New Plant Fungal Diseases During 21st Century in India: an Update for 2000-2011

Plants always played a key role in fulfilling human needs. But, like human beings and other animals, the plants are also subjected to various harmful and pathogenic diseases. This compilation of fungal diseases includes new plant fungal diseases reported during 21st century i.e. during the year 2000 to 2011. The plant disease like rot, leaf and stem spot, powdery and downy mildew, rust and smut, blight, wilt, damping off, die back and anthracnose were found prevalent caused by a vast group of fungal pathogens like species of Sclerotium, Rhizoctonia, Alternaria, Phytophthora, Ceratocystis, Fusarium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Oidium, Erysiphe, Sclerospora, Podosphaera, Plasmopara, Golovinomyces, Puccinia, Coleosporium, Uncinula, Ustilago, Bipolaris, Phyllosticta, Choanophora, Ceratocystisfimbriata, Pithomyces, Botryodiplodia, Pestalotiopsis, Cercosporoids, Lasiodiplodia, and Phomopsis. The work will provide a useful compendium for mycologists and plant pathologists, increase the recognition of new fungal pathogens in phytopathological research, and spark new questions for future study.