In such a challenging situation of food demands and to ensure food safety, Plant pathology becomes an integral part of plant protection strategies. It is an inter-disciplinary science of utmost importance, as it deals with the causes, diagnosis, and management of plant diseases that result in huge economic losses to agriculture, horticulture and sylviculture produce. Different kinds of biotic, mesobiotic & abiotic agents are responsible for the development of plant diseases, which are in direct competition with us for our food, cash crops, and other valuable plant products. In addition to this, a pathogen reduces a host plant’s overall vitality, inhibits its growth, or limits the ability of the plant to survive and reproduce.

Keeping in view, the present book, “Diseases of cereal crops in India” is a attempt to provide an introduction to the main elements of plant pathology, i.e., the introduction, history & objectives of plant pathology, concept & classification of plant diseases, knowledge of the symptoms of different plant diseases for accurate identification of pathogens attacking cereal crops; a comprehensive account of diseases occurring in the six most important cereal crops, viz., wheat, barley, rice, maize, sorghum, and pearl millet in India caused by different fungal, bacterial & viral pathogens, phytoplasma, and nematodes, and in a few cases parasitic angiosperms-induced diseases. Besides the general description of plant diseases, major emphasis has been given to the description of the control, and management practices that have been employed for their control.

1. Plant Pathology: Introduction and History
   
2. Disease Concept and Classification
3. Symptoms of Plant Diseases Caused by Different Pathogens
4. Diseases of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
5. Diseases of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
6. Diseases of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
7. Diseases of Maize or Corn  (Zea mays L.)
8. Diseases of Sorghum  (Sorghum bicolor L.)
9. Diseases of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum)
10. References
11. Glossary