Plant virus and sub-viral pathogens pose severe constraints to the production of wide range of economically important crops worldwide. The crops raised both through true seed and vegetative propagated materials are affected with number of virus and virus-like diseases. The virus may enter into plants through seed planting materials or by vectors. Once the virus is in the field, it multiplies and spreads following definite patterns depending upon the nature of the vector and agro-meteorological conditions. Disease free crops and plants are great economic and social importance in feeding the world's population. Detection of virus and sub-viral agents at initial stages of infection is critical to reduce economic losses. For nearly two decades, ELISA and its variants played a major role in large scale virus testing and also in the production of virus-free planting materials.
"This volume 1 will serve as one of the valuable and comprehensive reference book for the basic, practical and applied plant pathologists, scientists, teaching faculty and researchers of plant virology, plant pathology and plant biology. This volume is relevant and timely in view of the rapidly expanding international trade of plant and plant products. ... it is my pleasure to complement him, for his outstanding and comprehensive volume 1 on plant virus and viroid diseases in the tropics." (Teruo Sano, VirusDisease, Vol. 26, 2015)
"The book provides an effective and comprehensive information on epidemiology and management aspects of virus and viroid diseases in tropics which is well written by the authors, regarding present status and possible feature strategies in holistic plant virus/vorid disease management. It should find a well-deserved place in the laboratories of different institutions and universities engaged in teaching and research in plant pathology and plant virology." (V. Muniyappa, Virus Disease, Vol. 27, 2016)