Molecular Approaches for the Detection of Fungal Phytopathogens

This book discusses recent advancements and updates in the molecular diagnostics of fungal phytopathogens. The techniques covered in the seventeen chapters help in understanding the importance of early detection of fungal pathogens and their toxins in both post- and pre-harvest stages of crop production. Molecular Approaches for the Detection of Fungal Phytopathogens describes the fungal identification and isolation from different sources such as food, feed and cereals using molecular approaches. These include variants of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) involving: generic (genus and species) and gene-specific primers, RNA-sequence-based next-generation sequences, microarrays, serial analysis of gene expression, fluorescence in-situ hybridization, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, macroarrays, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, magnetic capture hybridization-PCR, nanotechnology, and immunoassays providing faster and more sensitive approaches than traditional methods that overcome challenges by developing novel disease control strategies.

Features

• Explores various diagnostic strategies for phytopathogens
• Discusses early detection methods when fungal spores are low or there are no visible symptoms
• Provides a historical perspective and compares the traditional methods of detection with the current molecular techniques
• Describes details of the protocol of every technique mentioned
• Covers point-of-care testing for fungal pathogens and quality assurance for molecular testing in plant health

Deepa Nagaraju is Research Associate for Indian Council of Medical Research funded project on “Potential antifungals from PGPR bacteria against fumonisin” at the Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Mysuru, India. Her research interests include molecular mycology, myco-toxicology and its prevention. She earned her doctoral degree from University of Mysore in 2018 with her thesis entitled “Development of nested and multiplex PCR for the early detection of fumonisin producing Fusarium verticillioides associated with cereals”. She worked as a Project Assistant for three years on the DST-Fastrack funded project as well as a Senior Research Fellow for ICMR funding for three years.  She served as a faculty for Postgraduate students for four years at the Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Mysuru. She has authored 31 scientific papers, which include 5 book chapters and as well as a book.

Sreenivasa Marikunte Yanjarappa is currently working as a Professor in Microbiology and has more than 20 years of teaching experience at the Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Mysuru, India. His research interests include mycology, myco-toxicology, probiotics and postbiotics. In recognition of his research output, he was awarded Raman postdoctoral fellow to carry out his post-doctoral studies at Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, USA. In recognition of Indo – US Research collaboration, he was awarded International Faculty Development award by the Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA. He was Visiting Research Scientist at the University of Ottawa, Canada under Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, India. He has successfully completed 7 research projects in the field of microbiology funded by national and international agencies. He has an Indian patent and has published more than 100 scientific papers, book chapters and editorial articles with an H-index of 30, i10 index of 55 and more than 2200 citations. He is a member of the review editorial boards of several international journals. As an editor, he has also published two books. He has been invited as Keynote Speakers and Expert in various Plant pathology, microbiology and mycology as well as Life Sciences-based conferences and workshops.

Charith Raj Adkar Purushothama is an adjunct professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Université de Sherbrooke, Canada, and a biotechnology entrepreneur. He earned his master’s degree in microbiology from the University of Mysore, India, and his doctorate from the School of Plant Biology and Crop Production, University of Milano, Italy. He did his post-doctoral training in the laboratory of Prof. Teruo Sano at Hirosaki University, Japan, and in the laboratory of Prof. Jean-Pierre Perreault, at Université de Sherbrooke, Canada. During his post-doctoral training, he worked on plant-pathogen interactions and management strategies. He received several research scholarships and grants at national and international level. He has published over 60 original research articles, two review articles, and several book chapters, and presented in more than 30 international scientific conferences. In 2017, one of his research publications on viroid received the “Paper of Excellence” award from The Phytopathological Society of Japan.