A Practical Manual on Diseases of Field & Horticultural Crops & their Management

This practical manual has been developed to serve as a comprehensive guide for undergraduate students studying plant pathology, with a specific focus on diseases of field and horticultural crops. Prepared in accordance with the ICAR 6th Deans’ Committee Report, the manual aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

The manual includes systematically arranged experiments covering major diseases of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, spices, and commercial crops. Each practical exercise helps students understand disease symptoms, causal organisms, modes of survival and spread, disease cycles, and appropriate management strategies, with emphasis on integrated disease management.

In addition to disease-specific studies, the manual introduces fungicides, antibiotics, and bio-pesticides, along with their safe and effective use. Practical exposure through field visits, disease diagnosis, histopathological studies, and herbarium specimen preparation enhances observational, diagnostic, and analytical skills.