Biotic Stress Resistance in Millets

Book excerpt: Biotic Stress Resistance in Millets presents an important guide to the disease and pest-related challenges of this vital food crop. Biotic stresses are one of the major constraints for millet production, but newly emerging and forward-thinking problems with disease and insect pests are likely to increase as a result of changing weather, making this an imperative book on best practices. Current strategies are mainly through the development of resistant cultivars, as the use of chemicals is cost-prohibitive to many of those producing millet in developing countries where it is of most value as a food source. This book explores non-chemical focused options for improving plant resistance and protecting crop yield. This single-volume reference will be important for researchers, teachers and students in the disciplines of Agricultural Entomology, Plant protection, Resistance Plant Breeding and Biotechnological pest management. - Establishes basic concepts of host resistance providing foundational insight - Synthesizes past biotic stress resistance research with the latest findings to orient research for future strategies for plant protection - Focuses exclusively on host plant resistance on all major diseases and pests of millets - Presents data and strategies that are globally applicable as millets gain importance as a health food