White rust caused by the fungus Albugo is the most devastating disease of vegetables and oil yielding crops all over the world. The disease is also known as white blisters rust or staghead. In epidemic years the disease may cause losses in the yield upto 90 %. The fungus infects more than 400 species of plants worldwide including important vegetable crucifers, oil yielding Brassicas, ornamental plants and numerous weeds. Extensive yield losses, lack of resistant cultivars, and difficulty encountered in managing the disease under field conditions have prompted researchers for sustainable research on this disease. Since, our first review on "white rusts" (Saharan and Verma 1992) and other numerous publications, very useful information have been published, which encouraged us to compile the data in the form of a present book.The present book on "white rust" deals with the aspects on "the disease" viz., its distribution, host range, symptoms, disease assessment, yield losses, life cycle, survival, epidemiology, and "the pathogen" viz., its taxonomy, morphology, structures and reproduction, species, phylogeny, infection, life cycle, physiological specialization, genetics of host-pathogen interaction, sources of resistance, biochemistry of host-pathogen interaction, identification and mapping of resistant genes, and disease management. In addition, laboratory and field techniques developed on white rust have been included.The subject matter is vividly illustrated with photographs (macro and microscopic, electron and scanning electron micrograph), drawings, graphs, figures, histograms, and tables etc. for stimulating, effective and easy reading and understanding. Each chapter is arranged in chronolgocal order in the form of headings and sub-headings through numerical series to make the subject contiguous. Inclusion of important references will be helpful in original consultations by the researchers, teachers, and students.We are sure that this comprehensive treatise on "white rust" will be of immense use to the researchers, teachers, students and all others who are interested in diagnosis and management of white rust diseases of crops worldwide.
