Abstract

This publication is a valuable contribution to the knowledge of the biology and management of Verticillium diseases. This volume brings together the recent research results and current thoughts of scientists (from several countries) researching Verticillium fungi, a group of economically important fungi that causes wilt in many crops.

Although the volume is targeted mainly at researchers, those involved in extension and advisory work will find the articles on disease management very relevant and useful.

The contributed papers in the volume are grouped into six parts:

Part 1: Molecular Biology of Verticillium spp. (11 papers)

Part 2: Vegetative Compatibility. (10 papers)

Part 3: Phenology, Epidemiology and Microsclerotia (6 papers)

Part 4: Biochemistry, Physiology, Host-parasite Interactions and Host Resistance (17 papers)

Part 5: Control – Biological (11 papers)

Part 6. Control – Cultural Practices, Chemical and the Disease (18 papers).

The papers on molecular systematics of Verticillium fungi are based mostly on use of the current DNA techniques such as randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), etc. The data presented are very illuminating and significantly extend our knowledge on the relationships of the various Verticillium fungi previously classified on morphological, vegetative compatibility and pathogenicity characteristics. The overview paper “Diversification and Speciation in Verticillium – an Overview” (by J. B. Heale) is excellent and is probably essential reading for anyone working on Verticillium.

The papers in Parts 2, 3 and 4 are mainly shortened versions of traditional journal-type articles that extend our knowledge on Verticillium biology and disease.

Among the biocontrol microorganisms studied by various contributors are Talaromyces flavus, Trichoderma spp.,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and a Bacillus sp.

The paper “Control of Verticillium dahliae with Soil Amendments: Efficacy and Mode of Action” (by G. Lazarovits, K Conn and M. Tenuta) is especially interesting. This paper gives and discusses research results that can be of immediate practical use to organic growers (and also non-organic growers). Fresh chicken manure, soybean meal and meat and bone meal used as soil amendments were found to be highly effective in reducing Verticillium wilt in potatoes.

The article by Gordon et al. reports that soil fumigation for the control of Verticillium wilt in strawberries with 70:30 mix of telone and chloropicrin was comparable to the current methyl bromide–chloropicrin mix. The authors suggested that the telone–chloropicrin mix could replace methyl bromide–chloropicrin mix (provided telone–chloropicrin can be registered for use) when methyl bromide is no longer available in the future.

As illustrated by the examples above, there is practical information in addition to the basic research information in the volume. Extension/advisory plant pathologists should find this book useful to have in their laboratory when discussing Verticillium problems and control with growers.

Post-graduate students and researchers in other plant pathology areas may not wish to have an individual copy, but many of them would certainly find the ideas, techniques, etc. in some sections of this volume to be of relevance to their own areas of work.

Universities and State Agricultural libraries should certainly have this book on their shelves.

Dr James Wong

Institute for Horticultural Development, Victoria.