Book Review

Abstract

Biotic Interactions in Plant–Pathogen Associations. Edited by M.J. Jeger and N.J. Spence . 24 × 16 cm, 368 pp. Wallingford, UK : CABI Publishing [www.cabi.org] , 2001 . £60 . ISBN 085199 512 8 (hardback) . This book is a compilation of chapters based on some of the papers presented at a 1999 joint meeting on Biotic Interactions in Plant–Pathogen Associations, organized by the British Society for Plant Pathology and the Association of Applied Biologist’s Virology Group. The chapters cover a wide range of interactions: within-taxon interactions; interactions with fungi; interactions with prokaryotes; virus–vector associations, Homoptera; biological control within- and across-taxa; complex diseases and diseases of complex aetiology; and methodology and modelling. Most of the time, plant pathologists look at individual agents of disease and how they can be dealt with. In reality there are complexes of diseases that occur within agricultural, horticultural and silviculture systems, and there are interactions between the causal pathogens and the physical environment. These interactions occur at genetical, physiological and/or ecological levels. The chapters in this book look at these interactions. The editors each contribute a chapter: on ‘Biotic interactions and plant–pathogen associations’ (Jeger), and ‘Virus–vector interactions in plant virus disease transmission and epidemiology’ (Spence). Both contributions aim to bring out the importance of the interactions and their positive and negative aspects. The book offers a range of very interesting and very diverse subjects. The chapter on ‘The role of hyperparasites in host plant–pathogenic fungi relationships’ (Kiss) is thought-provoking. A number of studies have been conducted on the effects of hyperparasites on pathogens, but there do not seem to be any on the structural interactions between hyperparasites, especially hyperparasites of obligate (biotrophic) pathogens, and the host plant. In insects, this relationship is known in plant–arthropod relationships, for example, density of leaf hairs influences the predation rate of some predatory mites. This book will be of interest to a wide range of scientists because of the broadness of its coverage. The chapters are straightforward yet interesting, so that those who are not familiar with certain areas can follow the discussion. In some chapters, pathogens were misspelled. For example, in the chapter entitled ‘The implications for plant health of nematode–fungal interactions in the root zone’, the author gives examples of mycophagous nematodes, with errors such as Aphelenchoids, and Aphelencoids. Similarly, the genus Glomus mosseae is misspelled; the species name is incorrect (spelt as mosae) both in the text and in the index, and the genus is misspelled sometimes as Glommus and sometimes as Glummus, again both in the text and in the index. Later in the same chapter, the take-all fungus and potato wart pathogen suffer the same fate, along with the chestnut blight fungus elsewhere! Apart from these errors it is a good book, and I would recommend it. Biotic Interactions in Plant–Pathogen Associations. Edited by M.J. Jeger and N.J. Spence . 24 × 16 cm, 368 pp. Wallingford, UK : CABI Publishing [www.cabi.org] , 2001 . £60 . ISBN 085199 512 8 (hardback) .