Auburn University Professor

"...provides a very useful single collection of information from a wide range of sources and represents a valuable resource for both pathologists and plant physiologists seeking to understand more about the relationship between mineral nutrition and plant diseases."
—Australian Plant Pathology Society

“…succeeds in its stated aims and will be a useful addition to the literature on this important subject.”
—Outlooks on Pest Management

"An excellent contribution to science and production agriculture and will be useful to scientists endeavoring to understand the role of minerals in biotic systems. This leap forward in what is known should do much to catalyze a subsequent work advocating what should be done. Highly recommended."
—CHOICE (Current Reviews for Academic Libraries)

“….provides valuable information on the broad and important subject….highly recommended for scientists, extension workers in plant protection, agronomy and horticulture.”
—Journal of Phytopathology

“The book is of interest not only to those wishing to know the role of chemical elements in plant physiology, but also to plant pathologists and nematologists who wish to know how to manipulate plant fertilization to improve the efficacy of integrated management tactics of plant pathogens, including nematodes.”
—Nematologia Mediterranea  

"The huge number of pertinent references provided at each chapter as well as good Index enables the interested reader to find appropriate and needed information. Without any doubt this book will serve as an excellent source of useful information for plant physiologists, agronomists, and plant protection specialists as well as for university teachers and students. Therefore I strongly recommend this book for all agricultural and natural sciences libraries."
—Journal of Plant Protection Research

Publish Date: 2007
Format: 8.5” x 11” hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-89054-346-7
Pages: 278
Images: 40 images
Publication Weight: 3 lbs