The third volume of the series covers, in three Sections, emerging issues in the integrated management of main diseases of perennial and annual crops. The chapters provide basic data about the diseases concerned, in order to facilitate their detection and recognition either by field and laboratory inspection, discussing the main management possibilities experienced by farmers, plant pathologists and consultants, in different areas of the world. The first Section covers key diseases of stone fruit and apple trees, as well as the phytoplasma diseases of grapevine and fruit crops, the citrus diseases caused by Phytophthora spp., and the management of chestnut diseases, esca complex on grapevine and Rosellinia necatrix root rot. In the second Section, on annual crops, a first chapter describes the use of simulation models for potato late blight management, followed by a review about the potentials of the decision support systems approach, with an example of integrated forecasting system for Phytophthora infestans on potato. Following chapters review the management of bacterial fruit-blotch on cucurbits, Verticillium wilt on tomato, Sclerotinia rot on carrot, and cotton and rice diseases. A further review describes biological and integrated means to control rust diseases. In the third, final Section, two innovating approaches to disease management are reviewed: DNA fingerprinting methods, for microbial pathogens diagnostics with potentials in taxonomy and plant protection, and the management of pests and diseases through the exploitation of endophytes and their metabolites, a new research field with interesting perspectives and benefits in IPM/IDM.

Zusammenfassung
This volume focuses on integrated pest and disease management (IPM/IDM) and biocontrol of some key diseases of perennial and annual crops. It continues a series originated during a visit of prof. K. G. Mukerji to the CNR Plant Protection Institute in Bari (Italy), in November 2005. Both editors aim at a series of five volumes embracing, in a multi-disciplinary approach, advances and achievements in the practice of crop protection, for a wide range of plant parasites and pathogens. Two volumes of the series were already produced, dedicated to general concepts in IPM and to management and biocontrol of nematodes of grain crops and vegetables. This Volume deals, in particular, with diseases due to bacteria, phytoplasma and fungi. Every day, in any agroecosystem, farmers face problems related to plant diseases. Since the beginning of agriculture, indeed, and probably for a long time in the future, farmers will continue to do so. Every year, plant diseases cause severe losses in the global production of food and other agricultural commodities, worldwide. Plant diseases are not limited to episodic events occurring in single farms or crops, and should not be regarded as single independent cases, affecting only farms on a local scale. The impact of plant disease epidemics on food shortage ignited, in the last two centuries, deep cultural, social and demographic changes, affecting million human beings, through i. e. migration, death and hunger.

Inhalt
Diseases of Perennial Crops.- Integrated Management Of Stone Fruit Diseases.- Towards a Sustainable, Integrated Management of Apple Diseases.- Management and Ecology of Phytoplasma Diseases of Grapevine And Fruit Crops.- Management Of Citrus Diseases Caused By Phytophthora Spp.- Biological Control and Management of Chestnut Diseases.- The Esca Disease Complex.- Integrated Management of Rosellinia nEcatrix Root Rot on Fruit Tree Crops.- Diseases of Annual Crops.- Simulation Models for Potato Late Blight Management and Ecology.- An Example of Integrated Forecasting System for Phytophthora Infestans on Potato.- Integrated Pest Management Of Bacterial Fruit Blotch Of Cucurbits.- Integrated Management of Tomato Bacterial Spot.- Integrated Management Of Verticillium Wilt Of Tomato.- New Progress in the Integrated Management of Sclerotinia Rot of Carrot.- Integrated Management Of Key Diseases Of Cotton and Rice.- Biological And Integrated Means to Control Rust Diseases.- Advances in Management Tools.- DNA Fingerprinting Methods for Microbial Pathogens: Application to Diagnostics, Taxonomy and Plant Disease Management.- Endophytic Fungi for Pest and Disease Management.